Sheimot

Richard B. Aiken

Introduction to Holy Written Objects

By surrounding ourselves with reminders of the commandments and with objects for observing the various Jewish rituals, we can be constantly aware of what we should be doing to live our lives as Jews.

There are two categories of items used for mitzvot:

  • Holy items (tashmishei kedusha), such as tefilin and its boxes, Torah books and commentaries, and Torah scrolls and covers. 
  • Items used for mitzvot (tashmishei mitzva), such as lulav, etrog, and talit/tzitzit.

Disposal

Both tashmishei kedusha and tashmishei mitzva should be disposed of in a respectful manner. Tashmishei kedusha should ideally be buried. Newspapers with Torah or Torah commentary must be double-wrapped and then may be put in the trash, since they contain material that should not be buried with holy writings (only a newspaper's Torah or Torah commentary contain inherent holiness).

To dispose of tashmishei mitzva, you may wrap in one layer of plastic and throw it in normal garbage.

Sheimot

Definition

Sheimot/sheimos are written items with:

  • God's name in Hebrew or even in other languages;
  • Three consecutive words of Torah in Hebrew (or commentaries on the Torah in any language); or
  • Halacha in any language.

Sheimot: Illegible

If a normal person is not able to read your handwriting, then even if you wrote holy words, Torah, or halacha, they are not considered sheimot.

Sheimot: Treatment

Sheimot must be treated carefully, protected from unclean places, and buried or—in some cases—double-wrapped rather than trashed. See individual listings below for details.

Sheimot: Disposal

These holy writings (tashmishei kedusha) may not be thrown directly into the trash, but should ideally be buried with like items (sheimot):

  • Holy writings that contain God's name.
  • Parts of Tanach (24-book Jewish Bible).
  • Explanations of the Torah or commandments.

However, if a printed or written page (in contrast to parchment scrolls such as tefilin, Torahs, or mezuzas) contains God's name plus secular content, it must be double wrapped in plastic before being thrown in the trash.

Reason: It would be a disgrace to bury Torah words with secular content.

Note: You may find collection boxes (marked “sheimot/sheimos” or “geniza”) at a local Jewish school or synagogue into which you can deposit your sheimot items.

Note: Tashmishei mitzva—items used to do a mitzva (such as talit or tzitzit)—must be wrapped in:

  • One layer of plastic if they will be thrown away in dry trash, or
  • Double layer of plastic if they will be thrown away into wet garbage.

Sheimot: Bury

Do not throw into trash, even if double wrapped:

  • Handwritten scrolls of Torah, tefilin, mezuza.
  • Printed Torah, Talmud, siddur, books of halacha, or Torah commentaries.

Rather, put them into a sheimot collection box or wrap in plastic and bury in a place where they will not be dug up. It does not need to be a cemetery.

Double Wrap and Throw into Trash

Double wrap and throw into trash:

  • Newspapers and flyers that have Torah psukim or Torah commentaries and also have non-Torah content.

Reason: Non-Torah material should not be buried as sheimot.

  • Children's school handouts with psukim from the Torah or halachot that also contain non-Torah content (if they ONLY contain words of Torah, they should be buried as sheimot).

Single Wrap and Throw into Trash

For disposal of items used for mitzvot (tashmishei mitzva), you may wrap in one layer of plastic and throw it in normal garbage:

  • Lulav,
  • Etrog, or
  • Talit/tzitzit (but NOT tefilin!)

Copyright 2015 Richard B. Aiken. Halacha L’Maaseh appears courtesy of www.practicalhalacha.com Visit their web site for more information.