For Matanos L’evyonim donations Click Here

Is this shaimos?

Question:

  1. If a posuk or part of davening is written on a paper, but using the letter “hei” instead of spelling out the name of Hashem or writing eloKai instead of the real word, etc. is that shaimos or can it be placed in a bag and then in the garbage?
  2. Also, what about the parts of pesukim written on wedding invitations?

Thanks for this amazing site!

Answer:

  1. It is considered shaimos and it needs geneiza. The reason is not because of the the “hei” that was written, that would not require the paper to be put in shaimos at all. The reason is because a posuk or a quote from chazal including the teffilos from chazal, that are written on a paper the paper need real genieza. This is because three words of a posuk (if it consists of a whole idea) that were written consecutively require geneiza.
  2. If a posuk (more than three words consecutively) is written on the heading of an invitation, if the three words contain a full idea, it is also shaimos, and should not be thrown in the garbage. However the posuk can be separated from the rest of the invitation before that part is thrown out. There are times when it appears like it is a posuk written, but some words were changed from singular to plural, such as when people write the words “ירושלים על ראש שמחתינו”, when the correct term “על ראש שמחתי”, therefore that invitation would not be shaimos.   (Words written from the parsha to show which week the chasuna will be, are not shaimos because it is only being used as a form of speech.)

Best Wishes

Sources:

  1. Shulchan Aruch Y:D 284-1, Aruch Hashulchan ibid, Igros Moshe Y:D 2-135, Ginzei Hakodesh 10-13, 9-3, 7-6, in the name of R’ Eliyashiv zt”l.
  2. Halichos Shlomo 20 ftnt. 72, Kovetz Tehuvos 1-115, Ginzei Hakodesh 9-5, 6. Also see Oz Nidberu 7-65(2) who says that an invitation that has a posuk written on it may be put in a bag etc. and put in the garbage.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *