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Chaim stood at the counter of his Judaica shop, polishing some silver kiddush cups. He put down his cloth, and looked around the cramped room, crowded with prayer books and tallit bags, menorahs and havdala candles. He had worked hard to build up his store, but the satisfaction he got, providing customers with the opportunity to do mitzvahs in a beautiful manner, made the work all worth it.

The tinkle of chimes at the front of his store drew Chaim out of his reverie. Chaim was somewhat startled to see a very elegant, well dressed lady walk in, followed by an escort of several men. One of the men approached Chaim, and in an authoritative voice stated “mezuzas, please.”

“Of course” responded Chaim, as he guided his would-be customers toward the mezuza display. “As you see, we have a large selection.”

The women stepped forward, and looked over Chaim’s collection. She pointed a dainty finger at one case. Chaim hurried to wrap the mezuza and put it in a bag. One of the men paid Chaim, and took the bag. With a flourish, and another tinkle of the door chime, the lady and her entourage left the store.

A minute later, Chaim’s good friend, Mr. Levi, walked in. “You had some customer, didn’t you!” enthused Mr. Levi.

“It was definitely an interesting experience” agreed Chaim. “I wonder who that was.”

“Really, you don’t who was just in your store?” Mr. Levi’s eyes grew wide. “You just sold Judaica to the queen of Spain!”

Chaim was first startled, and then flattered, at hearing Mr. Levi’s news. Then another thought struck Chaim. Was Chaim allowed to sell a mezuza to a non-Jew?

Answer of Rabbi Asher Weiss, shlita:

Chaim was permitted to sell the mezuza to the queen of Spain.

There is a story related in the Jerusalem Talmud (Pe’ah 4a), in which a person named Artabon (seemingly one of the Roman kings) sent an exceedingly precious jewel to Rabbi Yehuda the Prince, as a gift. Artabon requested that Rabbi Yehuda send him an equally valuable item. Rabbi Yehuda sent Artabon a single mezuza. Artabon became angry. He responded to Rabbi Yehuda “I sent you an item that is priceless, and you sent me something that can be bought with a single coin.” Rabbi Yehuda responded “Our combined wealth does not approach the value of what I sent you. What’s more, what you sent me must be carefully guarded, while what I sent you will protect you.”

From the above story, we see that it is permitted to give a mezuza to a non-Jew.

In truth, the Rama states (Yoreh De’ah, siman 291) that it is forbidden to give a mezuza to a non-Jew. This halachic ruling is based on the Maharil, in the laws of mezuza. The Maharil cites two reasons for his ruling. One is out of concern that the non-Jew might treat the mezuza improperly. The second reason is that the non-Jew might affix the mezuza­ to his doorway, with the intention of fooling Jews, and causing bloodshed.

In our case, however, it is reasonable to assume that there is no concern about disgrace of the mezuza, or danger to Jews. Therefore, it was permitted for Chaim to sell the mezuza to the queen.

(When relating this ruling, Rabbi Weiss smiled, and said that, nowadays, a non-Jew who puts a mezuza­ on his doorway would probably take it down quickly, because our brothers in the charity collecting business, who take great care to remind their fellow Jews of their obligation to give charity, would notice the non-Jew’s mezuza and see it as an invitation to solicit…)

Summary: It was permitted for Chaim to sell the mezuza to the queen