CCAR RESPONSA
New American Reform Responsa
195. An Old Israeli Flag
QUESTION: An Israeli flag which has stood on our pulpit for some time is now worn-out. How should we dispose of it? (Morton Kramer, Los Angeles CA)ANSWER: Special honors have been accorded to the various appurtenences of the synagogue which possessed different degrees of sacredness. Sacred texts and the Torah were buried or set aside in a safe place (Rashi to Ket 19b; Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim 154.5). They were sometimes interred with a scholar. Items which were a little more distant like the cover of a Torah and binder were also sometimes buried with a scholar. Still other synagogue decorations, as for example the cover of the bimah, could be renewed, and the old item discarded. Although the Israeli flag may stand on the bimah, it does not possess any degree of sacredness. It is a symbol of the State of Israel, but has no specific religious connotations, so we need exercise no unusual care for religious reasons. Of course there are the normal reasons for disposing of a flag in an appropriate way. We do so with the American flag in accordance with specific regulations about the flag, and would accord similar respect to the flag of Israel. The attitude toward flags has changed in various periods as we have seen from recent discussions about the burning of the American flag, as well as its use on shirts and jackets, etc. There is no degree of sacredness connected with the Israeli flag despite its place on the pulpit. We should dispose of a worn flag in a dignified manner, but not as a sacred object.December 1989
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