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Op-Ed: When an Eruv Is More than Just an Eruv

Rabbi Noach Salovitz, a member of the Crown Heights community, authored the following op-ed on what he feels has been absent from the ongoing discussion regarding the Crown Heights Eruv, which he shared with CrownHeights.info:

Why are the Rabbonim of Crown Heights so strongly against the eruv? Why can’t the rest of Crown Heights just “live and let live?” Why was the Rebbe against the eruv and would he have changed his mind today?

These are all questions that I think many of us our asking ourselves, no matter if we self-identify as Ashkenazi, “Just Orthodox,” Modern Orthodox, Chabad, “Chabad-Lite,”Lubav-“ish”, etc.

I can’t claim to know what is on the mind of the Rebbe or of the local Rabbis, nor can I claim the right to have an opinion on the eruv matter, but I can speculate and I think that perhaps I can bring to the table some points that have not as yet been widely discussed.

Depending on whom you ask, we may or may not know if the Rebbe was against an eruv. But what we do know, is that those close to the Rebbe, and many (if not most) elder Chassidim who had  a close connection with the Rebbe and who have lived their lives striving to be simple “pashut” followers of the Rebbe feel that he was, and still would be, against an eruv in Crown Heights. To those who respect the Rebbe and his opinions, that should be enough.

For those who bring various arguments about the need to go out and not be locked inside on Shabbos, it seems to me that this justification would have been even stronger and held more weight when the Rebbe was in a revealed state in 770. Back then, missing the Rebbe’s minyan or a farbrengen was actually a hardship for many people, including women- and that hardship would have made for a more compelling motivation than that offered today, such as “needing to bring your children to go shmuz with friends or attend shul.”  Additionally, if it were halachically possible, the Rebbe could have used his influence and leadership to have it done in a much quicker more efficient, and more unified way than today, if indeed he saw fit to endorse the use of an eruv.

To those who say that the invention of Whatsapp and Facebook would simplify getting out the word on short notice if the eruv were to come down, it seems to me that this problem would have been easy to solve even back then. The air-raid siren existed back then, as did beepers, as did phone trees, as did dedicated bochurim who would have been ready at a moment’s notice to knock on every Jewish door in Crown Heights, if the Rebbe asked it of them.

To those who say that there are many not-yet-frum people who visit Crown Heights who don’t know that there is no eruv, or even that carrying is forbidden on Shabbos, I think that we can all agree that the Rebbe had a clear vision for where he wanted and expected the Chabad movement to go, and I’m sure that having visitors in Crown Heights was part of it. The Rebbe must surely have considered this as well.

And it should go without saying that the Rebbe knew about the other opinions in Halacha besides the Alter Rebbe’s, and knew that relying on a lenient opinion may be preferable in some instances, especially for post-facto cases, and especially where Shabbos is concerned. Yet he apparently chose to not utilize those opinions.

These thoughts should be familiar to anyone who has been following the eruv debate. One issue that has not been brought to the public forum is why many members of Anash are so against others using an eruv. “To use it or not should be up to the individual,” assuming it is a kosher eruv according to a reliable opinion. Right?  I think that what those who are strongly opposed to the eruv have not yet articulated is that this is much more than a simple halachic issue. This is a haskafik issue as well… a big one.  It doesn’t just affect each individual; it affects the Chabad-Lubavitch movement as a whole.

A doctor is responsible for his patients’ physical well-being… only ‘his’ patients, and only their physical well-being.  A Rav or Mashpia is responsible, at least primarily, for his congregation’s or community’s spiritual well-being. A world leader like our Rebbe is responsible for both the physical and spiritual well-being of every Yid on the planet – even those who “don’t hold” a certain way. That’s why we request input from our gedolei  hador on issues across the board, ranging from mental and physical health to kashrus and to the eruv. Not only is this task a Goliath one, it has aspects to it that a single minded lay person prone to tunnel vision might not even consider.

When the Rabbonim are against the eruv, it’s not just about whether or not the Rebbe wanted an eruv, or whether or not one can be erected in a halachically acceptable fashion. It’s about protecting neshamas. Hashkafically,  the eruv is much more than an eruv.  For us, it represents our spiritual standing and the evolution of Chabad. Can we be ready for shlichus whenever and wherever we find ourselves if we are afraid to go out of our shechuna because we have never experienced Shabbos without an eruv? Can we demonstrate that a frum Jew doesn’t have to compromise his principles if we compromise on our own Shulchan Aruch right here at the home of Lubavitch World Headquarters? These questions apply to all of us, because all Jews, everywhere, are always under public (as well as heavenly) scrutiny.

The Rabbonim of Crown Heights are responsible for the well-being of this whole community. I think that they understand and predict that while making an eruv would protect the few who already carry, the bigger issue is that many who would otherwise not carry will start. And yes, that is a big problem. For us, it would be a spiritual descent. Our community already suffers with problems in all “four defining issues of Orthodoxy” – kashrus, taharas hamishpacha, shabbos, and education. Lack of tznius, chalav stam, paas akum, the use of nannies on shabbos…the Rabbonim aren’t blind to these things. People lament the low state of the next generation, and demand that the leadership do something about these issues, but in many cases the hands of the Rabbonim are tied. They can’t force individual observance of Chabad chumras or even of basic Halacha. The eruv is one issue where they can exercise their influence by, in essence, building a spiritual fence…. by opposing the eruv.

We all know that everything spiritual and physical is tied together like a web. Laxity in one area will inevitably bring a downfall in another. It’s another nail in the ship that is called Slow Spiritual Demise (the SS Demise.)The question is, has that ship already sailed?  The Rabbonim of a community are tasked with understanding when it is important to look for a lenient approach, and when it is important to build fences around halacha and hashkafa. And here they have made their decision. They are worried that an eruv will lead to generations of people who look for every daas yachid, every kula, and every heter – and constantly demand that others bow to their pressure. Chabad will no longer be Chabad; Halacha will be no more than a nuisance around which to find loop-holes; and respect for the Rebbe and for Rabbinical authority will be non-existent. There will be no light in the spiritual darkness that is New York. You may say that this is a gross exaggeration of the “slippery- slope argument” and simple fear mongering. Or maybe that doesn’t even sound so bad to you. But these are some of the things the Rabbonim think about when looking at the larger picture of what an eruv means to our community at large and to our future generations.  If you care about the Rebbe, if you care about Chabad, if you care about world Jewry – even if you don’t consider yourself a Chassid, or a Chabadnik, or even Jewish- you will listen to the Rebbe and Rabbonim who know better than all of us how to keep our neshamas strong.

Respectfully,

Rabbi Noach Menachem Salovitz

Crown Heights
Brooklyn, NY

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44 Comments

  • Chaim

    “The air-raid siren existed back then, as did beepers, as did phone trees, as did dedicated bochurim who would have been ready at a moment’s notice to knock on every Jewish door in Crown Heights, if the Rebbe asked it of them.”

    Really?

    If I am not mistaken the siren and beepers were only put up / came out in the late 1980s years after the Rebbes letters against eruvim…
    To go and say that the fail safe system is to interrupt bochurim who are learning to go around door to door to announce that the Eruv is down is clearly something that the Rebbe would be against.

  • Anon

    You lost me at: “The Rabbonim of Crown Heights are responsible for the well-being of this whole community. ”

    And I have a multiple bridges in Brooklyn to sell you!!

    The Rabonim have been quiet while watching the neighborhood, and movement crash and burn. Now they’re concerned?

    This ship has indeed sailed, and by Rosh HaShana a good chunk of CH Anash (y’reim u’shleimim, full beards, kapote, no TV, filtered internet etc.) will be carrying.

    • Give it up

      Any one who dares use the “impossible to have” eiruv is neither a chossid nor frum.

      Pls keep your hateful predictions to yourself, and stop cursing the frum community.

  • thank you!

    Very well written! Thank you for bringing it up and putting ur name to the article!

  • This

    “The Rabbonim of a community are tasked with understanding when it is important to look for a lenient approach, and when it is important to build fences around halacha and hashkafa”

    • Ch'er

      Only when called for . There’s a mitzvah to blow shofar on Rosh Hashana too, but when Halacha says no shofar on shabbos, we keep the mitzvah of Shabbos. And when Halacha says you can’t build an eruv in a particular area, that’s not the place to do this mitzvah. Truma and maaser from fruits and vegetables is also a mitzvah – in Eretz Yisroel. Not in a different place. You can’t separate the mitzvos and Torah from the One who gave us the Torah, which includes Halacha to be determined by rabbanim. If Halacha says you can’t do the mitzvah- it’s no longer a mitzvah!

  • Rebbe

    The Rebbe was NEVER against the Eruv! He never mentioned anything about a “Crown Heights Eruv”!

    What the Rebbe DID say was – that in any place (not specifically Crown Heights) when an Eruv is made it should be kept quite about it. (NOT that it’s Assur or Passul).

    Yet (for some reason) in all Lubavitch communities throughout the entire world – including Kfar Chabad – there is an up and running Eruv.

    • SERIOUSLY???

      The Rebbe was NEVER against the Eruv! He never mentioned anything about a “Crown Heights Eruv”!

      Are you so sure of that? Ask Reb Michoel Seligson, who has a phenomenal memory, and he will be able to tell you when, & what the Rebbe spoke about the eruv.

  • Joke of the century

    “The Rabbonim of Crown Heights are responsible for the well-being of this whole community”.

    There are no official “Rabbonim” in this community, not since Rabbi Marlow passed away 16 years ago.

    Community “Rabbonim” (one’s that can make “takkanos”) exist only when there are three Rabbonim that make up a Beis Din.

    There are individual, well respected “Rov’s” that I ask Sha’alos to and go to for advice, but that’s as far as it goes.

    As it stands now, the most recent elections remain in dispute and has never been resolved.

  • Baffled

    The op-ed is very well written and cogent .

    I am still baffled by the entire “Eruv plot,” This last op-ed and other of similar thinking should have been at the beginning. This is called “locking the barn door” after the cow escaped.

    Can someone explain who (rhetorical question) lacked the sechel, yiras shamayim, kavod ha’rabbonim and mostly the Rebbe, to put up an Eruv. After the fact, rabbis’ letters – not just from Crown Heights – began pouring in.
    “Whoever” was so misguided thought that presenting a fait accomple would guarantee the eruv’s acceptance.

  • Number 7

    Many Chassidim do not use any eiruv in Eretz Yisroel including the Eida Chareidis, and one place they do carry in is Kfar Chabad Bais (aka Bais Rivka), I believe because it is a reshus hayochid.

  • HAY DUDE

    THE RABBONIM OF CH itself is a joke.

    They optimize the worst of what we have. Fights and court and more court and they hate each other wont speak to each other and do nothing. THEY ARE TOTALLY a thing of the past. The institution of Rabbonim here was killed when Segal was put in.

    2 Bais DINS 2 Hescherin. Each one writes letters the other Hescher is TRAIF and NOT TO EAT IT.

    CH is now the 5 towns

    • 5 Townser

      We have an established and respected Vaad, every one of our Rabbonim get along, and there is minimal-to-no politics in the community.
      You should aspire to be like us!

    • Chaim H.

      You are living in the past.

      Every individual has personal responsibly to find himself a Rov and a Mashpia (and not a cookie cutter one).

      Who is your Rov that you ask questions too?

  • Bla Bla Bla

    1.as a resident of crown height long before this writer was born. NEVER was any thought of an Eruv in crown heights not even a dream. there was no money and no connection.
    2.this “Rabonim” who are they ? what was the last benefit to the community from them ?
    oh yet they can show a powerful strong hand against the Eruv well they lost this turn.
    3.if a Jew say there is a KOSHER Eruv in crown heights no one can come and tell us Stories of this Dream or That Dream from a yankel or Laibel .
    yes they can start learning the issue and have suggestion how to improve the kashrus but not to say bad things not even knowing what was done.
    4.any Rabbi who wanted to help the kashrus of the Eruv was Terrorized to stay out.
    5.most People joining the Jihad against the Eruv go Upstate New York to Bungalow Colonies and yet not Even One of them Called A Rov to look at the Eruv There many of them are Not even Kosher.

  • no one special

    Boston, Brookline, Newton, etc did not have an Eruv during the lifetime of The Rov, because he would not approve one.
    It is safe to believe that he was familiar with the Halachas and with arguments, pro & con. He would not approve any proposed eruv.
    Agree, or not, rationalize his decision and state all the
    benefits of an eruv and accept or reject his decision and realize many who could prevent the production of an eruv, prevented it.

    • CR

      And it was an utter Bizui to the Rav’s legacy that certain other factions in “Ba Satan” immediately built an eiruv as soon as he was niftar.

  • Impressed with Rabbi Salowitz!

    Rabbi Salowitz, you are a remarkable writer and presented this side of things so clearly! You seem very learned but also down to earth. Thank you and I hope you’ll write on more subjects!

    • CH Homeowner

      Amen!! Excellent, well thought-out discussion. Thank you, R. Salowitz. I hope you will share your perspective more often.

  • My Goodness

    The comments are so rude and negative!
    Put your name up there the way the writer did.
    The pessimism and disrespect for any opinion is so flagrant.

  • at least

    At least he puts his name up there-
    why don’t the angry loudmouths put their names up?Let’s see who you are

  • Bla Bla Bla

    Who is a rov
    Bruin was underage not living here and never got smicha.
    Shwei was selected not elected like the rebbe clear direction to have two ppl run against each other
    Ozdaba, well he makes tony soprano look like a saint

  • just someone

    Wow what a powerful Op-Ed.

    I can totally relate with the writer.

    So well written with such ahavas Yisroel – you almost too nice on account of the Rabonnim but its OK, I’d rather read this then the usual dribble.

  • Chaim H.

    My twisted logic is…since there are three Rabbis in CH that don’t get along, I can now (I have an excuse and justification) to abandon משה אמת ותורתו אמת

    Since those three fight, I have no obligation to follow the Torah/Shluchan Aruch. Also there are worse things, until “someone” (not me) fixes every other problem, I can dismiss this one.

    Another way I can disregard this matter (and thus do whatever I want), is to somehow make this a political issue. We all know that once its a political issues, the details don’t matter, after all, I’m a good person who does not get involved in politics.

    • Give it up

      Seriously? The only person you can fool all the time is a fool. Out yourself.
      Go sin if you want but the only one to blame is yourself.
      Asei lcha rav. If you don’t like anyone on the CH Bais din there are many others you can choose from.

  • rdz

    i am very bothered by all the negative comments. one thing that many people seem not to consider, perhaps there are halachic reasons that there cannot be an eruv in crown heights? I was told that there are. regardless of that, if the rabbonim say there is no eruv, that is the case. end of discussion.

  • Glenn Schreiber

    Thoughtful and well written. While quite apropos for CH, where there are shtibles on just about every block, the lack of an eruv can have a negative impact in Jewish communities in flyover country, where shul can be far from home (and a bottle of water would be a welcome and on some days necessary item to have on your person). And even in densely Jewish communities, an eruv can be helpful especially for elderly or disabled persons (there seems to be quite a number of both in CH), who have to rely on heterim to carry medicine or oxygen etc.

  • You miss the point

    I agree with everything you all say about the Rabbonim in terms of “leading” us to disaster. However, this was an acknowledgement that the Rabbonim are not doing their job in these specific areas.

    This article is about the Eruv, and it is an excellent one. You are focusing on a few words – instead, get past your disdain for them & read what Rabbi Salowitz said ABOUT THE ERUV. If you want to take the Rabbonim to task (& I am 100% with you), write an article yourselves.

  • Dr. Brum

    Thanks for posting your opinion. I am impressed that someone of the so called ‘millenial’ generation would have such insight. With best wishes, I wish you a great Yashkoach and say that I agree with your approach to this subject as being much more than just the Halachic aspects.

  • Anon

    The chabad shluchim in melbourne were told by the Rebbe not to use the melbourne eruv. Go ask them. If you carry, there are others who have to explain to their kids that we dont carry because thats what the Rebbe said and then the kids ask why is this Yid who looks like us carrying, and we have to say we dont know because we dont want to verbalise that this Yid is not doing what the Rebbe wanted.
    The reason the Rebbe didnt want an eruv is because if you always use it and then one time you spend shabbos somewhere without an eruv you might chas vsholom carry because you are used to it – and being mechalel shabbos is a big aveiro.

  • Yossel

    My understanding was that the Rebbe did indeed say that an Eiruv should NOT be made in Crown Heights. The Rabbonim may not always get along, but here is a case where they all agree.

    This piece is well written and makes a convincing case to end the squabbling and fighting. If you want to use a baby carriage on Shabbos, you need to move to a community where an Eiruv exists and is used by the G-d fearing members of that community.

    This whole issue should be laid to rest.

  • shlomo

    strange eruv in Beersheba kosher and follows all halachot’s and rules, but chabadnikim not use it))) so what problem.? do not use it
    and imho we need real rabonim be shhuna. those 3 never sit together , so trow all 3 and find normal, not baalej mahloket