Article: Respect for Bread

 

One should be careful not to just discard bread that is not edible in an ordinary manner.

In general, there is a rule of baal taschis, not to waste food. There is a particular rule with maintaining a proper respect for bread, i.e. not to treat it with disdain, even if it is no longer edible.

One should pick up a piece of bread that is laying on the floor; it is written that ignoring it can result in negative consequences, and one should make sure to always show respect to bread in every way possible.

If the bread is no longer edible, or no one will actually eat it, it is acceptable—and this is the common custom—to throw it in the garbage. Nevertheless, it should be done in as respectful a manner as possible, such as by wrapping it in a bag or something similar, and not just shoving it directly into the garbage bin.

 

 

From Halacha2Go Archives
#28 (#9215)