11:2 Gates to courtyards, alleyways, cities, and countries require mezuzos, as [Deuteronomy 6:9 and 11:20] states: "and on your gates."

11:3 (The mezuzoh) must be affixed (on the doorpost) at a person's right side as he enters. If it is affixed on the left, it is unacceptableand must be removed and affixed on the right side. The blessing must be recited (when correcting this error). In this regard, there is no difference whether one is left-handed or not.

11:4 When there are two houses (also rooms), each of which possesses a doorway to a thoroughfare or to a courtyard and there is a partition between them which also has a doorway -there is a question about this doorway, as to which side the mezuzoh should be placed. The determining factor in this regard is (termed) "know by the hinge" i.e. (it is dependent) on which side are placed the hinges of the door,since the door will open in that direction, [the direction to which the door opens] is considered as defining the house (or room) and the mezuzoh is placed on the right side as a person would enter into it.

The above applies only when both of the rooms are used equally. However, if one of (the rooms) is used primarily the determinant factor is not considered the side on which the hinges are placed. Rather, the mezuzoh is always placed on the right as one enters the room which is principally used even if the door opens into the other room.

11:5 The place (to which the mezuzoh is affixed) is the beginning of the top third of the height of the entrance. If it is placed higher than that, it is still acceptable, as long as it is away from the lintel more than a hand-breadth. If one affixed it below the top third one must remove it and affix it properly (at the right height). A blessing must be recited.

Should one have affixed (the mezuzoh) within a hand-breadth on the lintel it must also be removed and affixed at the proper (height). However, another blessing is not recited. [If the entrance way is wide], one should place (the mezuzoh) within a hand-breadth of the outside end (However), if one did not follow this (practice), (the mezuzoh) need not be moved.

11:6 How must one affix it? One should roll it from the end to the beginning i.e. from (the word) "one" to (the word) "Hear" place it in a tube or other container and affix it with nails to the doorpost. It should be placed at an angle with its head - i.e. the (word) "Hear" pointed towards the house and the final line pointed toward the outside. Should the doorpost be narrow it (the mezuzoh) may be affixed upright. This is preferable to affixing it behind the doorpost. If it was not affixed in a permanent manner but merely hung up, this is not acceptable. Therefore, one should take care to nail it at the top and also the bottom so that it will not be (considered as) hanging.

11:7 Before affixing it, one recites the blessing "who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to affix a mezuzoh". When one affixes a number of mezuzos one blessing is sufficient for all of them. If a mezuzoh falls by itself (i.e. without any external influence) when one affixes it again a blessing should be recited. However, when it (the mezuzoh) is removed in order to be checked there is a question whether another blessing is recited.

11:8 Some gateways are (built) with a small doorway next to the large gate and through this small doorway (people ordinarily) go in and out and the large gate is opened only occasionally. Since there are two separate entrances and they are separated by a pillar at least a hand-breadth in width two mezuzos are required.

11:9 In a place where one fears that it (the mezuzoh) may be stolen if it is possible one should embed it within the doorpost to the house and place it there. However, not (to embed it) too deeply, one (should not) embed it more than a hand-breadth for there (at that depth), it is no longer considered "on the doorposts of your house" (Deuteronomy 6:9) but, rather, within the doorpost and is thus unacceptable. Also, one should make sure that in any case, the place of the mezuzoh is recognizable. If it is impossible to embed it within the doorpost one can rely (on the opinions), under such difficult circumstances, (which allow one) to affix it inside, behind the door. (This leniency applies) only when one affixes it on the doorpost itself and not on the wall. Also, one should not (place it) away from the entrance way more than a hand-breadth for that would be unacceptable.

11:10 A house only requires a mezuzoh if it is four cubits by four cubits.If it is not four cubits by four cubits, even though it is more in area than four by four (sixteen square) cubits i.e., its shape is rectangular or circular, some (authorities) require (a mezuzoh) and others do not require.

11:11 An entrance does not require a mezuzoh unless it has two doorposts, their height at least ten hand-breadths, and a lintel over them. Even if the doorposts are not made of wood or other (separate) stones, but the walls of the house themselves are the doorposts with the ceiling over them, still a mezuzoh is required. [The following rules apply when] there is to a room only one doorpost for example, if from one side the wall (of the room) continues beyond (the doorway on the other side) : If it (the doorpost) is on the left side, (a mezuzoh) is not required;if it is on the right side, there is a question whether (a mezuzoh) is required or not. Therefore one should be affixed without a blessing. Alternatively, one may affix it, after affixing a mezuzoh on a doorway that does require (it), and cover this (the first) as well. And in all cases where a question exists (regarding whether a mezuzoh is required or not) this practice should be followed.

11:12 (An entrance) which has two doorposts and it does not have a lintel, but has on them an arch - like a rainbow (curving over); or alternatively, it also lacks doorposts, but the arch curves up from the ground: if it's height is at least ten hand-breadths and four hand-breadths wide, it requires a mezuzoh.

Regarding those stores which have one doorpost extending from the ground until the lintel and one which does not reach the lintel, but rather, one removes a space of a cubit or more from the wall, like this:

If the doorpost which is high enough to reach the lintel, is on the right side as a person enters, the mezuzoh is affixed to that doorpost. If the short doorpost, is on the right as one enters, if it is at least ten hand-breadths long one should affix the mezuzoh to it. If it is not ten hand-breadths long, (the mezuzoh) is affixed to the wide portion.

11:13 Some authorities say that even an entrance way which lacks a door requires a mezuzoh. Others say that with regard to this case, it's actually (when there is) a door. Therefore, one should not affix the mezuzoh until one first puts the door up. One should not first affix (the mezuzoh), and then put up the door, because of the principle "to do and not have it already done"

11:14 A house which is not constructed as a permanent dwelling does not require (a mezuzoh). Therefore, a festival sukkoh on that holiday does not require (a mezuzoh) . Similarly, those stores that are put up on market days for the duration of a business fair and then are either taken down or leftunused (vacant) do not require (a mezuzoh). However, stores which are permanently (filled) with merchandise require a mezuzoh.

11:15 A porch, which has three walls and a ceiling over them, with the fourth side open, even if it has two pillars (there) which resemble a doorway, does not require a mezuzoh; since these pillars were not placed there as doorposts, but rather as supports for the roof. If it has a wall on the fourth side, even if that wall is low and does not reach the ceiling or even if they are made with windows, the windows require (a mezuzoh).

11:16 A gatehouse (i.e., a small house by the gate to a courtyard where a guard waits), a balcony used to go up to a higher (storey), a garden, and a pen (enclosure for animals) do not require a mezuzoh, because they are not made for living (dwelling) in. However, if a house, which requires a mezuzoh, opens up to one of these or to a porch, a (mezuzoh) is required even for the entrance to these from the public thoroughfare. Accordingly, the gates to courtyards, alleyways, countries, and cities, all require mezuzos, because houses that require mezuzos open up to them. Furthermore, ten houses (or rooms), which lead one to another, (This applies even if the nine outer ones are constructed such that they do not require a mezuzoh.) if the innermost one requires a mezuzoh, all require mezuzos. Therefore, the gateway leading from a garden to a courtyard requires a mezuzoh. Some (authorities) say that gatehouses and balconies require (a mezuzoh) even if the house does not open up to them. Therefore, a mezuzoh should be affixed without a blessing.

11:17 A bathhouse, tannery, and mikveh do not require (a mezuzoh), because they are not intended (to be used) as a proper (respectful) dwelling. However, a cattle barn or chicken coop, a storage room for hay or for wood, a wine cellar, or place where other beverages are stored if it is of the minimum size of a house requires (a mezuzoh) . Nevertheless, some opinions do not require (a mezuzoh in these instances).

11:18 In a place where children stay or occasionally wash there or urinate there the mezuzoh should be covered. Only when these take place only occasionally a cover is sufficient. However, if it is permanently used for a disrespectful function e.g. [a bathroom where] a receptacle is placed there to collect waste, one should not rely on the cover [and should refrain from putting up a mezuzoh.]

11:19 A room or courtyard [shared by a Jew and] a gentile does not require (a mezuzoh).

11:20 A cellar whose doorposts and the entrance lie on the ground does not require (a mezuzoh). A doorpost is considered as such only when it stands upright.

11:21 A person who rents a house outside Israel (in the Diaspora) is not required to affix (a mezuzoh) (during the first) thirty days (he lives in it). This is not considered a permanent dwelling.

11:22 (When a Jew) leaves a dwelling and another Jew will come to live there (in his place), the former should not take the mezuzos. Rather, he should leave them there and the second (Jew) should pay him for them.

11:23 A person is obligated to be extremely careful (regarding) the mitzvoh of mezuzoh, since it is a constant obligation for everyone. Thus, whenever he enters or leaves (his home), he will be confronted with G-d's Unity the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, and remember His love. This will rouse him from his sleep and his errors in the vanities of the time and he will realize that nothing lasts for eternity except the knowledge of the "Eternal Rock." Thus, he will immediately return to his senses and follow righteous paths.

[Menochos 43b] states:"Whoever wears tefillin on his head and arm, tzitzis on his clothes, and has a mezuzoh on his door can be assured he will not sin, since he has many reminders. They are the angels who rescue him from sinning, as [Psalms 34:8] declares: 'The angel of G-d camps around those who fear Him and rescues them.' "

Furthermore, [Shabbos 32b] relates that the sin [of negating the mitzvoh of] mezuzoh (has serious implications), (causing) one's sons and daughters to die young. (In contrast), any one who carefully observes (the mitzvoh of) mezuzoh will have his days prolonged, as [Deuteronomy 11:21] states: "so that you will prolong your days and the days of your children..."

11:24 Since the mezuzoh is intended to recall the unity of His name, blessed be He, as one leaves from the entrance of one's house and one enters one should kiss it (the mezuzoh). However, a person should not place his hand on (the parchment of) the mezuzoh itself. Rather, one should take care that there is a glass (covering) over G-d's name. When one leaves his house and places his hand on the mezuzoh, he should say: "G-d is my Guardian. G-d is my shadow on my right hand. May G-d protect my going out and returning now, and forever."