It’s common for mezuzah artists to inscribe the word Shaddai, one of the names for God, on the decorative case or include a window through which one can see it written on the backside of the parchment within. One of the explanations is that the letters shin-dalet-yud form an acronym for the phrase shomer delatot yisrael, Protector of the Doorways of Israel. According to this tradition, putting a mezuzah on one’s doorpost is more than fulfillment of a mitzvah, it adds a layer of divine protection to one’s home. On today’s daf, we encounter a story about Onkelos bar Kelonimos, a convert to Judaism, who benefited from the protection a mezuzah provides — in more ways that one.
The Roman emperor sent a troop of Roman soldiers to seize Onkelos and bring him to the emperor. Onkelos drew them toward him with verses that he cited and learned with them, and they converted.
The Talmud does not tell us why the emperor sought to arrest Onkelos or whether it had anything to do with his conversion to Judaism. But this convert proved adept at persuading the soldiers sent to capture him to do the same. When the troops did not return with their prisoner, the emperor sent a second group, instructing them not to engage in conversation lest they be enticed to convert as well.
When they were walking, Onkelos said to the (second) troop of soldiers: I will say a mere statement to you: A minor official holds a torch before a high official, the high official holds a torch for a duke, a duke for the governor, and the governor for the ruler. Does the ruler hold a torch before the common people?
The soldiers said to Onkelos: No.
Onkelos said to them: Yet the Holy One, Blessed be God, holds a torch before the Jewish people, as it is written: And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light. (Exodus 13:21)
Onkelos draws the second set of soldiers into conversation, noting that God “held” the light by which the Israelites travelled, something that the emperor that they serve would never do for them. The emperor tries a third time, and sends a third troop of soldiers, again with the instruction not to converse with Onkelos. But again, Onkelos manages to gain their ear:
While they grabbed him and were walking, Onkelos saw a mezuzah that was placed on the doorway. He placed his hand upon it and said to the soldiers: What is this?
They said to him: You tell us.
Onkelos said to them: The standard practice throughout the world is that a king of flesh and blood sits inside his palace, and his servants stand guard, protecting him outside; but with regard to the Holy One, Blessed be God, God’s servants, the Jewish people, sit inside their homes and God guards over them outside. As it is stated: The Lord shall guard your going out and your coming in, from now and forever. (Psalms 121:8)
Upon hearing this, those soldiers also converted to Judaism. After that, the emperor sent no more soldiers after him.
Onkelos makes a great pitch for Judaism: Instead of serving a king of flesh and blood who offers little in return, serve God who provides protection, direction and light. It only took him a few minutes to convince a troop of Roman soldiers. The mezuzah indeed lived up to its promise of protection.
Read all of Avodah Zarah 11 Sefaria.
This piece originally appeared in a My Jewish Learning Daf Yomi email newsletter sent on June 29, 2025. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter, sign up here.
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