While a city eruv, a physical boundary that allows observant Jews to carry on Shabbat, is largely constructed out of simple material, the halachot and work involved in erecting and maintaining it is extremely intricate and complex, requiring highly skilled professionals. These include poskim, Jewish scholars who are experts in the laws of eruv (Hilchot Eruvin), as well as builders and supervisors who construct, oversee and maintain an eruv’s myriad components and installations.
To help these professionals with this avodat hakodesh “holy work,” the Orthodox Union recently co-hosted its second annual City Eruv Conference at the Marriott Saddle Brook hotel in New Jersey. Organized by OU director of halacha initiatives Rabbi Ezra Sarna and the National Eruv Initiative’s Rabbi Baruch Gore, the two-day conference offered chizuk “support,” networking opportunities and a space to learn best practices from leading rabbis.
“It’s staggering to contemplate the impact of this small group of unsung heroes,” said Sarna. “As a direct result of their yiras shamayim [faith in God] and commitment, millions of Jews keep Shabbat every single week. Communities are able to thrive; young couples, children and the elderly are all able to go to shul and share Shabbat meals with others. In most communities eruv professionals largely work alone and with little recognition. The OU admires them and their work, and we want to support them.”
About 100 eruv professionals across the religious spectrum from 55 North American cities attended the event. Previously held at the OU’s headquarters, the conference was moved to a hotel to accommodate increased attendance, which was almost double that of last year’s gathering.
Yoshi Falber is the CEO of The Chesed Fund, the conference’s lead corporate sponsor. He was touched by the collaboration of attendees who came from diverse communities.
“The variety of cities represented, the diversity of backgrounds and the multitude of unique personalities only amplified the remarkable sense of achdus [unity] and camaraderie,” he said. “It was truly inspiring to see such unity around this shared responsibility, and the dedication to shmiras Shabbos [Sabbath observance] across North America. This was an absolutely unparalleled event and a true kiddush Hashem [sanctification of God’s name].”
Moe Bamberger, the COO of Central Jersey Screw & Bolt, a conference corporate sponsor, agreed. “It was amazing to see the achdus of Yidden [Jews] from every part of the U.S. and Canada, united in the common goal of improving eruvin,” he said.
Following introductions by Sarna, Gore and OU President Mitchel Aeder, participants enjoyed dynamic sessions presented by leading poskim, including Rabbi Yechiel Steinmetz, dayan and head of the Vaad Mishmeres Eruvin l’Mehadrin, and Mishmeres HaKashrus; Rabbi Shlomo Francis, author of The Laws of an Eruv and the rabbinic director of the Eruv Network; Rabbi Chaim Jachter, eruv posek and author of Walking the Line; Rabbi Mordechai Willig, Av Beis Din of the Beth Din of America and head of the yeshiva at Yeshiva University; Rabbi Mordechai Fuchs, who oversees many eruvin in Lakewood, N.J.; and Rabbi Moshe Steiner, eruv posek, from Monsey, N.Y.
Sessions covered fundraising, education, checking standards, common mistakes, and traffic safety, among other topics. Participants also explored the OU’s free software developed for eruv administrators, which Sarna unveiled at the inaugural convention last year. The software takes inventory of all of the components and details of a community eruv, and tracks issues and repairs in real time, enabling the entire eruv maintenance team to communicate quickly and effectively. This year Sarna shared new features and updates, as the OU team continues to refine and improve the software to meet the expanding needs of city eruvin.
Highlights included a Q&A session with Rabbi Yitzchok Isaac Kresch, head of the kollel at K’hal Nsiv HaTorah in Far Rockaway, N.Y.; a chance to explore eruv-builders’ bucket trucks (utility trucks fitted with buckets that people can stand in for elevation); a session on practical situations and pitfalls led by Rabbi Mordechai Paretzky, who oversees more than 30 eruvin throughout the country; and a roundtable discussion where participants shared insights and experiences over lunch.
“The 2024 City Eruv Conference was a tremendous display of achdus and a kiddush Hashem,” said Gore. “All types of Jews came together to focus on, and to enhance, the shmiras Shabbos of millions of Jews across North America. No longer will someone who does eruv work feel alone in caring for their community. Our attendees left the conference feeling proud of what they do, and uplifted by the feeling that klal yisrael [people of Israel] is counting on them to ensure our communities’ highest form of shmiras Shabbos. Each individual now has the support of fundraising and construction specialists, new technologies, legal assistance, and other like-minded eruv professionals from around the continent.”
The conference also included an awards ceremony honoring attorneys David Yolkut, Yehudah Buchweitz and Robert Sugarman, who have won multiple high-profile cases on behalf of various Jewish communities trying to build an eruv in their neighborhood. Rabbi Yoel Friedman, a chaplain at the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office in New Jersey, was also recognized for his advocacy work on behalf of community eruvin.
“Rabbi Friedman dedicated many hours to fostering a relationship between eruv professionals and highway officials, and was successful in acquiring necessary permits for city eruvin along the Garden State Parkway and other major thoroughfares, so that both parties could work collaboratively,” said Sarna. “He achieved an outstanding feat.”
Rabbi Avi Wealcatch, an eruv builder and supervisor from Boca Raton, Fla., was thrilled to attend the conference.
“The chance to meet and connect with experts and others like me, who are out in the field, provided me with tremendous chizuk,” he said. “As a builder and maintainer of an ‘out-of-town’ community eruv, it was great to have an opportunity to explore firsthand the tools, techniques and best practices utilized by other communities.”
Rabbi Eytan Jacob, an eruv supervisor from Montreal, feels similarly.
“The conference provided a very unique platform for us to meet rabbanim who specialize in the halachos needed for eruv construction, as well as experienced eruv builders. Many of us ‘eruv men’ from smaller communities previously lacked support and guidance around this vital service. Thanks to the OU and the National Eruv Initiative, now we have it.”
Contact: Rabbi Ezra Sarna, OU director of Halacha Initiatives, 443-285-9128, sarnae@ou.org.