Bracha when posting a Mezuzah on a property that a Goy has partnership in

 

Questions:

1. In a house that is owned by an intermarried couple, I know that no Bracha is said for a Mezuza on the front door.  But what about a Mezuza on a bedroom of the Jewish child within the house? Do we also refrain from a Bracha then?

2. Do we make a Bracha for Mezuza on an apartment front door that inside lives a special needs Jewish boy that is living with a non-Jewish assistant? Wouldn’t this case be any different than any Jew and non-Jew living in the same place?

 

Answers:

1. Yes, no blessing is said even if the room is only of a Jewish child’s bedroom. The child does not own or rent the bedroom; he only has sleeping rights provided by the parents. This is like Bochurim in a dormitory, see the refrences here.

The problem is that the home is owned by both the Jew and the non-Jew and thus there is a partnership. See Rema Yoreh Deah 285:1 and Poskim there. See also here and references therein.

2. This depends, if the home is owned by the Jew and the non-Jew is staying there to help take care of the boy, then a Mezuzah is necessary with a blessing. See Shulchan Aruch Y.D.291: 3.

On a side note there can be a serious Halachik issue of Yichud with a Goy (even if both are males). One should consult with a local Rav on that issue. See Shulchan Aruch Even Haezer chapter 24.

 

 

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