US Jewish Prayer Holder: "Mezuzah"

This is an Israeli prayer holder, called a "mezuzah." A mezuzah, Hebrew for doorpost, contains a piece of parchment in a decorative case, inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah, or holy book of the Jews. These verses comprise the Jewish prayer "Shema Yisrael", beginning with the phrase: "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One." The Bible twice commands Jews, "and ye shall write them (the words of God) upon the mezuzot of thy house and in thy gates."

Mezuzah now refers to the passages which were affixed to the doorpost in accordance with this injunction. A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe in Jewish homes to fulfill the Biblical commandment to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house". The commandment to affix a mezuzah is widely followed in the Jewish world, even by Jews who are not religiously observant.

Judaism is a religion in which people believe that there is one god (monotheism), the same god the Christians and Muslims worship, who created the universe and has a personal relationship with humans. The religion was founded in Israel about 4,000 years ago by Abraham, who entered into a covenant with God to follow the laws of God. Moses received the Jewish holy book from God. The holy book is called the Torah. The history of the early Jewish people is contained in the Torah. The 10 Commandments (ex: don’t murder, don’t lie, don’t steal) are also contained in the Torah. Scholars disagree about whether there is an afterlife. Jews are waiting for the Messiah who may bring about an afterlife.
Source:
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE|CX2587513806&v=2.1&u=lapl&it=r&p=GVRL&s
http://judaism.about.com/library/3_blessingsprayers/bl_mezuza.htm