The Merrick Eruv
Click here for a map of the Merrick Eruv
The Merrick Eruv, which was set up and is maintained by Young Israel of Merrick, is inspected by our Eruv Committee each week. It is important to check each and every week that the Eruv is intact. At no stage should the Eruv be taken for granted, especially when planning an activity dependent on carrying. We thank our Committee members, Steve Hamburg and Ira Bernstein for their many hours of work making sure that the Eruv is functioning for the entire Merrick Jewish Community.
What is an Eruv ?
Shabbos is a day set apart by Jewish law from the working week. Family time and spiritual pursuits are emphasized and weekday activities associated with work are prohibited.
Our Jewish religious code spells out the Shabbos restrictions. For example, carrying and pushing wheelchairs and baby carriages are only permitted in homes, private gardens and community areas. An Eruv is a boundary recognized by Jewish law, within which these activities are permitted. In Merrick, the Eruv is constituted by physical wires, fencing and dock seawalls that surround the area within the Eruv, and has been set up in accordance with Jewish law.
There are well over 200 Eruvim in communities throughout the world and many more in Israel. Most major Jewish communities in North America, including Merrick, have one, as do the communities in Antwerp, Gibraltar, London, Strasbourg, Venice, Johannesburg, Melbourne and Sydney.
An Eruv makes Shabbos observance more pleasant in many ways. The Merrick Eruv enables many Jewish people living in Merrick to enjoy Shabbos to the full.
Eruvim are especially helpful to families with young children who want to use a baby carriage outside their home on Shabbos and to people who use a wheelchair or walking frame. Others will find it useful to be able to carry house keys, reading glasses or books to a shiur.
Before the Eruv, families with young children were home-bound each Shabbos. Many couples who had children too young to walk to synagogue could not attend a Shabbos service together, nor a kiddush or simcha. Grandparents are now able to host their younger grandchildren on Shabbos. Shabbos events are available to all families - young and old, mobile and less mobile. Everyone can now join in the Shabbos religious and social life of the community.
What you may or may not do:
Within the Merrick Eruv, you can carry outside your home in the same way as you can in your own house and property. All other Shabbos restrictions are unaffected.
You may:
Carry house keys, food or drink for use on Shabbos, tallis, books (e.g. chumash or siddur), required medication, clothes, (e.g. coat, gloves or handkerchief), reading glasses, push a baby carriage or wheelchair.
You may not:
Carry a cell phone or other items which are muktseh (forbidden to be moved on Shabbos), carry anything which is to be used only after Shabbos. Carry or open an umbrella. Engage in weekday activities which are not in the spirit of Shabbos such as riding a bike, or going shopping (even on credit or where payment is not involved).
Please note that the children's playground at Birch School is within the Eruv. The children's playground at Levy-Lakeside School is not in the Eruv, and baby carriages may not be taken there on Shabbos.
If you are unsure whether a particular activity is permitted, please consult Rabbi Volk of the Young Israel of Merrick, or your own Rabbi.