Dan's Papers - June 6, 2008 - Westhampton Beach Eruv Needs Explanation

Due to the general misunderstanding surrounding the proposed eruv in Westhampton Beach and the debate it has sparked, Rabbi Marc Scheier of the Hampton Synagogue has suspended the application for the eruv until the fall. Rabbi Schneier plans to use the summer months to educate members of the Westhampton Beach community about eruvs, and about the specific eruv proposed for their town. He also hopes to turn this controversy into an opportunity to promote interfaith and interethnic understanding within the Westhampton Beach community, saying, "The goal is to educate and sensitize people."

According to Rabbi Schneier, an eruv essentially transforms a public domain into a private one. This statement is what stirred up opposition to the eruv within the Westhampton Beach community. Many homeowners were concerned that since everything within the eruv would be considered a "private" domain by the members of the Jewish faith who would travel inside of it on the Sabbath, that it would also mean they would be allowed to trespass through yards. However, this is not the case. Private property is still private property, with or without an eruv. An eruv is simply small sections of PVC piping that are placed over existing telephone poles and electrical wires in an area to establish a territory. The Hampton Synagogue has proposed an eruv because, according to Jewish law, one can carry items outdoors on the Sabbath if the act of carrying occurs within a proper enclosure. The main goal of an eruv is to allow members of a synagogue to do things such as carry small children or push strollers to services on the Sabbath. In fact, the eruv will not affect anyone living in the community except members of the Hampton Synagogue. It is not paid for with public funds, and, unless you searched for its markers, you probably wouldn't notice it.

As part of his plan, Schneier will meet with various community and religious groups, as well as local merchants, in order to "correct misinformation and build a broader coalition of alliances."

Most people opposing the application probably don't even realize that eruvs are relatively common. An eruv encompasses most of upper Manhattan, covering 57th street to 112th street, from the Hudson River to the East River (with several minor restrictions). There are eruvs located in Memphis, Scarsdale and Miami. An eruv surrounds the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, and another surrounds the White House in Washington, DC. Schneier hopes to bring understanding to his community by sharing this and other information regarding eruvs. He confidently believes that by spreading this information and educating his community the Hampton Synagogue's application for an eruv will be successful in the fall.

In a letter to the mayor of Westhampton Beach, Schneier states, "To be certain, The Hampton Synagogue does not wish to win a pyrrhic victory. Victory must be redeemed by purpose and elevated by principle."