Re: wrinkles, and the Eruv

[Guest guest]

> Ruthie, you look gorgeous! I was about to add " ...you're nothing

like I

> pictured you " but that doesn't sound too good does it... Let me put

it the

> other way - if you are " larger " , to coin a phrase, then it's

certainly paid

> off in the wrinkle department, cos you don't look any older than me

> (stressed 37!)

Thank you It *was* 3 yrs ago that was taken but still :-)

>

> Podge is gorgeous too. Snif. I do a mean hamster impression by the

way -

> my " hamster awakening " has met with critical acclaim (but then I am

> temperamentally suited to hamster impressions).

>

> Now I've skimmed your site, I remember what it was I meant to ask

you (well,

> I know what it was but now I remember the word). Do you have a view

(that

> you're prepared to share) on the Eruv question? You are so good at

putting

> things, do you think you'd be able to convince me that it's not just

a

> copout? Please, feel free to tell me to mind my own business - I

won't

> judge you because of it.

Course I won't tell you to mind your own business. I will tell you

about eruvs.

For those who don't know what an eruv is: Here's an explanation.

On Sabbath we are not allowed to carry things, or push prams,

wheelchairs etc in the street, only in an enclosed area. (eg our back

garden.) An eruv is constructed by means of poles in the street

joined together with wire (very high up, hardly noticeable), which

effectively turn the street into an enclosed area, making it possible

for us to push prams, carry things etc on Sabbath. This makes Sabbath

much pleasanter for mums of young babies who previously were stuck

indoors unless they had a babysitter, until the babies learned to

walk.

Our street has its own private ervu, constructed by the esteemed Rabbi

who lives at number 1. He had it built so that his children, when

they came to visit, and stayed in neighbour's houses, could come over

to the Rabbi on Sabbath. It has helped the young families in our

street be less restricted on that day.

Almost every town in Israel has its own Eruv, some have Eruvs within

Eruvs (eg Jerusalem, where every neighbourhood has its own, and the

whole city has one.) Many European cities (eg Antwerp) have an Eruv.

The question of the London eruv is fraught with politics.

Interestingly enough the non-Jews aren't the least bit bothered about

the extra street furniture (hardly anything, as they can use existing

telegraph poles, and the wires would be invisibly high up) but the

irreligious Jews are making a helluva fuss about it, saying it will

turn the enclosed area into a ghetto, which is patently rubbish.

There are some very religious Jews who would not use an eruv anyway,

but for those who do, it is not a cop out, merely a way of liberating

the young parents, and the wheelchair bound, on Sabbath.

>