Yeshiva's New Eruv: Up and Operational

Yeshiva's first Eruv, constructed 10 years ago, covered only a few blocks on the east side of Amsterdam Avenue, from 187th Street to Belfer Hall. As Yeshiva's dormitory alternative, the Independent Housing Project (IHP), and alumni housing expanded, there was a growing consensus among the rabbinic leadership at Yeshiva to extend the decade old Eruv to the north and the south.

Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) students Yonaton Kaganoff '02 and Azriel Chelst '04, however, had more expansive plans. They proposed to not only extend the Eruv north and south, but rather, to extend the Eruv west as well. This venture west would link the entire Wilf Campus, and leave the door open for eventually linking the two Jewish populations of Washington Heights -- the Yeshiva and "Breuer" community -- via an Eruv. "We decided to be a little more ambitious," said Chelst.

The goal was not just to accommodate the young couples who had recently moved to the west side of Amsterdam, but also to encourage more graduates and alumni to move to campus.

"An Eruv is an integral part of a community. It will help enhance our community and make more people want to live here," said Rabbi Zevulun Charlop, the Max and Marion Grill dean of RIETS.

The new Eruv encompasses the entire campus, running along Laurel Hill Terrace, 182nd Street, 190th Street, and Audubon Avenue. The Eruv also includes the area on 185th Street west until Schottenstein Hall (See map).

Discussions about extending the Eruv began in the summer of 2001, but were halted after September 11 because most New York City contractors were busy with cleanup operations. Talks and planning resumed in October of 2002, and by June 2003 the extension was completed.

The nature of the Eruv and its construction was rigorously discussed among RIETS Roshei Yeshiva. Rabbi Herschel Schachter and Rabbi Moshe Tendler spearheaded the layout and halakhic parameters of the design. After gaining a consensus amongst the Roshei Yeshiva for the Eruv's specifications, Rabbi Charlop gave the approval to go ahead with the project.

Yet even when the halakhic issues were ironed out, much work still lay ahead. Officials from the NYC Parks Department and Department of Transportation were contacted for permits to trim branches and connect the Eruv ropes to lampposts. Rich Garcia, an architect with Vollmer Associates, helped plan the layout of the Eruv project, and Tanner Electric was employed for the construction.

The approximate cost of the Eruv was $12,000. The construction cost was $9,000, and an additional $3,000 went for the d'losos, doors that span Amsterdam and Audubon to occasionally block off traffic (thus demonstrating its status as a Reshut HaYachid). Chelst's parents donated some initial funding and the rest came from the Department of Supporting Services.

The ropes from the original Eruv were left untouched as a backup to the new Eruv. The Eruv is checked twice a week by RIETS students. The checking process takes 5 to 10 minutes with the assistance of vans from Yeshiva's department of Safety and Security.

The Eruv has only been down once since its completion last Shavout. A rope was cut on 190th Street, but was fixed in time for the next Shabbat. When the Eruv is down Chelst sends out an email to members of the Eruv listserve, and prints and posts red signs all over campus. The Eruv website, www.yueruv.org, posts the condition of the Eruv every Friday, and is managed by Chelst. The site has updates on the Eruv status and an FAQ section with answers to common questions about the Eruv.

The extension has benefited all of the Yeshiva community. "Ever since the Eruv has been extended, my Shabbat has become more at ease," said Ari Klien Yeshiva College 06'. "Now that the Eruv covers the entire campus, I am more inclined to stay in for Shabbat."