Eruv

ST. LOUIS PARK - MINNEAPOLIS COMMUNITY ERUV Eruv Hot-Line 612-640-ERUV (612-640-3788) For rules of the eruv, click here. For a discussion of what an eruv is, click here. Special thanks to the Eruv of Minnesota for providing the map and text which follows. For additional acknowledgments, click here. USING THE MAP The borders of our community Eruv are shown on the map. The area included is about one mile square, and includes several synagogues, Torah Academy, and Menorah Plaza. Please be aware of where the borders are and remember that sidewalks and homes on the far side of certain streets are not within the Eruv. Several families live in homes that are literally just over the border. Eruv of Minnesota will work with these families to create private Eruvs linking their homes to the community Eruv. (This map will be updated when changes are implemented.) CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION Mr.Shimon Perez will inspect the Eruv each week to ensure that it may be used. Each Friday afternoon, people should call 612-640-ERUV(612-640-3788) for a recorded message of the Eruv's status. In addition, synagogues in the area are asked to announce each Friday evening whether the Eruv may be used. Questions about what is permitted and what is prohibited within an Eruv should be directed to your rabbi. RULES OF THE ERUV Our Eruv is intended to help families observe Shabbat in a manner which adds to their Oneg Shabbat and which unifies our community. However, use of an Eruv is limited in several important ways: There are many Shabbat prohibitions that an Eruv does not affect. For example, an Eruv permits carrying only those items which may be used on Shabbat. Items which are Mukzeh (umbrellas, wallets, tools, cigarettes, matches, and writing implements) still should not be carried. The Eruv is not to be construed to permit any activity which is inimical to the Shabbat and which therefore violates its sanctity. Specifically, a community Eruv is not intended to sanction ball games, bicycle riding or carrying a pocketbook. One may not carry any item for use after Shabbat. It is always important for parents to instill in their children a sense of reverence and respect for the synagogue. Because an Eruv creates new opportunities for families, it is particularly important that parents exercise good judgment in deciding if and when to bring their children to the synagogue and properly supervise children who are in synagogue. WHAT IS AN ERUV? Carrying from one domain to another or within the public domain is one of the 39 categories of labor prohibited on Shabbat. However, Jewish law also recognizes the concept of an Eruv. An Eruv permits designation of a neighborhood or citywide district as one large private domain, within which Jews may carry on Shabbat. An Eruv is established by buying the rights to establish an Eruv from the local governments and by creating a physical border around the district. The city councils of Minneapolis and St. Louis Park and the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners have adopted resolutions and sold the necessary rights to Eruv of Minnesota. Under Jewish law, the borders of an Eruv can be established by creating a continuous series of "doorway images." As in most American cities, our Eruv is established largely by using existing utility poles and lines; the poles are the sides of the doorway, and the wires are the door lintels. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Kenesseth Israel is grateful to the ERUV OF MINNESOTA for establishing and maintaining the Minneapolis-St. Louis Park Eruv as well as for providing the above map and text. The ERUV OF MINNESOTA, in turn, is grateful for the support and hard work of many people who made this Eruv possible and special thanks go to: Rav Moshe Heinemann who, for several years, provided patient and generous guidance for this project; 170 families from near and far; and the Endowment Fund of the Minneapolis Federation for Jewish Service for contributing the funds to establish the Eruv; The rabbis and synagogues in our area who have given us their strong support and, in the case of Beth El, the opportunity to use their building as a "wall" of the Eruv; The City Councils and staffs of St. Louis Park & Minneapolis and the Hennepin County Board; and NSP for its careful work in installing the Eruv lechis and lines. If you have not made an initial contribution yet, your tax deductible gift will help to provide a solid financial base for the Eruv. Everyone's continued support is needed to maintain and operate the Eruv. If you have questions, need additional brochures, or wish to make a donation in support of the Eruv, please contact: ERUV OF MINNESOTA c/o Allan Baumgarten 4800 West 27th Street St. Louis Park, MN 55416 Baumg010@tc.umn.edu 952-925-9121