LAWS OF SHAIMOS By Dayan Rav Shmuel Fuerst Reprinted with permission from Agudath Israel Of IL _______ I t is forbidden by the Torah to discard holy objects, devorim shebikdusha, by throwing them into the trash. Objects which have been used for a Mitzvah, although they have no Kedusha of their own, should not be put in a makom be’zayon. However, one may wrap them in double plastic and put them in the garbage. Included in this category are: S'chach of the Sukkah, Tallis bags, Esrogim, Lulavim, Hadasim, and Arovos. Objects which do have Kedusha should be buried. Included in this category are Tefilin, Tefilin bags, Mezuzas, Mezuza covers and Seforim, whether they are hand written, printed or photocopied. The custom is also to include Tzitzis and Talesim in this category. One may dispose of a Yarmulka in the garbage. Devorim Shebikdusha also include: • Paper on which a Halacha is printed or written with intention to tell the Halacha, or a Medrash of Chazal which is intended to explain a Possuk or to teach us how to conduct ourselves in Mussar and Hashkafa. • A paper on which three consecutive words of a Possuk from Tanach have been written on one line with the intention of quoting the Tanach (as opposed to a Melitza [borrowed phrase] which is not Shaimos–and can be discarded). • Any paper or material on which one of the names of Hashem is written. 28 28
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