Ask the Rabbi
- Halacha
- G-d's Name and Holy Writings
- G-d's Name and Gnizza
Question
I live in Jerusalem and I was at the nearby park, and saw a water damaged piece of what I thought was a holy Jewish text -- about 30-40 pages of writing in typeset Hebrew (obviously part of a larger manuscript). I’ve come across such items before, and put them in a bag I put aside for geniza. However, upon leafing through this item, I discovered that it is not a copy of a Jewish holy text, but rather a copy of the "New Testament." I thought of throwing it in the trash, but it does contain the holy name of God in Hebrew. Question is: what to do with this this text? I suspect I have to burn it, as it is a heretical text, but I am not entirely sure. Much thanks in advance for an answer.
Answer
Shalom, you are correct that even though it may even have the Torah and/or G-d's Name included, the fact that it was printed for Christian purposes deems it sacrilegious and it should be burned (Igrot Moshe, YD 172).
With love of Israel,
Rav Ari Shvat






