Q&A: Requirement of Genizah for Heretical Materials Containing Sacred Names
Requirement of Genizah for Heretical Materials Containing Sacred Names
Question
Is it permissible to throw into the trash a leaflet of the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” (a type of Christians) that contains the Tetragrammaton? Or should we say that it requires genizah?
Answer
A Torah scroll written by a heretic must be burned (Babylonian Talmud, Sabbath 116a). And that is referring to a scroll written on parchment and in a kosher manner. All the more so for a leaflet like this. A Name written in this way is not sacred.
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Questioner:
Is there an obligation to destroy the leaflet? Or can I leave it in my home?
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Rabbi:
It seems to me that there is an obligation to destroy it, at least because of concern for the consequences and influence.
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Questioner:
What consequences and influence? As I recall, you hold that it is permitted to read books of heresy and idolatry, so why here are you concerned about influence?
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Rabbi:
Substantive arguments are permitted to read, especially when you yourself want to clarify the matter and not merely out of the evil inclination’s advice, but not preaching that does not derive its force from arguments.