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Q&A

Welcome to the Judaism community on Codidact!

Will you help us build our community of learners? Drop into our study hall, ask questions, help others with answers to their questions, share a d'var torah if you're so inclined, invite your friends, and join us in building this community together. Not an ask-the-rabbi service, just people at all levels learning together.

Comments on Question about disposing of Christian books

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Question about disposing of Christian books

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Hey, my name is Jack. I’m coming from Christianity and I’m working toward converting to Orthodox Judaism. I’ve been praying and attending a synagogue for a little while now, and I’ve kept putting off what to do with all of my old Christian books. I have around 75 of them—Bibles, commentaries, prayer books, devotionals, canon law, and so on.

I’m confused about the proper way to dispose of them. A friend told me that even the English word “God” should be treated like Hashem’s name and shouldn’t be erased, but I’m not sure if that applies here. These books promote Christian beliefs, so I obviously don’t want to donate them and spread idolatry. I also don’t have a place to burn them.

Is it permissible to just throw them away, or do they need to be buried? A few of the books contain Hebrew words in transliteration, but none of them contain the actual Tetragrammaton.

I’d really appreciate some guidance on the correct halakhic approach to this, preferably as soon as possible. Thank you.

History

2 comment threads

https://dinonline.org/2021/06/21/names-of-hashem-and-geniza/ (1 comment)
we can help with general info but not personal rabbinic advice (1 comment)
we can help with general info but not personal rabbinic advice
Monica Cellio‭ wrote 9 months ago

Welcome to Judaism Codidact! The question of how to dispose of idolatrous books containing (or possibly containing) divine names is interesting and important. Answers here can discuss halacha and philosophy in general, but for specific, personal advice, you'll ultimately need to ask your rabbi. (Many of us aren't rabbis, let alone your rabbi.)