Disposing of Tzitzis

Q. I have many old pairs of tzitzis that my children no longer wear. Can I throw them away?

A. Shulchan Aruch (OC 21:1-2) writes that torn tzitzis strings and old tzitzis garments may be thrown in the garbage. However, the garments and strings may not be used in a degrading manner. For example, one may not use the strings to tie up a garbage bag or use the garment as a rag to mop the floor. The Rema is more strict and writes that the tzitzis strings should not be thrown directly into the garbage, since this is a disgrace for the tzitzis, but they may be allowed to end up in the garbage on their own. Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 664:20) explains that one may place them in a bag next to the garbage for the garbage men to collect. This is permitted since the tzitzis were not thrown directly into the garbage. Mishnah Berurah (21:13) writes that this only applies to the strings. The garment itself may be thrown directly into the garbage even according to the Rema. Although there is no obligation to bury the strings, Rema writes that those who are extra careful to bury the strings, as is done with Sheimos (Torah writings), will merit a beracha.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.