Sun Apr 11 2003

An Eiruv in Williamsburg

By Gronem the SHISTER, HasidicNews.com Writer

Williamsburg, Brooklyn (HN) - Hasidim in Williamsburg are now talking about establishing an Eiruv aroung the neighberhood so that people will be allowed to carry on the streets on Shabbas. This has been talked about alot and has now been implemented.

Virtually all Hasidic towns and cities in Israel have an Eiruv that is accepted by all the Hasidic residents. Often, the Eiruv's in Israel encompass not just the Hasidic neighberhood but the entire city. In other hasidic communities through the world, the eiruv has been less popular, apparently because they initially feared that their gentile neighbors will interfere with its implementation.

Hasidic towns that have been built exclusively for the community have long since had eiruv's. For example, New Square and Kiryat Joel as well as the Litvish'e Lakewood and the mixed Monsey. The new Satmar community in Bayswater, in which Aaron's son -Mendel- has a Yeshiva, also has an Eiruv. However, the comunities in New Yok City have not traditionally had an Eiruv.

The Eiruv in Boro Park, established about three years ago, stirred much debate and the hasidic communities were divided over its validity. Satmar traditionally did not approve of the Boro Park Eiruv.

However, the current Eiruv being established in Williamsburg is being supported by Aaron's people, while Zalmen's people maintain their oposition to it. Aaron, seemingly, is adopting new positions and has become quite innovative as the Satmar conflict progressed. He used to be the "Kanai" (zealot) always opposing anything untraditional, but now it seems that opposition to Zalmen takes precedence to other matters.

The Eiruv is physically up already, although the community is still unaware of which Rav has approved it as Kosher. The Eiruv's sponsors are appraently unwilling to release this info until the last minute so that the Rav isn't terrorized by the Eiruv's opponents. It is rumored, though, that the Klozenberg Dayan is the one who approved of the Eiruv.

The Eiruv is scheduled to take effect soon after Pesach.