By COLlive reporter
What was the opinion of Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dworkin, the senior halachic authority of Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood, about constructing an Eruv?
In light of the recent controversy surrounding the new Greater Crown Heights Eruv, COLlive.com was given a copy of a letter about the issue co-signed by the late Rabbi Dworkin on Kislev 5739 (1978).
Rabbi Dworkin, who also served as the dean of the worldwide Lubavitch Rabbinic Council, joined other prominent rabbis of his time to rule that it is impossible to make an Eruv in large cities.
The psak includes the signatures of Rabbi Pinchus Hirshprung, Chief Rabbi of Montreal and Rosh Yeshiva of the Lubavitch Yeshivah of Montreal; Rabbi Ephraim Eliezer Yolles, Chief Rabbi of Philadelphia who was close to the Rebbe; and Rabbi Meir Greenberg, Rosh Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim of Morristown and Rov of Patterson, NJ.
In the statement, the rabbis declared that there is no way to build an eruv in any large metropolis, and an eruv that is built would be considered invalid.
“We therefore strongly warn all members of the Jewish community in each and every city, not to build an eruv in any city, and not to rely on an eruv made against the opinion of Gedolei Yisroel.”
They conclude that “whoever relies on the eruv is considered a Mechalel Shabbos.”
Rabbi Dworkin’s successors in the Crown Heights Beis Din – Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, Rabbi Yaacov Schwei and Rabbi Yosef Braun also ruled against creating an Eruv in the neighborhood.
They said that creating an Eruv in a neighborhood with a central intersection like Eastern Parkway wouldn’t be in accordance with the rulings of the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, which Chabad follows.
The creators of the Eruv, members of the neighboring Orthodox synagogue Kol Israel in Prospect Heights, say it is intended for their community and that “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to use it.”
They noted on their website that the Eruv is “certified by well-known experts in the laws of Eruv, whose names are being withheld at this time in order to protect their privacy.”
“People involved with our shul built an Eruv privately and respectably,” Naftali Hanau, a coordinator of the Eruv said on Tuesday. “It’s not a Chabad Eruv, was not built to the Alter Rebbe’s standards and we didn’t go to 770 for permission.”
Rabbi Dovid Tzubeli, chairman of the organization Eruv Mehudar in Lakewood, NJ, wrote a letter on Tuesday to dispel rumors of his involvement or certification of the Crown Heights Eruv.
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I was talking about the days when the Fabrengens were on Shabbos Mevorchim. Not every Shabbos. That came later. Air conditioning was around long before the 70’s – but a lot of people did not have it yet. Or only had it in certain rooms. When I lived in Crown Heights in the 70’s I really found it hard to get Jewish baby sitters. I am sorry you do not believe me. What more can I say? Your words “impossible to ever find somebody” is an exaggeration. I did not have relatives or connections in the community. I tried to… Read more »
“The mothers and children did not stay in the city. They spend the long hot summer Shabbosim in the country with an Eruv. It would be IMPOSSIBLE to survive in Crown Heights on a summer Shabbos.” My in-laws stayed in CH every Shabbos to be at the farbrengens. My wife and I lived in CH for several years and we were home all summer. G-d gave us A/C (it’s been around since the 1970s) and we have cute kids. It’s not so bad. As for non-Jewish babysitters, part of having kids is hiring babysitters. We try our best to get… Read more »
Rabbi Dvorkin used to spend his summers in the country in a bungalow colony. That way he was accessible for the families to ask him questions. The colony he was in – as well as other colonies had an Eruv. Why not? It was not a city. No big streets running through the small colonies of those days for sure. You see – it was expected that all Chabad families would go to the country and use a bungalow for the summer. The older kids would go to camp – where they also had an Eruv. The mothers and children… Read more »
I would rather use an Eruv than hire someone who is not Jewish to watch my child on Shabbos.
Who is going to watch a child – as you suggest – on Shabbos? If not someone who is not Jewish. I know that plenty of Jews leave their children with non-Jews, but to some of us, that is not how we want to do things. Especially on Shabbos. You probably do it yourself. As you say… you have “somebody” watch the kids.
#55 wrote: “These people who want to be not religious should go to another neighborhood.” I don’t think “these people” want to be not religious. “These people” want to observe Shabbos as a family and a community. They don’t want the Eruv so they can eat cheeseburgers. They want to be able to take a Shabbos walk as a family. They want to get together with friends for the Seuda. They want to take their kids out to the playground on the one day the parents are not distracted by other things. If you call that not religious – I… Read more »
Rabbi Marlow’s views were mentioned previously, and he was against the eruv idea. The fact remains that NO ONE has the right to enter my home and kitchen and decide they are going to make it treif! the same way NOONE has the right to enter the Rebbe’s shchuna and go against his wishes. These people who want to be not religious should go to another neighborhood and leave The Rebbe’s shchuna alone and allow the real chassidim who choose to follow the Torah properly
To #53: I lived in CH after my wedding. I still live in a city where we don’t use the eruv. My wife doesn’t sit home crying every week. How did people become so sensitive? Is it so terrible to have a day at home with your children? If my wife needs to get to an event, we have somebody watch the kids. I think some of these poor souls that “suffer” being home with the family need to reassess their priorities. (Married less than 10 years, by the way, and I work in Real Estate. Not just some cranky… Read more »
The one point that has been missing from all of the discussions about an Eruv in Crown Heights has been for the Rabbonim or the “opinion-givers” to say anything about the feelings of isolation and disrespect experienced by young women with babies, who are confined to their homes on the long Shabbos days. Such women cannot go to shul or visit friends etc. It makes them feel that all of the talk about halacha and din totally ignores their needs as people. Such feelings cannot of course override the halacha. But Rav Zalman Shimon Dworkin o. h., always “spoke to… Read more »
The Rebbe said the official name is:
Beis Din Tzedek of Crown Heights.
Emphasizing it is NOT just for Lubavitchers, rather for ALL of Crown Heights.
Miami today does not 600,000 people, let alone in chof gimmel
Curious who “made up” the “fact” that Eastern Parkway has 600,000 people passing thru one day?!
This is impossible. Just due the math:
That is 25,000 people in one hour. I.E. 415 people PER MINUTE!! Even if each and every car had 2 passengers doesn’t make sense
The Eruv in Kfar Chabad is up and used for many years – and is also NOT according to the Alter Rebbe’s guidelines.!!
The Eruv is also not kept a secret!
To all those quoting halocho, ahavas yisroel shemiras shabbso. it appears that they are lack the knowledge that the
Rebbe knew halocho no less that them, the Rebbe had
ahavas yisroel no less that them, the Rebbe was concerned about shemiras shabbos no less than them, and still the declared very strongly he will not allow an eiruv in ch.Rherefore all their arguments are meaningless.
I don’t quite get the canard that “these days are different.” If anything, I would guess that there are many more people using Eastern Parkway – or almost any street in Crown Heights – than there were 20, 30 years ago.
why not build a separate eruv that doesn’t include the actual street of eastern parkway and empire boulevard? those can be the borders.
Based on the very clear declaration of the Rebbe:I will not allow an eiruv to be made in Crown Heights, this so called
eiruv must be removed without any further discussion. No one
has the right regardless of his affiliation to act contrary to the Rebbe;s words. Chassidim must do everything to fulfill the Rebbe’s instruction.
So your saying that reb moshe was the posek of america but in c.h. you don’t have to folow the opinion of the elected rabonim, this dosent make any sence.
I also live in S.paulo and certainly NOT all the rabonim agree. Many do NOT use the eruv.
That different CH “community” is a minority, and does not have its own beis din.
Sounds like you live in Toronto.
The eruv was not built according to the alter Rebbe s guidelines cuz that’s impossible unless living in a shtetle like kfar Chabad.
I also live in Toronto and until the recent past few years people committed to Chabad 100 percent did not use it. I still don’t.
the people in crown heights supporting the eruv don’t know who rabbi dworkin is. The eruv was made for a different community.
The following is an approximate translation of the second Hebrew letter on your site. Not only does the Rabbi Say it is not his Eruv, but he clearly states that it must be constructed differently in order for it to be valid in this neighborhood and then only withe the support of the local Beis Din. Rabbi Dovid Aharon Zubli Head of the Committee For the Meticulous Eruv in Lakewood To the Honorable Gershon Naftali Shpiegel Shlita Rabbinic Judge In Lakewood I am hereby responding to your question with regard to the Eruv in Crown Heights You should surely know… Read more »
what did r marlow A”H say? curious we never mention him
If local Rabbonim forbid it, no outsider can allow it. End of story. Anyone that wants a change in the status can only achieve it by getting LOCAL Rabbonim to approve.
Thank you very much to #18 for posting the information regarding the LA Eruv.
‘Todah raabah’ for this article about Rav Dworkin, A”H. I met him when i came to Crown Heights in 1976. A great and wonderful man…a genius…brilliant…’bukee in Hichos Nida’ one of/or the, hardest ‘masechta.’
could not have made a better analogy myself
P.s. i dont think there are even rumors that the rebbe was against cheeseburgers and he definitely never mentioned it in any sichos/igros
When a certain combatitive rov reported to the Rebbe that he made an eruv in his city, the Rebbe responded ‘ an eruv is the inyan of ACHDUS. Did you bring ACHDUS to your city?
If all our Rabbonim , including the Rebbes secretary, are against an eruv in C.H., then this is the Lubavitch standard,and I am proud to be in the ranks of those with higher standards.
At the same time I wont forget The Rebbes ACHDUS campaign, and will not disparage those who rely on their phantom rov to call them mechalley shabbos,chas ve’sholom.
If local Rabbonim forbid it, no outsider can allow it. End of story. Anyone that wants a change in the status can only achieve it by getting LOCAL Rabbonim to approve.
Thank you very much to #18 for posting the information regarding the LA Eruv.
#6 Please consider actually reading the letter before you comment.
#9 Thumbs up!
#18 Next time maybe consider posting a link instead?
They had no right to build the eruv around Crown Heights, if they do not live within its borders. Kol Isreal did not ask 770 permission, because they knew they would be denied. This basically means, the eruv should not be used by them either. One cannot carry from one eruv to other, so there was no point to build it.
I live in L.A. and recently had a discussion with the 2 Rabonim who actually implement and maintain the “eiruv” in L.A. It relies on MANY kulois to the point that THE RABONIM who actually give the hechsher and oversee it DO NOT carry by the EIRUV THEY BUILT!!!! If you read the entire booklet which you so kindly just posted, you will see that even the Rabonim who signed say NOT to plan your Shabbos around this eiruv. Who are we kidding!!?? And to my brethern in Kan Tziva who “Still believe”, please understand that if “now is different”… Read more »
It means simply they never signed on this this as we would like to see the original with the signatures or they changed their mind once Reb Moshe passed. That might be the reason the Rebbe wrote letters about NYC since it was Reb Moshes hometown he had respect for the pOSEK hador.
Such a long haara can go in the kovetz pilpulim. My eyes are starting to hurt ; )
I live in a big metropolis, and we have a superb eiruv. Like the letter (18) above detailing what are the requirements, so too, these requirements had to be met before the eiruv was built. One of the requirements was that ALL Rabonin must all unanimously agree on the halachic validity of the eiruv. In the group is the Chabad posek for this city. That means the Eiruv satisfied all the Chabad laws. In essence we have an eiruv that satisfies the stringent Lubavitch rules. Now Lubavitchers don’t carry, but in an emergency or if they mistakenly are carrying at… Read more »
for Starters Ra Dworkin’s letter makes the case against even stronger #1 is foolish by trying to say the Alter Rebbe say there is no Reshus Harabim at least 2 Rabbonim have Paskened otherwise Eastern Parkway is clearly a Reshus Harabim.The amount of people now is much more than then the naysayers & troublemakers are looking for excuses for their conveienceL.a is a different set up then Nyc & I am sure TheRabbonim there took everything into account.. TheEiru in My neighborhood was constructed over 40 years ago & aside from the hospital & one main Business street we have… Read more »
U are so right !!! Montreal and Philadelphia all have eruvin that is why I don’t believe they signed the letter
You sound like a big Talmud chacham, being that your quoting the alter rebbe, your probably aware of the tzemach tzedek who paskins that there is a Reshus harabim today!
באג”ק חכ”ב מכתב ח’תנז אל רב של עיר גדולה באמעריקא, הרב פנחס אהרן ווברמאן שליט”א אב”ד מיאמי, כותב לו הרבי (ביום ג’ תמוז תשכ”ב:: “לכתבו ע”ד עירוב בעיר, כיון שהלכות רבות בזה – הרי מבלי השתתפות רב בקי בהל’ אלו ביחוד אין לעשות בזה” עכלה”ק
הרי נמצא להדיא אשר בעיר גדולה, באם אכן יש רב מומחה ובקי בהלכות עירובין – בפירוש יש לעשות עירוב. ודא עקא, בעיר מיאמי רבתי הרי יש עירוב בכל העיר ודו”ק.
Most of the Rabbonim signed on the above letter made Eruvin in their own city – which still stand and used till this very day!!!
Please Explain?
When they build the eruv they didn’t have Chabad on mind like the Rabbi said they build it for the Prospect Heights Shul, and Brooklyn Heights, Windsor Terrace Lefferts Garden, Cobble Hill, and Crown Heights, they knew that the Labavitchers were not going to use it end of story
I live within the boundaries of the Boro Park and Flatbush “Eiruv.”
A. ONLY the Chassidim use it – not Yeshivish or Chabad Chassidim.They consider it chilul Shabbos -r”l.
B. The machlokes is still going strong.
C. As far as I know, the Rabbanim who originially initiated this Eiruv still remain anonymous.
D. As a member of the Chabad community and its shuls, Chabad does not use the BP/Flatbush eiruv.
E. I don’t get the posts claiming that we live in different times now. That was the charter banner of the conservative moment.
Chabad has. Since then joined the m.o. comunity, reb moshe is a daas yuchid when you count all m.o. and y.I. and o.u. rabbis.
RCC STATEMENT OF CERTIFICATION RCC Kashrus Approval of Los Angeles Community Eruv 21 Teves 5763 December 26, 2002 The Rabbinical Council of California and the RCC Eruv Vaad Halacha certifies the validity and maintenance of the Los Angeles Community Eruv (LACE). This Eruv incorporates the highest standards possible in a large metropolitan Eruv. Eruvin in large metropolitan areas are not certified according to all halachic opinions. For a comprehensive discussion of the differing views of the classic and contemporary Poskim pertaining to our Eruv, it is imperative that one read the Eruv Guidebook and / or review it with their… Read more »
Then u can carry if you dont – dont carry.
the eruv on the website in downtown brooklyn and the park slope eruv (including eastern parkay) were made with the permission of the chabad rabbis/shluchim of those locations
Most people here do not even look at the letter in a restaurant when then go eat. IN CH MOST RESTAURANTS ARE NOT UNDER THE BAIS DIN AND SERVE SATMER SOLOMON MEAT>
What did the alter rebbe mean by “now” ?
We live in a very big city, and ALL the Rabbonim together agreed, and made an Eiruv. Basically, all the Jewish neighborhoods in this massive city, have an Eiruv. So what exactly is the problem with a big city?
What about syburban sprawl cities such as houston?
can someone translate
This is a pure litvish איסור and as u can see not one chasidishe rov would sign
I would like to see he original with the signatures of it really is real
I am opening a new store to sell cheeseburgers in Crown Heights. The store has a great hechsher, but we cannot disclose the name of the Rabbi so that he will not be harassed. I am aware that the Rebbe was against eating cheeseburgers (so rumor has it, although I have never heard a reliable source for it), however times have changed now that so many people are frying out, and none of us really know what the Rebbe’s opinion on cheeseburgers would be now. I think it is better for them to at least be eating cheeseburgers with a… Read more »
“They noted on their website that the Eruv is “certified by well-known experts in the laws of Eruv, whose names are being withheld at this time in order to protect their privacy.”
YOU CANNOT CERTIFY SOMETHING AND BE PRIVATE.
That is the entire mahus of a certification.
It’s too absurd to treat in words. This is kafka.
These people are going to denounce any and every connection to chabad, lubavitch, or the rebbe.
In essence this might be the east way out but moroh tihiye b’sof
I
The psak of our rabbanim is very clear. Now it’s time to step up and help everyone accept it with joy! Please do reach out to neighbors and young parents and offer to make their Shabbos happier and better! Can you watch a baby and let mom go out? Can you invite a neighbor in your building for a Shabbos lunch? With Ahavas Yisroel, we can draw closer together…
It it’s well known that many of the assumptions that that kol korie were based on have been factually disproven hence there is an eruv in Flatbush including ocean parkway approved by many reputable poskim so should one know who is the rav hamachshir that would change the entire issue.
How big is a big city? Which cities outside New York, Los Angeles are considered big cities?
This was a Kol Korah by Litvishe Rabbonim. Chasidim now carry in BP and no longer follow Reb Moshes SHitah
That was in time of Reb Moshe who was the posek
We follow the Alter Rebbe who says there is NO RESHUS HARABIM now and people who carry should be left alone.
Also that was when all Chasidim did not carry not all Carry in Boro Park. Times have changed as u can see.