Eruv Basics
Background
The Torah (Shemos (Exodus) Ch. 16:25-29) prohibits on Shabbat - as a type of forbidden "labor" - transporting or carrying objects within a public domain, as well as carrying from a public domain to a private domain (and vice versa). Carrying is permitted only within a private domain. There is a "gray area" in between the definitions of public and private domains called a Karmelis. Most of our streets and neighborhoods today are in this category. The Rabbis prohibited carrying within a Karmelis (and to-and-from a Karmelis) to help prevent people from carrying into a public domain. However, these Rabbis created a method of converting a Karmelis into a private domain. The process which converts a Karmelis into a private domain is called an Eruv.
An Eruv (pronounced Ay-Roov) is a term used for the physical structure which joins multiple areas to make one large area called a R’shus HaYachid (private domain). Once a R’shus HaYachid has been created, it is permissible (according to Jewish Law) to carry objects on Shabbat and Yom Kippur within the boundaries of the Eruv. The plural of Eruv is Eruvin (pronounced Ay-Roov-in).
The Three Major Components of an Eruv
There are three major components to an Eruv’s existence:
Background
The Torah (Shemos (Exodus) Ch. 16:25-29) prohibits on Shabbat - as a type of forbidden "labor" - transporting or carrying objects within a public domain, as well as carrying from a public domain to a private domain (and vice versa). Carrying is permitted only within a private domain. There is a "gray area" in between the definitions of public and private domains called a Karmelis. Most of our streets and neighborhoods today are in this category. The Rabbis prohibited carrying within a Karmelis (and to-and-from a Karmelis) to help prevent people from carrying into a public domain. However, these Rabbis created a method of converting a Karmelis into a private domain. The process which converts a Karmelis into a private domain is called an Eruv.
An Eruv (pronounced Ay-Roov) is a term used for the physical structure which joins multiple areas to make one large area called a R’shus HaYachid (private domain). Once a R’shus HaYachid has been created, it is permissible (according to Jewish Law) to carry objects on Shabbat and Yom Kippur within the boundaries of the Eruv. The plural of Eruv is Eruvin (pronounced Ay-Roov-in).
The Three Major Components of an Eruv
There are three major components to an Eruv’s existence:
- The area to be enclosed must be determined as capable of having an Eruv, in accordance with Jewish Law
- No R’shus HaRabbim (Public Domain by Jewish Law) can be inside the enclosed area
- No Karpef (area deemed unfit by Jewish Law for human habitation) can be inside the enclosed area
- The area must then be enclosed according to Jewish Law, forming one consistent perimeter
- This can be done by establishing walls, and creating additional “doorways” (Tzuras HaPesach)
- The rights of all people dwelling within the Eruv must be unified in accordance with Jewish Law
- Eruv Chatzeros– Setting aside common food for all of the Jewish dwellers, thereby uniting everyone into one entity
- S’chiras Makom– Renting the rights from the gentile dwellers for permission to unify
