Strict Genizah
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Question
Completely erased sections of tefillin, do they require strict genizah, and is it forbidden to place in strict genizah something that is not required to be placed there?
Answer
Torah scrolls, tefillin, and mezuzot, and other books written in ink on parchment, require strict genizah, and they are buried in clay (or plastic) vessels so that they are preserved for a long time. There is no prohibition to place other things there, it's just a waste of effort.
Source
Talmud, Tractate Megillah, page 26b: "And Rava said: A Torah scroll that has worn out is buried next to a scholar, even if he only studies laws. Rav Acha bar Yaakov said: And in a clay vessel, as it is said: 'and put them in a clay vessel, that they may last many days.'"
And so ruled the Shulchan Aruch, Siman 154, Paragraph 5: "A Torah scroll that has worn out, they place it in a clay vessel and bury it in the grave of a scholar, even if he only studies laws and has not served scholars."
And the Mishnah Berurah wrote, Siman 154, Subparagraph 22: "And the same applies to the Prophets and the Writings when they are written on skin and rolled and in ink."
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