1,OOOth for eruv an eruv: Families are split up when the Hefter and Rosenberg, both volunteers, One week this month, they repaired Think of it next time you see a baby carriage mother must stay at home with the said they encountered little resistance to five breaks over a five- hour period, and baby. People cannot bring prayer books the eruv, at least nothing like the battles made note of 11 breaks for the electrician, By Elise Kigner to synagogue or carry a meal to a 'in some communities in New York and Dan Strom of Strom Electric, to repair the Advocate Staff friend's house. New Jersey. Rosenberg said he thought next day. "It's an activity I can look forward to Once upon a time, a thousand Shab- Hefter said in his pitch he that having both Orthodox and non- week after week, see a friend, do some- batot ago, shul was off limits to obser- would often refer to Jason Rosenberg, Orthodox Jews involved in the effort thing a little different from my day to vant parents who wanted to push their a lawyer with the eruv's legal counsel, helped smooth the way. day," said Steiner, 75. "It babies in strollers or carry them in their Rosenberg, Freedman & Goldstein. He recalled feels good to be providing arms, and to people who depended on Afflicted with polio as a child, that when they something of use to the com- walkers or wheelchairs. Rosenberg uses crutches and braces. made their pro- munity." But that changed in January 1993 Someone like Rosenberg, Hefter would posal, some If a bad storm leaves breaks with the establishment of the Greater explain, would not be able to leave his public officials that can't be repaired in time Boston Eruv: cables, string, and wire house on Shabbat without an eruv. asked why they for Shabbat, the eruv is that provide a 22- mile ritual border As it happens, Rosenberg is a weren't making deemed to be inoperative for around areas of Newton, Brookline, and Reform Jew, who had known little the eruv even that week (the last time this Brighton. about the eruv rules until Hefter raised bigger. happened was more than a the issue. But the lawyer didn't need On March 31,. the eruv's 1,000th "That was a year ago). To check the eruv much convincing, "especially after Shabbat, Jesse Hefter will talk about its wonderful feel- status, people can call a hot- Hefter told him that his father-in-law history at services at Young of ing, those not Jesse Hefter shows a cable that’s part of the line, or look at a light. across Brookline. couldn't leave the house on Shabbat of the jewish Greater Boston Eruv the street from Congregation "It's extremely important for the tra- because he was confined to a wheel- faith taken by Beth Pinchas in Brookline (green means ditional community," said Hefter, presi- chair. wanting to create a situation that en- good to carry; yellow means the eruv dent of the Greater Boston Eruv Corpo- "I said, 'Stop right there. What hanced quality of life for some of their needs repair). ration and a member of the do you need me to do?” said citizens," Rosenberg said. Rosenberg, a member of Temple Beth Kehillah. “We've now had it for 998 Rosenberg, of Newton. Since 1993, the eruv has been Avodah in Newton, describes his work on weekends, and people can't remember Between them, Hefter and Rosenberg expanded several times to include Nonan- the eruv as tikkun olam, repairing the what it's like not to have it." had secular and religious law covered. tum, South Newton and Boston Univer- world and improving lives."Every time I The Torah prohibits carrying objects When doubts were raised about the con- sity. Hefter estimated 4,000 Orthodox cross the Mass Turnpike, I see the twine in public areas during Shabbot. The stitutionality of the eruv, Rosenberg Jews live within the eruv. and poles and I smile,” he said. cited court cases affirming that the eruv - which means to mix or join to- Eruvim have also popped up elsewhere gether - serves to integrate private areas border does not amount to the establish- in the state, including in Sharon, Malden, For more information, visit (your home) with public space ment of religion - it bears no Jewish Somerville, Cambridge, and Springfield. www.bostoneruv.org (everywhere else), creating a common stars or Hebrew letters - but an expres- The Greater Boston Eruv depends on shared area. sion of religion. The Jewish Advocate, March 30, 2012 For the most part, Hefter didn't get To the untrained eye, the eruv is in- donations to cover its annual $45,000 maintenance budget. For the past decade, into such halachic details when obtaining visible. The composition of the eruv is Joel Steiner and Chayim Zirkind have in- approval from all the entities affected, complicated. It is constructed according spected the eruv every Thursday. The men which included municipalities and the to a series of requirements. Among switch off between driving and peering out Massachusetts Turnpike and Boston Edi- other things, it consists of utility cables, the window. When the person on lookout son (now National Grid). fences and walls, and more than 800 telephone, utility and lightpoles. Much. spots a break in the eruv, they park and Instead, he emphasized the chal- take a closer look. lenges faced by observant Jews without of the eruv consists of existing borders.