Not my city, but Columbus, OH does along with many other cities with Synagogues. If you look at the Eruv maps, it becomes very obvious that "carrying" is made permissible and convenient by including most shops, diners, grocery stores within the Eruv boundary.

Eruv Columbus, Ohio

Brushworks, it fascinated me to learn that Eruvin that use rope or wires to mark boundaries are inspected prior to sundown every Friday!

I had to look up some details to refresh my memory about what I had read several years ago, but one of the conjoining cities here has installed one. Apparently a single strand of fishing line strung between light poles suffices. They have a website where you can subscribe to get weekly status updates. My logical mind cannot wrap around beliefs of that nature, but if it works for them, that is fine.

I read that any cost associated with erecting and maintaining these largely unnoticed markers, is strictly within the Orthodox Jewish community, so no one can complain they affect the wallets of other citizens. But I did read that some cities have had disagreements about the rights of one religion to use parts of public property to which they attach these symbolic markers.

I may not be religious, but I have no personal objection to Eruvin just because I now know about them. Their markers are non obstructive, non pictorial and not identifiable with any religion, even if one has knowledge of them and sees where they are located. Clearly the Eruv in my city is a non issue, as I would never have even been aware one existed had I not googled it.

To my understanding, the strict interpretation of not being allowed to carry anything outdoors includes items such as an umbrella, a tissue, or even pushing a stroller. By having an eruv, an area designated as being "an extension of indoors" allows the religious to expand their indoor abilities while going to attend the synagogue. It would not include going to shop, even if that shop was within the eruv, on the Sabbath.

Yes, there is one in my Township. We have some Orthodox Jews living here. The eruv is not bound by wires, but by natural, existing boundaries, such as walls and streets. I believe other residents objected to having the wires run around the area, as many of the residents within the eruv are not Jewish. People who observe the rules must stay within the boundaries on certain days. I really know little about it. However, I do know that if they have to get to a hospital they must take a certain route to stay within the boundaries. Oddly, there is a Catholic university within the eruv.

dedtired: "Oddly, there is a Catholic university within the eruv." Huh, that is odd!

In the small village near me there was a lengthy legal battle over having an Ervu. Many of those not in favor where Jewish. It was finally approved. The only thing that surprized me, was , property values within that Ervu would appreciate. The reason being they would be able to walk to the synagouge, from their home. Not sure if that is 100% correct, don't understand the orthodox customs.

marco, if it is true that the property values within an Eruv will appreciate (more), that's something I didn't know either. I guess if you're an Orthodox Jew, it would stand to reason that you'd want to purchase a home within parameters that make things a little less difficult, while still adhering to the basic tenets of your religion.

Fascinating!

We don't have one here but we don't have a large Jewish community here either.

I will say I find the very concept of the eruv puzzling, just like the Sabbath mode setting on many appliances.

It seems, and forgive me if I'm wrong, that what it does is allow people to follow the letter of the law instead of the spirit of it.

Perhaps I'm wrong though, any Orthodox Jews here that could enlighten me?

While not an Orthodox Jew, I'll give it a try. The concept behind the Sabbath mode setting is that it allows the oven to be on for the many hours necessary to comply with the restriction that an Orthodox Jew cannot turn on the stove or create fire during the Sabbath hours, which start at sundown Friday nights and extends to an hour past sundown on Saturday. The Sabbath mode enables the oven to be turned on before Sabbath and meals can be prepared using the oven without needing to be turned on or off. There is also an item called a 'blech' which is basically an asbestos pad to be placed on one of the burners of a gas cooktop which allows the burner to be on low all day, so again, it can be used during the Sabbath. A popular item to prepare on the blech is called a 'cholent', which is essentially a stew consisting of meat, potatoes, carrots and prunes. It can tolerate the many hours of cooking on low heat and still resemble its component parts.

blubird, thanks for the info about the Sabbath setting on our ovens. I've never had reason to use it, but I sure wish there was some kind of built in device for my refrigerator, that would automatically lock it from 8:00 p.m until 7:00 a.m. ;)

We have two in Nashville?! I never knew. I lived in the area and saw them walking on the Sabbath, so I suspected it was so, and it is, but then I saw more than one.

"It seems, and forgive me if I'm wrong, that what it does is allow people
to follow the letter of the law instead of the spirit of it."

TG, you've summarized the basic approach most religions take and the fundamental problem I have with those who espouse points of view in a rote, mechanical way. As if the absolute views of their own particular religion had a monopoly on truth to the exclusion of others. Or, superior to the views of those with no religion at all. Like hands, people should keep their personal views to themselves.

Enlightenment from Wikipedia:

An eruv allows "carrying" as if the person were at home, most useful for people with young children. Walking on Sabbath is permitted without restriction and without regard to an eruv being present or not. Different denominations of Jews have different views on whether something is restricted or not, some of the more reformed denomination would pursue any activity as on a normal day as the individuals may decide for themselves.

Texas_Gem, you mentioned "It seems, and forgive me if I'm wrong, that what it does is allow people to follow the letter of the law instead of the spirit of it.

Perhaps I'm wrong though, any Orthodox Jews here that could enlighten me?"

While I'm not an Orthodox Jew, I found this article that actually does talk about endeavouring to following the spirit of The Sabbath, by utilizing an Eruv to make normal Sabbath activities feasible, when they wouldn't be otherwise.

One example of this is the fact that Orthodox Jews cannot leave their home using crutches, wheelchairs, or strollers for their babies, on the Sabbath. Apparently the boundaries of an Eruv are marked so that the Synagogue is within its 'walls,' thereby allowing disabled people and young children to be pushed in their strollers and wheelchairs to attend the services.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/living/eruv_1.shtml

Ya learn something new every day!

Yes, we do! I was totally unaware. Thank you for posting about this. It was very interesting to read and research.

Chicago has one that I found and another in a nearby suburb.

Prior to the Sabbath setting on stoves, a good friend of ours was hired by several Jewish neighbors to come into the home and turn lights on and to turn off the stove. Once at around 5 pm, and back again at 10 pm to turn the lights off. After 10 pm, the family would use candles for light. On Saturday morning, he would come in again to turn on the stove/oven and turn on lights if needed. he is now in his mid-80's and remembers the families fondly as they always shared some of the backed goods with him. There was always a loaf of challah for his grandmother too.

Fascinating! I, too, did not know what an eruv was. Reading about it was most enlightening. Found that a large metropolitan area near me has one. I love Gardenweb because of being able to learn something new very frequently. And this was most certainly new to me.

And I, as well. Thanks, always!

To those who, like me, had not heard of an Eruv before, you're very welcome! After learning about them this past weekend, I thought it was so interesting to know that many larger cities have them, without most people even being aware of their existence. I guess this is simply because they are pretty inconspicuous and not meant to attract attention or interfere with anything else.