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Although printed Torah books are much less sacred than Torah scrolls written by hand with ink on parchment, they too have sanctity and must be treated respectfully. A person passing a Torah book to someone should not toss it over but hand it over reverently. Torah books should not be placed on the floor. If a Torah book falls, there is a beautiful custom to kiss it when picking it up. A Torah book should not be taken into the bathroom unless completely covered, for example, inside a pocketbook or bookbag.
The books of the Pentateuch are holier than other books, including the Prophets and the Writings. Therefore, in a pile of Torah books, the books of the Pentateuch should be on top of the pile.
A worn-out Torah scroll is placed in an earthenware vessel and buried together with a Torah scholar. In contrast, when printed Torah books are no longer usable, they are simply buried without further ceremony.
