Question:
A Mezuzah should be put an Amah from the top of the door post. What is an Amah in inches?
Answer:
Thank you for your questions
Before answering your question, I must comment that the mezuza is not meant to go in the amah from the top of the doorpost. It is supposed to be put in the top third of the door post, at the beginning of the top third (unless the doorpost is very high). B’dieved it can be put until a tefach of the top of the doorpost, which is 3-4 inches. When affixing the mezuza, it is best to first measure the height of the doorpost, and then place the bottom of the mezuza above the line two thirds mark.
As a side point, the size of an amah, is controversial, according to the various opinions it is between 18-24 inches.
Best wishes
Sources:
שלחן ערוך יורה דעה ס’ רפט סע’ ב’ וז”ל “אֵיזֶהוּ מְקוֹם קְבִיעָתָהּ, בְּתוֹךְ חָלָל שֶׁל פֶּתַח, בַּטֶּפַח הַסָמוּךְ לַחוּץ, וְאִם שִׁנָּה, אֵינוֹ מְעַכֵּב, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיַּנִּיחֶנָּה בַּמְּזוּזָה עַצְמָהּ (טוּר), בִּתְחִלַּת שְׁלִישׁ הָעֶלְיוֹן גֹּבַהּ הַשַּׁעַר. וְאִם קָבַע לְמַעְלָה מִזֶּה, כְּשֵׁרָה, וְהוּא שֶׁיַּרְחִיקֶנָּה מֵהַמַּשְׁקוֹף טֶפַח. וְצָרִיךְ לְקָבְעָהּ עַל יְמִין הַנִּכְנָס. וְאֵין חִלּוּק בֵּין אִם הוּא אִטֵּר יָד אוֹ לֹא (מָרְדְּכַי ה”ק) . וְאִם קְבָעָהּ מִשְּׂמֹאל, פְּסוּלָה.
