“…The entire congregation are holy, every one of them, and G-d is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above the assembly of G-d?”…” – Bamidbar 16:3

כִּי כָל הָעֵדָה כֻּלָּם קְדשִׁים וּבְתוֹכָם ה’ וּמַדּוּעַ תִּתְנַשְּׂאוּ עַל קְהַל ה’ – במדבר טז, ג

The Midrash (Tanchuma, Korach 2) relates that Korach challenged Moshe, “If a house is full of Torah scrolls, what is the law: does it need a mezuzah on its doorpost or not?’’ Moshe replied, “It is obligated.” Said Korach: “The entire Torah, consisting of 275 chapters, was insufficient to absolve this house of its obligation and the two chapters in the mezuzah absolve it? G-d did not command you these laws, you have invented them yourself.”

The house full of Torah scrolls, the subject of Korach’s debate with Moshe, also alludes to the Torah scholar, who has lined his mind with the Torah’s wisdom. According to Moshe, even the scholar who is a virtual storehouse of Torah requires a mezuzah; he, too,is in need of  the protection that a mezuzah provides.

The mezuzah represents the obligation to develop a conscious and personal relationship with G-d, comprised of both love of G-d and trepidation before Him. These emotions are the theme of the two chapters of the Torah contained in the mezuzah. The first chapter, Shema, states, “You shall love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” In the second chapter, Vehaya Im Shamoa, we are told of the reward for fulfilling G-d’s commandments, and we are warned of the consequences of neglecting them. Hence, the focus of this chapter is to instill in us a fear and awe of G-d’s Omnipotence.

In the analogy of the Torah scholar, Moshe’s statement that even a house full of Torah scrolls requires a mezuzah teaches us that Torah study alone is insufficient. The Torah scholar requires the protection of a mezuzah; i.e., to develop within himself genuine feelings of awe and love of G-d. For in the words of the Mishna (Avos 3:9), “One whose fear of sin takes precedence to his wisdom, his wisdom endures. But one whose wisdom takes precedence to his fear of sin, his wisdom does not endure.”

—Likkutei Sichos, vol. 2, p. 329