As a general rule, every Torah pamphlet should be labeled with a note such as “Please preserve the sanctity of this publication.” Once a person finishes reading a Torah pamphlet, it should be placed in genizah. Many synagogues have designated genizah bins, and these are regularly transferred to the care of the chevra kadisha (burial society), which handles them appropriately.
If one cannot bring the pamphlets to genizah and knows they will end up in the trash, they must shred or burn them. However, in such a case, one must first check whether the pamphlet includes any of the divine names (A-dnai, Kel, Elokah, Elokim, Havay-ah, Tzevakot, Ekeyeh, Shakai), as many pamphlets do contain these in full spelling. According to Torah law, these names may not be erased, burned, or shredded. (Therefore, it is better to invest the time and effort in placing the pamphlets in genizah rather than performing this inspection.) Our Sages said: “Whoever honors the Torah (including the paper upon which it is written), his body is honored by others.”
Adapted and translated from Sichat HaShevua
