Burying Religious Articles

From Halachipedia

Geniza

  1. One shouldn’t write Divrei Chol in Ktav Ashurit (block-print font of Hebrew as is written in the Torah). [1]
  2. Divrei Torah that’s written in any font or language needs Geniza. [2]
  3. However, Divrei Torah written in mirror image fonts doesn’t need Geniza. [3]
  4. Divrei Torah written in Brail needs Geniza. [4]
  5. Divrei Torah written in microscopic font, some say it doesn’t need Geniza, but some are lenient if there’s no name of Hashem. [5]

Erasing Hashem's name

  1. Erasing Hashem’s name is learned from the juxtaposition of VeAvadtem Et Shemam and Lo TaAsun Ken LaHashem. In general, it’s forbidden to erase even one letter of any of the 7 names of Hashem: Yud Hay Vav Hay, Adonai, Elohah, El, Elokim, Shaddai, Tzivaot. [6]
  2. Many authorities permit erasing Torah or names of Hashem in electronic form. [7]
  3. There is a dispute regarding printing a paper with Divrei Torah which was done without intent of making it Kadosh. [8]
  4. Many poskim permit erasing the name of God written in languages other than Hebrew. [9]

What must be Buried?

  1. Tests with torah written on them should be buried in shaimos. [10]
  2. A paper that says God in English may be thrown away and does not need to be buried. [11] The same is true of writing Hashem whether in English or in Hebrew. [12]
  3. The schach, etrog, lulav, hadasim and aravot do not need to be buried, they can be thrown into the trash. [13]
  4. A yarmulke does not need to be buried. [14]
  5. A tallit gadol or tallit katan should ideally not be thrown out in a disgraceful manner. Therefore one should wrap it or place it in a bag before placing it in the garbage. [15]

Things to be careful for

  1. Organizations should not send out advertisements with the name of Hashem written on them because people may unknowingly throw it out. [16]
  2. Many poskim write that one should not write a pasuk on an invitation as most people simply throw these away. [17]
  3. Pesukim should not be placed in newspapers since the people will throw them away. [18]

References

  1. ↑ Rama Y”D 284:2 writes in name of the Sh”t HaRambam 7 (brought in the Bet Yosef 284) that it’s disgraceful to write Divrei Chol in the Ktav Ashurit since it’s the lettering as the Torah was given. Even though the Tashbetz 1:2 permits writing Divrei Chol in Ktav Ashurit, most poskim hold like the Rambam including the Orchot Chaim (Talmid Torah 1:9), Sh”t Radvaz (quoted by Pitchei Teshuva 283:3), Sh”t Chovot Yair 109, Sh”t Rav Poalim 4:32, and Aruch HaShulchan 284:8.
  2. ↑ S”A 154:5
  3. ↑ Kaf HaChaim O”C 154:38 writes that letters that are written backwards making up a Dvar Torah don’t need geniza as it’s not considered letters. So rules the Maharsham 3:39 and Ginizei HaKodesh 11:7 in name of Rav Elyashiv.
  4. ↑ Ginizei HaKodesh 11:7 in name of Rav Elyashiv
  5. ↑ Ginizei HaKodesh 11:7 in name of Rav Elyashiv says that microscopic font doesn’t need Geniza, while Rabbi Karlitz holds it does need Geniza.
  6. ↑ S”A Y”D 276:9
  7. ↑ Sh”t Yachava Daat 4:50, Sh”t Igrot Moshe 1:173 are lenient because the electronic encryption is illegible but says that it’s preferable to be strict.
  8. ↑ Rav Asher Weiss (quoted by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz on http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/739819/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Assorted_Sheimos_Issues) is lenient because of the expense
  9. ↑ Mishna Brurah 85:10 and Shach YD 179:10 both hold that it is permitted to erase the name of God in languages other than Hebrew.
  10. ↑ Ginzei Hakodesh 10:3:19 quoting Rav Elyashiv
  11. ↑ Mishna Berura 85:10
  12. ↑ Iggerot Moshe YD 2:138, Ginzei Hakodesh 7: footnote 8
  13. ↑ Star-K
  14. ↑ Star-K
  15. ↑ Ginzei Hakodesh 17: footnote 22 quoting Rav Elyashiv
  16. ↑ Iggerot Moshe YD 2:134-135. Ginzei Hakodesh 7:17:footnote 35 quotes Rav Elyashiv that it would be permitted if you do not write the complete name of Hashem.
  17. ↑ Iggerot Moshe 2:135, Ginzei Hakodesh 9:5, Halichos Shlomo Tefilla 20:footnote 72. Rav Moshe Heinemann writes that the pasuk of od yeshama is only a melitza and not written as a pasuk and is therefore permitted.
  18. ↑ Rav Elyashiv in Kovetz Teshuvot 1:115. This is based on the Shach 283:4 who writes that the reason S"A 283:4 says one shouldn't write pesukim on a tallit is because someone may come to throw it away.
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