Do you have well-worn prayer books or old sacred texts at home that are no longer usable? In Jewish tradition, we do not simply discard documents containing the name of God or words of Torah; we treat them with the same dignity we afford a human life.

We invite you to bring your "retired" holy books to the synagogue for collection. This is a great experience for the whole family to participate in! These items will be gathered and prepared for a traditional genizah burial, ensuring they are retired with honor and respect. 

What to Bring:

• Damaged Siddurim (prayer books) or Machzorim (holiday prayer books)
• Worn-out Chumashim (the Torah in book form) or other sacred scrolls/texts.
• Any papers or books containing the written Hebrew Name of God.

Please ensure items are free of secular recycling or non-sacred materials.

What is a Genizah?

The word Genizah (גניזה) comes from the Hebrew root meaning "to hide" or "to store." Historically, a genizah was a designated storage area in a synagogue—often a secret room, a cellar, or an attic—where worn-out Hebrew books and papers were kept to prevent them from being desecrated or treated as common trash.

The most famous of these, the Cairo Genizah, preserved over 1,000 years of Jewish history, providing a miraculous window into the daily lives, prayers, and thoughts of our ancestors.

Why This Tradition Matters

Participating in this process is meaningful for several reasons:

• Respect for our sacred texts: In Judaism, words of Torah are considered "living" things. By burying them rather than recycling them, we acknowledge that the wisdom they contained remains sacred even if the paper is falling apart.
• The "Body" of Knowledge: There is a beautiful parallel between how we treat people and how we treat texts. Just as we bury a person who has passed away to honor their life, we bury a book that can no longer "speak" to honor the light it shared with us.
• Community Continuity: Bringing your books to the communal genizah connects your personal spiritual journey to the collective history of the Jewish people.