עברית
Halachot and Customs
How to Fix a Mezuzah - Straight or Diagonal?
Question
My father installed all the mezuzot in the house diagonally, but he installed mine straight. Does it make a difference? Thank you very much
Answer
Greetings,
If you are Ashkenazi, the mezuzot should be installed diagonally throughout the house, with the top of the mezuzah facing inward and the bottom facing outward (Rama Yoreh De'ah 291:6). Therefore, you should remove the mezuzah and reinstall it diagonally without a blessing. If you are Sephardi, the mezuzot should be installed straight and upright (Shulchan Aruch there).
A Sephardi who installed the mezuzah diagonally instead of upright must remove it and reinstall it upright, but he should not recite a blessing again (Shulchan Aruch HaMakatzar 5:167 note 26, as well as in the book "The Mezuzah and Its Laws" 13:15 in the name of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, shlit"a).
Best regards,
Hillel Meirs
