DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1.01 MB)
Sisit: Can Sisit That Are No Longer Used be Disposed of?

The Halacha distinguishes between a "Tashmish Kedusha" (accessory of a holy object) and a "Tashmish Misva" (accessory of a Misva). The case of a Sefer Torah and the boxes of Tefilin are examples of a Tashmish Kedusha. When they wear out or are no longer useful they require Geniza (storage in a sacred repository). Even though they themselves are not holy, they serve holy objects. On the other hand, a Tashmish Misva such as the Sechach of the Sukkah may be discarded after the Hag.

The strings of Sisit are considered Tashmish Misva. Therefore, if they become ripped or torn, they may be thrown away, as they have no Kedusha after their Misva is finished. Of course, they should not be disposed of in a degrading way. It is best to leave them in a place where it is known that someone will come and get rid of them. Alternatively, they may be placed in a plastic bag and then placed in the garbage.

The Poskim discuss whether the calendar for Sefirat HaOmer requires Geniza, or, after ripping off the page with the current count, it may be thrown away. Assuming that there are no names of Hashem or other sacred texts, the actual formula for counting, "Today is such and such day" has no intrinsic holiness. Therefore, after the Misva is completed, the page may be thrown away, in a non-degrading manner. This is the consensus of Rav Gidon in his "Yoru Mishpatecha", as well as Rav Nissim Korelitz and Rav Elyashiv.

SUMMARY

Sisit and other Tashmish Misva, such as Sefirat HaOmer calendar, may be disposed of in a respectful manner after they are no longer used for a Misva.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Is It Permissible To Carry A Child On Shabbat In The Public Domain
Is It Permissible To Use A Body Sponge On Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Wear A Sports Coat Over Your Shoulders On Shabbat In The Public Domain
How to Squeeze Fruits and Vegetables on Shabbat
Borer: Selecting Cutlery to Set a Table for the Next Day
Borer: Selecting Clothes in a Dark Room
Borer: Is Peeling and Removing Wrappers from Food Considered Borer?
Borer: Is It Permissible to Scatter a Mixture and Select From It?
Borer: May One Remove a Fly from a Cup of Wine on Shabbat?
Opening Nuts & Peapods on Shabbat
Borer: Filtering Liquids on Shabbat
Borer- Is A Sink Drain Strainer Permissible On Shabbat Even Though It May Be Separating And Selecting Out Foods
Borer – May One Separate Food With a Fork, and How Long Before a Meal May One Separate Food?
Is It Permissible To Separate Forks From Knives on Shabbat?
Borer: Removing Bones from Fish on Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found