We all know the scene: A few weeks before Pesach, rental trucks appear, seemingly on every street corner, with the words “Shaimos L’Genizah” emblazoned on them in varying shapes and styles. These trucks are manned by children or adults, who eyeball your precious bags of Shaimos and quote you a price, based on formulas known only to them. You pay the required fee and you gingerly place your parcel of holy objects, Torah sheets, and the like, into the back of the truck, imagining that they will receive a proper halachic burial and you have done a mitzvah.

While certainly many of these services are run by upstanding individuals, who take their jobs seriously, unfortunately in recent years we have seen some that are not. Last year, for examples, numerous so-called “Shaimos trucks” were found abandoned after Pesach in different neighborhoods. In some cases the contents were found littered in yards and strewn across train tracks.

What can be done to avoid this? What can the G-d fearing public do to ensure that their Shaimos is receiving proper care? For one, say rabbonim, one should insist that the Shaimos operators are under the hashgochah of a reputable Rav or organization. Secondly, it is okay to ask where the Shaimos is being buried and who handles the burial. Finally, seek out a Shaimos dealer who provides year-round service. While this is not a guarantee, common sense dictates that someone who is available throughout the year is less likely to be a “fly-by-night” character than a self-proclaimed Shaimos expert who shows up for only two weeks out of the year.

This year, a newly expanded service to the community looks promising. “Shaimos.org” has been providing Shaimos services to individuals and shuls, through their iconic green “Shaimos Box,” for several years now. The Shaimos burial is conducted under the strict supervision of the OU, and the process seems fairly easy and straightforward. Simply drop into participating Judaica bookstores (see list at the end of this article), purchase a new, large-size Shaimos Box, fill it up at your leisure, and then return it to the bookstore for processing. (The price of the box includes the shipping of the box to the burial site and the halachic disposal of the Shaimos.) Once you’ve dropped off your full box, buy another, empty box to keep in a corner of your study, den, or wherever, and start the process over again. Your family will know that all Shaimos material goes into the “Shaimos Box,” avoiding bits and pieces of Shaimos accumulating all over the house. And best of all, there is no need to wait until the hectic pre-Pesach weeks to dispose of it – your local Judaica store is at your service during their year-round, regular business hours.

Chazal tell us: “Anyone who honors the Torah will be honored by people, and anyone who disgraces the Torah will be disgraced by people.” We are taught that this includes our proper treatment of Shaimos. Let us treat these “Torah remnants” with dignity, respect and reverence, as befits the honor of the Torah and its Giver.

Boro Park: Judaica Corner, Scharf’s, Bencher’s Unlimited

Flatbush: Eichler’s, Judaica Place, Torah Treasures

Crown Heights: Judaica World

Queens: Gift World

Five Towns: Five Towns Judaica

Manhattan: Westside Judaica

Monsey: Bais Haseforim

Lakewood: Judaica Plaza

Baltimore: Shabsi’s

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