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No. Wherever possible we have relied on existing boundaries – terraced houses, fences etc.
Over 90% of the perimeter is made of pre-existing boundaries – terraced houses, fences etc. and so it is mostly invisible. Where there is a breach in the perimeter that does require poles and wire, the poles are inconspicuous amongst existing lampposts and telegraph poles and are painted in muted grey.
Whilst the broader community remains unaffected, the Eruv does have a significant effect on the Jewish community in Elstree and Borehamwood. It allows the elderly, disabled and immobile to move more freely on the Sabbath, and allows parents with young babies to push them in buggies or carry them in the street on the Sabbath.
The Eruv project is run as a charity and is funded through generous donations – both large and small, from within the Jewish Community. It requires continual maintenance. Click here to donate.
In the minority of areas where we have had to erect poles and wire we have attempted wherever possible to use existing lampposts or telegraph poles. Where there are none, we have used tubular steel poles.
The critical element is to make sure that the borders are as resilient as possible and are not likely to change over time, which is why we rely heavily on terraced houses and continuous fencing. When looking at a map of Borehamwood, there are certain landmarks that jump out as falling under this category – such as the fencing along the railway track and the fencing to the north of the perimeter. One also has to take into account where Jewish people currently live and are likely to live in the future. Generally we have tried to include as large an area as possible within the constraints of Jewish Law.
The London Beth Din – Court Of The Chief Rabbi, although the project has also been verified by the Federation of Synagogues.
No, it is a halachic law. The Talmud and the Codes of Law devote a whole section to the laws of building an Eruv, and throughout the generations, our Rabbis have blessed and praised communities in which an Eruv was built.
If you see a broken wire during the week, please e-mail info@eboreruv.org or contact your Rabbi as soon as possible. Otherwise a team of inspectors will pick up any breakages before Shabbat and endeavour to get them fixed in time. If they are unable to get them fixed in time, an alert will be sent to all subscribers.
No, although there are certain places (such as shops and business parks) that one should avoid entering on Shabbat. Certain items would not be suitable for the synagogue as it is a place of worship. These include dirty nappies, secular books or magazines or anything of an immodest nature.
Each property is in a unique position so you would have to consult your Rabbi.
