by Johanna Ginsberg
NJJN Staff Writer
The Maplewood Township Committee will vote on a proposal Dec. 20 on whether to allow a group representing two Orthodox synagogues to erect an eruv in the community.
There has been no opposition to the proposal to erect the eruv, a largely symbolic Shabbat boundary, and all involved expect the proposal to pass.
Steve Bauml, president of Congregation Beth Ephraim-Maplewood Jewish Center, spearheaded a six-person committee that presented the issue at a township committee meeting on Dec. 6. The committee included members of Beth Ephraim and of Maplewood’s other Orthodox synagogue, Congregation Ahavath Zion. The rabbis of both synagogues are associated with Chabad-Lubavitch, the hasidic outreach movement.
An eruv is a symbolic “boundary” of strings, existing wires, and fencing that defines an area within which Shabbat-observant Jews may carry objects or push strollers. Rabbinic law prevents the carrying of objects outside such boundaries on Shabbat.
An effort to gain town approval for an eruv in Tenafly has led to years of litigation between proponents, who say it is a nearly invisible legal fiction, and opponents, who say its use of utility polls and other public amenities to attach strings is a violation of town ordinances. The two sides of the Tenafly conflict are expected to finalize a settlement next month after six years of litigation.
Irwin Semel, a member of Ahavath Zion who sits on the Maplewood eruv committee, said he was not expecting any opposition. “Maplewood is a very progressive town. I would be surprised to have any opposition.” He believes, instead, the eruv will only benefit the community. “The Orthodox synagogues will attract young professionals in Brooklyn who would like to come here if there were an eruv…. And it’s a selling point for the town because it will bring young professionals here.”
In the relatively rare instances when eruv construction is challenged, some opponents object to what they describe as an influx of religiously observant people whose religious practices separate them from the community and who send their children to day schools and yeshivot rather than to public schools. But, Semel said, “we are not anticipating a flood of people coming in. I do not think Maplewood will become Teaneck South,” referring to the growing Orthodox neighborhood in the Bergen County town.
Other New Jersey communities with an eruv include West Orange, Highland Park, New Brunswick, Paramus, Passaic, Lakewood, and Englewood.
The idea for a Maplewood eruv was first planted in the mind of Rabbi Sholom Bogomilsky of Beth Ephraim several years ago, he told NJ Jewish News. A Maplewood resident stopped the rabbi on the steps of the Maplewood post office. As Bogomilsky recalled, he expressed some disagreement with the idea of placing a menora in the town’s Ricalton Square, and then added, “‘But if you want to put up an eruv, well, that’s something I’d support.’ I said, ‘Really, why? Are you shomer Shabbos [Sabbath observant]?’ He said, ‘No, but my children are.’ I said, ‘Okay, I’ll keep it in mind.’” And he did.
Bogomilsky was approached several more times by people within the community but still put the idea on hold. “Interestingly enough, I found there were a lot of people asking about it, both people living in Maplewood and people thinking of moving to Maplewood.”
Finally, according to Bogomilsky, a call came from the office of Maplewood’s mayor, Fred Profeta, Jr., suggesting an eruv. Calls to the mayor and members of the town council were not returned in time for this story, but Bogomilsky said after the push from the mayor came, he started the committee and asked Bauml to lead it.
Kathleen M. Leventhal, a township committee member, told NJ Jewish News in a telephone interview, “The presentation gave us a really good overview and answered some of my specific questions. It sounds like something I’m interested in voting for…. There are already people living all over town who are behind this and want to see it happen.”
The cost of erecting the eruv will be about $20,000, according to Bogomilsky. While he could not put a timeline on the fund-raising involved, once the money is raised, he estimates that it will only take a few weeks to put it up.
Johanna Ginsberg can be reached at jginsberg@njjewishnews.com.
NJJN Staff Writer
The Maplewood Township Committee will vote on a proposal Dec. 20 on whether to allow a group representing two Orthodox synagogues to erect an eruv in the community.
There has been no opposition to the proposal to erect the eruv, a largely symbolic Shabbat boundary, and all involved expect the proposal to pass.
Steve Bauml, president of Congregation Beth Ephraim-Maplewood Jewish Center, spearheaded a six-person committee that presented the issue at a township committee meeting on Dec. 6. The committee included members of Beth Ephraim and of Maplewood’s other Orthodox synagogue, Congregation Ahavath Zion. The rabbis of both synagogues are associated with Chabad-Lubavitch, the hasidic outreach movement.
An eruv is a symbolic “boundary” of strings, existing wires, and fencing that defines an area within which Shabbat-observant Jews may carry objects or push strollers. Rabbinic law prevents the carrying of objects outside such boundaries on Shabbat.
An effort to gain town approval for an eruv in Tenafly has led to years of litigation between proponents, who say it is a nearly invisible legal fiction, and opponents, who say its use of utility polls and other public amenities to attach strings is a violation of town ordinances. The two sides of the Tenafly conflict are expected to finalize a settlement next month after six years of litigation.
Irwin Semel, a member of Ahavath Zion who sits on the Maplewood eruv committee, said he was not expecting any opposition. “Maplewood is a very progressive town. I would be surprised to have any opposition.” He believes, instead, the eruv will only benefit the community. “The Orthodox synagogues will attract young professionals in Brooklyn who would like to come here if there were an eruv…. And it’s a selling point for the town because it will bring young professionals here.”
In the relatively rare instances when eruv construction is challenged, some opponents object to what they describe as an influx of religiously observant people whose religious practices separate them from the community and who send their children to day schools and yeshivot rather than to public schools. But, Semel said, “we are not anticipating a flood of people coming in. I do not think Maplewood will become Teaneck South,” referring to the growing Orthodox neighborhood in the Bergen County town.
Other New Jersey communities with an eruv include West Orange, Highland Park, New Brunswick, Paramus, Passaic, Lakewood, and Englewood.
The idea for a Maplewood eruv was first planted in the mind of Rabbi Sholom Bogomilsky of Beth Ephraim several years ago, he told NJ Jewish News. A Maplewood resident stopped the rabbi on the steps of the Maplewood post office. As Bogomilsky recalled, he expressed some disagreement with the idea of placing a menora in the town’s Ricalton Square, and then added, “‘But if you want to put up an eruv, well, that’s something I’d support.’ I said, ‘Really, why? Are you shomer Shabbos [Sabbath observant]?’ He said, ‘No, but my children are.’ I said, ‘Okay, I’ll keep it in mind.’” And he did.
Bogomilsky was approached several more times by people within the community but still put the idea on hold. “Interestingly enough, I found there were a lot of people asking about it, both people living in Maplewood and people thinking of moving to Maplewood.”
Finally, according to Bogomilsky, a call came from the office of Maplewood’s mayor, Fred Profeta, Jr., suggesting an eruv. Calls to the mayor and members of the town council were not returned in time for this story, but Bogomilsky said after the push from the mayor came, he started the committee and asked Bauml to lead it.
Kathleen M. Leventhal, a township committee member, told NJ Jewish News in a telephone interview, “The presentation gave us a really good overview and answered some of my specific questions. It sounds like something I’m interested in voting for…. There are already people living all over town who are behind this and want to see it happen.”
The cost of erecting the eruv will be about $20,000, according to Bogomilsky. While he could not put a timeline on the fund-raising involved, once the money is raised, he estimates that it will only take a few weeks to put it up.
Johanna Ginsberg can be reached at jginsberg@njjewishnews.com.
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