ots@ohrtorahstone.org.il

Question: What written material cannot be thrown away and must be put into geniza?

Answer: Any sacred book or part thereof – this includes the 24 books of the Bible as well as the Talmud and the major classical Hebrew commentaries of these books – cannot be thrown away. Similarly – and aside from actual sacred texts the following is the most important consideration: any of the seven Hebrew names of G-d which are variants of Elokim, Y-HVH and TZEVAOT and SHADDAI - written in Hebrew cannot be destroyed and must be preserved. Any English variant or English commentary is not in that category.

If you have a question for Q & A, send it to ots@ohrtorahstone.org.il . We cannot guarantee that all questions received will be answered in this column.

Previous 'Q&As':
Relating to

• When is one permitted to shave – if at all – during Sefirat Haomer?
• Should visitors to Israel keep one or two days of Yom Tov
• The balance between the mitzvah of drinking on Purim and the importance of balanced sobriety
• Eating before Shul on Shabbat
• Laws of Mourning
• Halachic Status of Smoking
• Pikuach Nefesh on Shabbat
• Laws of Maaser
• Laws of Lashon Hara pertaining to the 'listener'. 
• Reprimanding a fellow davener who is chatting during davening
• The definition of "joyous occasion" that one is not permitted to take part in during the "three weeks"
• Tay Sachs and other genetic testing for students
• tircha detzibura - causing hardship to the congregation
• Grape Juice for the "Four Cups"
• Kashrut in anothers home
• Studying secular subjects on Shabbat
• "Torah u'Maddah" and "Torah and Derech Eretz"
• Etrog Jam
• Commonly asked questions about Friday night kiddush
• Source of various customs of waiting between eating meat and milk
• Comfort declaration at Shiva house
• Recitation of Av Haarachamim
• Mayim Acharonim
• Amira lagoy
• Maaser Kessafim
• Where to light Hannukah lights
• Women dancing with sefer torah
• Individual's feeling of security
• Differing Berachot when male/female born
• Eating dairy meals on Shabbat
• Visiting Israel and the security situation
• Playing football on Shabbat
• Shmitta laws
• Kitniyot on Pesach
• Driving throught Judea, Samaria and Gaza
• Inebriation on Purim
• Travelling to India and vegetarian food
• Laws of mourning
• Expressing disapproval of chillul shabbat
• Interpretation of dreams
• Women's Minyanim
• Refrigerators on Shabbat
• Succah
• Tzeddaka
• Muktsa and Marketing campaigns

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