Pesukim on Invitations

Question: I sometimes receive wedding invitations that include pesukim. Am I allowed to throw them away, or do they need to go in sheimos?

Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 115b) states that one who writes berachos unnecessarily is as if they have burned the Torah, since such writings are likely to be discarded and treated disrespectfully. For this reason, Rambam (Teshuvos Harambam 268) and the Shulchan Aruch (YD 283:4) rule that pesukim should not be written on a tallis.

Regarding the use of short pesukim on documents, the Gemara (Gittin 6b) presents a machlokes as to whether writing three or four consecutive words from a passuk on a document gives it the status of kedusha. As a result, Rambam (Sefer Torah 7:14) and the Shulchan Aruch (YD 283:3) disagree on the matter. The Tashbetz (1:2) clarifies that this concern does not apply when the words are rearranged or written on separate lines rather than in a single, continuous phrase.

R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe YD 2:135) writes that he did not include any pesukim on his own children’s wedding invitations and advises others to follow the same practice. Elsewhere (Igros Moshe YD 4:38:4), he notes that although splitting the words across separate lines avoids the technical issue of writing a full passuk, it is still preferable to omit pesukim altogether. Similarly, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Tefillah 20:n72) was not in favour of printing pesukim on invitations, explaining that if a complete passuk appears, the invitation would require genizah (burial).

In conclusion, one should ideally refrain from printing pesukim on invitations. If one receives such an invitation, it should be wrapped in a plastic bag before being disposed of, in order to show proper respect (see Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:554).