Torah requires us to treat holy writings and objects with dignity even when they won’t be used anymore, many of these items cannot be thrown out in the regular garbage. These items, known colloquially as shaimos or ganiza, (or “names” referring to Hashem’s Holy Name that may not be erased), must be discarded in the respectful manner that is outlined in Halacha.
Just as it is important to clarify which items belong in shaimos, it is also important to know what is not considered shaimos, since it is considered disrespectful to bury non-shaimos with regular shaimos and wasteful of Holy cemetery ground.
Click here for easy to understand guide to what is/isn’t Shaimos
If you have some articles that do require burial, please follow the procedure below:
- Approved Sheimos Boxes must be pre-ordered and purchased from the Sydney Chevra Kadisha (SCK). Contact our office to arrange a time/date to collect them.
- A fee of $20 per box will apply. To purchase a box, click here.
- You will still need to call the SCK office to book a time/date to drop off the filled box of Sheimos. NB: Due to limited space at the SCK, we may not be able to take your Shaimos immediately. If that is the case, please call back in a few days to check our capacity
- Only sheimos submitted in approved boxes will be accepted.
- Loose sheimos or non-approved containers will not be accepted.
Under no circumstances may boxes (approved or other) be dumped outside the SCK as this may pose a significant security risk.
The following shaimos that contain Hashem’s name or have had a mitzva performed with them and should be placed in the SCK box:
- Tefillin, mezuzot, and megilot
- Chumashim, siddurim, benchers, machzorim, Hagadot and any book or printed material that has Hashem’s name Yud – Kei –Vav –Kei , Yud – Kei, Adnay , Elokim, Shakai printed or written in the full original spelling
- Mezuza covers, tefillin straps, boxes and bags
- Tzitzis, tzitzis strings, and talleisim
- Talmud ,Mishnayot, , Shulchan Aruch and similar classic printed texts.
According to HoRav Moshe Feinstein ZT”L recycling holy items that do not have Hashem’s name on them is permitted as they are not treated disrespectfully during the process. Therefore the following may be discarded by placing them in the paper cardboard recycling bin . These items should not be brought to the SCK and will not be accepted for burial.
- Printed material which by their nature are not intended to be saved, and that do not have Hashem’s name written in full i.e. weekly Divrei Torah flyers, Torah articles printed in newspapers and magazines, Torah magazines without Hashem’s name etc
- Children’s Limudei kodesh homework and parsha sheets that ( should not, and) do not have Hashem’s name printed in full
- Invitations that contain pesukim (verses ) .
The following should be placed in the green garden waste bin and not brought to the SCK. They will not be accepted for burial.
- Lulav ( There is a custom to save the lulav and burn it with the chametz Erev Pesach but it may also be burned prior)
- Etrog ( It is customary for it to be allowed to dry and shrivel first )
- Hoshanot.
The following are not shaimos and may be disposed of in the normal manner and not brought to the SCK
- CDs, DVDs, tapes, computer disks, USB sticks and hard drives that contain Torah shiurim
If one does not have the ability to bring actual shaimos to the SCK there are authorities that permit placing them in two bags – that is filling a bag with shaimos , sealing it and putting that bag into a second bag and sealing it – and then disposing of the doubly sealed bags in the normal garbage. This is not the preferred option .It should not be used for actual Tefillin and Mezuzot.