Eruv

West Bloomfield Eruv

 

Our Eruv, South of Maple
between Farmington Road and Middlebelt Road is operational.

The Bais Chabad Eruv north of Maple and east of Orchard Lake Rd.

is up, but depends on the status of the West of Orchard Lake Rd. Eruv to be operational.

 

Be sure to call 248 788-6782 to check on the status of the Eruv West of Orchard Lake Rd. 

 

Eruv Boundaries

 

Our Eruv now extends to Walnut lake Rd to the North and joins with the Eruv on the West side of Orchard Lake Rd. continuing past Farmington Rd.

  

The boundary streets are Maple Rd. on the North, Middlebelt Road on the East, Orchard Lake Road on the West, and 14 Mile Road, to the South. It is permitted to carry only within these boundaries, and only on the subdivision streets, not on the boundary streets themselves. Maple Rd. is now within the borders of the Eruv and you may carry on Maple Rd. between Middlebelt and Farmington Rds.

 

The Bais Chabad Eruv

It is essential that every person familiarize him or herself with the rules and guidelines for the usage of the Eruv which are described herein. If after reading this you still have questions regarding the Eruv or its use, please do not hesitate to call the Rabbi Silberberg at 248 855-6170.

 

What is an Eruv?

The Torah prohibits carrying outside of an enclosed "private" area on Shabbos and Yom Kippur. Areas that are enclosed are considered "private" and may vary in size from a small home to an entire community. The Talmud specifies both the definition of an enclosure, and how to render an entire area a private domain. All these conditions have been met in order to create the STBCTC Eruv. It is therefore permissible, within the area outlined, to carry on Shabbos and Yom Kippur, according to the conditions below.

Please note: it continues to be the responsibility of parents to teach their children the halachos (what can and cannot be done) as they pertain to carrying on Shabbos. It is only because of the Eruv that we are allowed to carry within the Eruv area. Everyone, including children, should be aware of the appropriate halachic behavior in areas where there is no Eruv.

Rules of the STBCTC Eruv

The Eruv will be most helpful to families with young children, who will now be permitted to wheel carriages or strollers. Others will find it convenient to bring a tallis or siddur to Shul, a book to a class, or to carry eyeglasses, a house key, or other permitted and/or necessary items. Of course, wheelchairs, crutches and canes may be used.

It is the obligation of each individual who wishes to use the Eruv to ascertain, every Friday, that the Eruv is indeed functional.

It is not sufficient for one to assume that the Eruv is functional even if there have not been storms or any adverse condition (weather) within the past week. Many factors can invalidate an Eruv, and only specific authoritative confirmation on Friday can validate the Eruv for use each week. Please remember that if the Eruv is not operational, carrying in the public domain is a serious transgression.

The purpose of our Eruv is for the enhancement of the Shabbos observance, not its diminution. Therefore, the existence of the Eruv should not be considered a dispensation to enter places not consistent with maintaining the sanctity and spiritual character of the Shabbos, e.g. business establishments, stores, or offices. Athletic activities, bicycle riding, tennis, swimming, skating and sledding are still prohibited.

• Gardening is forbidden on Shabbos. Watering the lawn is prohibited, as is playing in the sprinkler or playing with water outdoors. Playing in the sandbox is not permitted. It is forbidden to mail letters on the Shabbos.
• Even within the Eruv, there are a number of common articles, which, because they are classified as muktzeh, (separated), may not be carried or handled on Shabbos. These may not be handled even within the home, and we feel that it is necessary to remind you of that restriction. We cannot provide a full catalogue of muktzeh items, but we suggest that you refer all your questions in this regard to the Rabbi. Some of these categories of muktzah are:
• Any item whose main use is prohibited on the Shabbos, e.g. a hammer, pen/pencil, wallet, purse, pocketbook, etc.
• Any item which is neither food, nor a utensil that has a practical use on the Shabbos, e.g. money, animals, stones, credit cards, etc.
• Any item so valuable that one would expend extra care for its safety, e.g. passport, checks, expensive artwork, merchandise set aside for sale, etc.
• Any item attached to its source of growth at the onset of Shabbos but which fell from its source of growth on Shabbos, e.g. an apple which falls from its branch, etc.
• An umbrella may not be carried even if opened prior to Shabbos or Yom Tov.
• Baby carriages should be assembled or set up Friday afternoon before candle lighting. Sunshades on carriages or strollers should be placed in position for use before the onset of Shabbos and should not be adjusted once Shabbos has begun.
• Two wheel bicycles are considered muktzeh, although childrens tricycles may be used inside the Eruv.

In order to avoid complications or, G‑d forbid, an inadvertent transgression of Shabbos, no Kiddush, Bar Mitzvah or other Shabbos affair should be planned with the assumption that the Eruv will be operational, as last minute storms or other phenomena might render the Eruv invalid. Therefore, since these events are planned in the future, care must be taken as if the Eruv is non-existent. Everything (e.g. a copy of a Bar/Bat Mitzvah speech etc.) should be brought to the place of the simcha prior to Shabbos.

The Eruv will usually be inspected on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, and a taped message on the "Eruv Hotline" will notify everyone of the results of the inspection each week. In case of a major storm beginning anytime after preparation of the tape, (generally around 1 p.m. Friday afternoon, or after 1 p.m. on Wednesday when Yom Tov precedes the Shabbos), the Eruv should be presumed to be non-operational. Heavy rains, wind, snow or other meteorological conditions can frequently invalidate an Eruv. It is best to automatically assume that the Eruv is invalid in the aftermath of any severe weather condition.

Our Eruv has been constructed in accordance with the highest standards of Jewish law governing this complex subject, and in consultation with experienced Rabbinical authorities. Great effort has been made to fulfill even the minority opinions among halachic authorities in the Eruvs construction. Nevertheless, it is important for those who use the Eruv and for those who choose not to avail themselves of the Eruv, to respect each others opinions so that the Eruv will truly help to unify our community.

If you have any questions regarding any of the above or on any of the laws of Shabbos please call the Rabbi, or leave a message on the Eruv hotline.