Sacred texts — those containing God’s name — are treated with the utmost care and reverence in Jewish tradition. When it’s time to retire a prayer book, tanakh, or other sacred work, the most respectful way of saying goodbye is to bury these texts as we would a loved one. Burial is also the appropriate way to part with ritual items such as tallitot, tefillin that cannot be repaired, the scrolls from a mezuzah, and more: anything containing God’s name.

For years, Temple has been collecting such texts in boxes and storage in the tradition of a genizah. With sufficient quantity to make respectful use of a gravesite at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, we invite you to join us on Sunday, October 23rd at 2:00pm to take part in this ritual. We will offer prayers and readings together to mark this occasion and invite you to bring the limited quantities of sacred texts or ritual items you might wish to part with. You can also bring a small box to Temple at your convenience before October 23rd anytime the office is open. Not sure if something should be buried? Rabbi Meyer is happy to consult: [email protected] or 412-729-7600.