ALL HOLY WRITINGS MUST BE SAVED
FROM A FIRE, WHETHER WE READ THEM OR NOT; AND EVEN IF THEY ARE WRITTEN IN ANY
LANGUAGE, THEY MUST BE HIDDEN.
That is, biblical texts – be they Torah scrolls or sections
from the Prophets or Writings (anything from TaNaCh) must be rescued from a
fire even on Shabbat. Now this might be obvious for Torah and Prophets which are
read publicly (and ceremonially) – but it also includes sections which are NOT
read publicly.
And even biblical texts which are written in translation are
considered “sacred” and are not thrown out with unusable – they are stored in
chambers (called geniza) until they can be buried.
The question remains if one breaks the Shabbat to save these
translations from fire. It is a rabbinic controversy.
Come and hear: If they are written
in Egyptian, Median, a trans[-Euphratean] Aramaic, Elamitic, or Greek, though
they may not be read (publicly), they may be saved from a fire.
R. Jose said: They may not be saved
from a fire
What about other items written in Hebrew?
Our Rabbis taught: Benedictions and
amulets, though they contain letters of the [Divine] Name and many passages of
the Torah, must not be rescued from a fire (on Shabbat) but must be burnt where
they lie.
The Bible, whether in Hebrew or in translation, is sacred.
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