Guides & Articles
Mezuzah & Tefillin Blog
Practical guidance on mezuzot, tefillin, and Safrut from Rabbi Levi Backman, Certified Sofer STaM serving Miami and South Florida.
English Articles
Mezuzah Scroll: The Complete Guide to the Klaf Inside the Case (2026)
What a mezuzah scroll actually is, how it's written, what it costs, and how to know yours is kosher. A Certified Sofer STaM in Miami breaks down the parchment, ink, and halacha behind every klaf.
Read articleKosher Tefillin: What Makes Tefillin Kosher & How to Verify Yours (2026)
What makes tefillin kosher: the four parshiot, batim, retzuot, and how they're written. Learn how to verify your tefillin are valid, common problems that make them pasul, and how to care for them in Miami.
Read articleBuy Tefillin: A Complete Buyer's Guide for Kosher Tefillin in 2026
Everything you need to know before buying kosher tefillin: Dakos vs Gassot, how to verify they're kosher, what to spend, and where to buy in Miami from a Certified Sofer STaM.
Read articleWhat Is a Sofer STaM? Everything You Need to Know (2026)
A Sofer STaM is a certified Jewish scribe who writes Torah scrolls, tefillin, and mezuzot by hand. Learn what certification means, how to find one, and why only a sofer can verify kosher status.
Read articleBuy a Mezuzah: Complete Guide to Buying Kosher Mezuzah Scrolls (2026)
How to buy a kosher mezuzah scroll in Miami: what to look for, how much to spend, how to avoid fakes, and where to buy from a Certified Sofer STaM with WhatsApp delivery.
Read articleSofer Near Me: How to Find a Certified Sofer STaM in Miami (2026)
Searching for a sofer near you in Miami? Here's how to find a Certified Sofer STaM, what to ask before hiring, and how to get mezuzot, tefillin, and inspections from a trusted local scribe.
Read articleWhat Makes a Mezuzah Kosher? A Sofer's Complete Guide (2026)
A kosher mezuzah is more than a decorative case — it's a hand-written parchment that must meet strict halachic rules. A Certified Sofer STaM in Miami explains exactly what to check before you buy or hang one.
Read articleWhat's Inside Tefillin? The Hidden Scrolls Explained
Inside the black leather boxes of tefillin are four handwritten Torah passages on parchment. Here's what each parchment contains, how they're arranged differently in the shel yad and shel rosh, and why they must be written by a Sofer STaM.
Read articleWhere to Place a Mezuzah: Every Doorway in Your Home
A practical room-by-room guide to mezuzah placement — which doorways need one, which don't, which side of the door, and the right height. Plus the rules for bathrooms, closets, and garages.
Read articleWhat Makes a Mezuzah Kosher? The Complete Guide
Learn the halachic requirements for a kosher mezuzah — handwritten by a certified Sofer STaM, proper parchment and ink, perfect letter formation, and written in order. Plus how to verify yours.
Read article¿Cómo se ponen los Tefilín? Guía paso a paso en español
Cómo colocar los tefilín correctamente: orden, brazo, cabeza, bendiciones y errores comunes. Guía paso a paso en español por un sofer certificado en Miami.
Read articleWhat Is Tefillin? A Complete Guide to Jewish Phylacteries
A complete guide to tefillin: what they are, what's inside the boxes, the two pieces (shel yad and shel rosh), who wears them, why they must be kosher, and the difference between peshutim and gassot batim.
Read article¿Qué hay dentro de los Tefilín? Los 4 pergaminos explicados
Qué pergaminos contienen los tefilín, qué versículos de la Torá llevan, y la diferencia entre el shel yad y el shel rosh. Guía en español por un sofer certificado en Miami.
Read article¿Dónde se coloca la Mezuzá? Guía completa de puertas del hogar
Qué puertas del hogar llevan mezuzá y cuáles no: baños, closets, garaje, balcón. Guía halájica en español por un sofer certificado en Miami.
Read articleCheck Your Mezuzot and Tefillin Before Rosh Hashana — The Complete Elul Guide
Elul is the traditional time to inspect your mezuzot and tefillin before Rosh Hashana. Here's what to check, why Miami's climate matters, and how Rabbi Levi Backman can help.
Read articleWhy Is a Mezuzah Slanted? The Ashkenazi vs Sephardi Custom
Ashkenazim hang the mezuzah on a slant; Sephardim hang it vertical. Here's the famous Rashi vs Rabbeinu Tam dispute behind it, and which direction the top should tilt.
Read articleHow to Put On Tefillin: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide
A complete step-by-step guide to putting on tefillin — arm tefillin first, then head, with the right blessings, wraps, and the most common mistakes to avoid.
Read articleThe Blessing for Tefillin (Bracha, Hebrew, and Translation)
The full text of the blessings recited when putting on tefillin — Hebrew, transliteration, and English translation — plus when to say which blessing and what to do between them.
Read articleHow to Hang a Mezuzah: Step-by-Step Guide
A complete, halachic step-by-step guide to hanging a mezuzah correctly — which doors need one, where on the doorpost, the blessing, and the most common mistakes to avoid.
Read articleHow Often Should You Check Your Mezuzah?
The halachic rule is twice every seven years — but in Miami's climate, outdoor mezuzot need a yearly check. Here's the full schedule, plus when to check immediately.
Read articleWhy Miami's Climate Affects Your Mezuzot and Tefillin More Than You Think
Heat, humidity, salt air, and hurricane season all damage kosher scrolls faster in South Florida. Here's what to watch for and how often to check in Miami.
Read articleBar Mitzvah Tefillin: A Complete Checklist for Miami Families
Everything Miami families need to prepare for a Bar Mitzvah: choosing kosher tefillin, tallit, ketav style, batim quality, bags, and the right Sofer STaM to verify it all.
Read articleWhat Is a Mezuzah? What's Actually Inside the Scroll
A mezuzah is the hand-written parchment scroll affixed to a Jewish doorway. Here's exactly what's written on it, why it has to come from a Sofer STaM, and why the case alone isn't a mezuzah.
Read articleMezuzah Placement Guide for Miami Homes
Where to hang each mezuzah in your home, how high to place it, which side of the doorpost, and the bracha to say — a practical guide for Miami families.
Read articleHow to Know If Your Mezuzah Is Still Kosher
Visual signs your mezuzah may have become pasul (invalid), why Miami's climate matters, and how a Certified Sofer STaM verifies it letter by letter.
Read articleArtículos en Español
Tefilín para Bar Mitzvá: cómo elegir el mejor
Guía en español para elegir los mejores tefilín para Bar Mitzvá: diferencias de calidad, qué incluye un buen paquete, y por qué comprarlos con un sofer certificado en Miami.
Leer artículo¿Qué son los Tefilín? Guía completa en español
Qué son los tefilín, cómo se usan, diferencia entre peshutim y gassot, y por qué deben revisarse. Guía en español por un sofer certificado en Miami.
Leer artículo¿Cada cuánto hay que revisar las Mezuzot?
La halajá indica revisar las mezuzot dos veces cada siete años, pero el clima de Miami exige más frecuencia. Guía en español sobre cuándo revisar sus mezuzot y señales de daño.
Leer artículo¿Qué es una Mezuzá? Significado, contenido y cómo colocarla
Guía completa en español sobre la mezuzá: qué es, qué contiene el pergamino, cómo se coloca en la puerta y por qué debe ser kosher. Escrita por un sofer certificado en Miami.
Leer artículo