August 27, 2004

Problem Solved:
OU Kosher Extends Expertise to Burial of Sacred Objects with “Shaimos Box”

Solving a problem that has long plagued the Jewish community, the Orthodox Union’s Kashrut (Kosher) Department is lending its expertise to artist Benny Goldstein to help dispose of shaimos -- holy writings and objects -- in a simple and halachic manner (according to Jewish law).

Disposing of shaimos is a concern for Jews. Shaimos are items which are considered to be religiously sacred due to their use of God’s name (shaim means name in Hebrew) and therefore may not be disposed of in garbage, but rather must be buried. In most Jewish communities, shaimos collectors only bury once a year, around Passover time. The rest of the year, the Jewish community is left to its own devices. It is therefore not unusual for a Jewish household to collect piles of shaimos scattered throughout the house. Particularly in an age of printers and photocopying machines, the amount of shaimos a Jewish home accrues can often be excessive.

That problem has been solved with the “Shaimos Box.” The 12” x 7” x 15” utilitarian green box is now available through Judaica stores and ensures that all shaimos will be buried under strict OU rabbinical supervision. When the box is full, it is simply mailed to the burial site at Camp Stone in Sugar Rove, PA – a site specially purchased for the shaimos of the American Jewish community.

To make the box more user-friendly, a brief description of what constitutes shaimos is clearly outlined on the outside of the box. While the box points out that every rabbi may have his own definition, it delineates four categories for shaimos: sacred writings, such as Torah scrolls or tefilin (phylacteries); sacred objects, such as tefilin straps; words of Torah, such as printed or photocopied materials with biblical quotes or verse; and mitzvah objects, such as a tallit (prayer shawl).

First appearing two years ago in Rosenblum’s World of Judaica in Chicago, the Shaimos Box is now selling up to 15 a week, according to Mr. Goldstein. “The OU’s the best for certifying kosher products,” explained Mr. Goldstein. “I wanted the best. It’s as simple as that.”

Now, with the Orthodox Union’s help, the Shaimos Box will attain a higher level of authenticity, helping more people to simplify the mitzva of burying shaimos. “The OU is concerned with all aspects of Jewish life,” explained Rabbi Moshe Elefant, Executive Rabbinic Coordinator of the OU Kashrut Department. “We see the Shaimos Box as an opportunity for us to extend our expertise to assist the community in all its needs.” According to Rabbi Elefant, the primary role of the OU will be ensuring that the shaimos are buried properly under rabbinic supervision and not discarded improperly.

To find out more about the Shaimos Box, visit their website at www.shaimos.org.

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The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the Jewish community of North America and beyond, is a world leader in community and synagogue services, adult education, youth work through NCSY, political action through the IPA, and advocacy for persons with disabilities through Yachad and Our Way. Its kosher supervision label, the , is the world’s most recognized kosher symbol and can be found on over 275,000 products manufactured in 68 countries around the globe.

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