After reporting that a large quantity of shaimos (books or other sacred objects which can no longer be used but may not be destroyed) had been illegally dumped in Haverstraw, NY, Assemblyman Hikind (D-Brooklyn) says those responsible have been identified.

Assemblyman Hikind and his staff worked with Rabbi Yisroel Kahan, Oizrim, the police liaison to Rockland County, to spread word of the incident after the Assemblyman was notified. Within hours, the owner of the truck that had carried the shaimos had been identified and contacted. The man, who had as many as five trucks operating a shaimos collection business out of Williamsburg, NY, was not arrested; he claimed to have permission from the private property’s owners in Haverstraw to dump the shaimos, however the property owners denied this. Eventually, the truck owner agreed to recollect the shaimos and properly dispose of it at Beth Genizah Olam, which is run by Rabbi Yosef Schwartz, after Assemblyman Hikind’s office made the arrangements.

“People were literally crying thinking that they may have inadvertently given their holy shaimos to someone who could care less, who treated their shaimos like garbage,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “We worked to resolve this immediate problem but I’ve been warning people for years to be careful about this. It’s time to develop a real system and I look forward to working with the leadership of the communities—with the Daas Torah—to work something out for next year. People don’t just eat anywhere. Neither can they just give their shaimos to anyone.”

“It’s an outrage to see honest people paying to have their shaimos cared for according to Halacha [Jewish Law] only to be exploited by dishonest people trying to make a quick dollar,” added Rabbi Kahan. “This is a serious issue, and we will continue working with Assemblyman Hikind to prevent this from happening again.”

Assemblyman Hikind thanked Rabbi Kahan, Police Chief Miller and the officers of the Haverstraw Police Department for their assistance. He also thanked Rabbi Schwartz who assisted in a similar matter two years ago when shaimos was dumped in Boro Park. Assemblyman Hikind also recognized his community liaison Chesky Klein who worked many hours into the evening to help solve the problem.

In previous years YWN reported stories of trucks left abandoned after Yom Tov. One story which YWN was first to report, was when an abandoned truck was found in Boro Park, with tons of Shaimos scattered on the nearby train tracks.

In response to numerous reports of abuse by so-called shaimos truck vendors who take money to bury religious books and articles but fail to do so, Senator Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) said he will introduce legislation in the Senate imposing a civil penalty on shaimos truck operators who fail to properly bury the religious items. The bill will require those wishing to operate a shaimos truck to obtain a permit from the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, and to provide advanced proof of access to a proper burial ground. Civil penalties range from a minimum of $1,000 up to $5,000.

“It’s time to bring an end to this unspeakable chillul Hashem,” said Senator Felder. “Every year we hear tragic stories of shaimos truck operators who willfully betray the public’s trust and desecrate G-d’s name. People who do the right thing in adherence of the Jewish law should not become the unwitting victims of nefarious and selfish individuals who seek to profit from the public’s good will. This legislation is intended to distinguish between honest and deceitful brokers.”

The provisions of the bill will require prospective operators to provide their legal name, address, and photo ID in order to obtain the permit. Applicants will be required to pay an administrative fee of $50. Permits must be posted in a conspicuous manner on the truck, and operators will also be required to provide customers with a printed receipt containing their permit number, name, address, and the amount paid. The legislation will apply to cities of one million or more.

As a public community service, YWN is reposting part of the following article from last year:

Is Your Shaimos Being Treated Like Garbage CH”V?

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.

(Chaim Shapiro – YWN)