405 Construction Halts Use of Kosher Eruv in Westwood (Los Angeles, Brentwood: appointed, how much)

[Exitus Acta Probat]

A small, unobtrusive wire that runs along light poles on Sepulveda and Wilshire boulevards must be taken down for several weeks, affecting the local conservative Jewish community.

A eruv is a ritual enclosure as a means to allow Jewish residents or visitors to carry objects outside their home.

The Los Angeles Jewish Journal reports that the broken eruv means conservative Jews cannot carry things, even baby stroller or prayer shawls, outside their homes during Shabbat. Ancient Jewish law prohibits the carrying of any items except inside a private home or courtyard during Friday evenings and Saturdays.

Hoard Witkin, head organizer of the Los Angeles Community Eruv, writes on the organization's website that 200 feet of eruv wire have to be removed, making the eruv not kosher.

405 Construction Halts Use of Kosher Eruv in Westwood - Government - Brentwood, CA Patch

[munchitup]

Sucks for them... I'm sure they'll find a loophole, as this eruv sounds like a loophole in and of itself.

[Charles]

I would be disappointed if superstitions got in the way of a bulldozer.

[Mashi]

Boo hoo.

The fact that they're allowed to put their religious nonsense on public property (at public expense, no doubt) is offensive to begin with. Now they're crying because it's in the way of people doing an actual job instead of pushing strollers around in their imaginary courtyard? THIS is what's wrong with this country. I'm Christian. I keep my beliefs in my household. I don't go requesting Holy Water drinking fountains be put up around town. The entitlement of the Jewish community in LA is beyond measure.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Mashi

Boo hoo.

The fact that they're allowed to put their religious nonsense on public property (at public expense, no doubt) is offensive to begin with. Now they're crying because it's in the way of people doing an actual job instead of pushing strollers around in their imaginary courtyard? THIS is what's wrong with this country. I'm Christian. I keep my beliefs in my household. I don't go requesting Holy Water drinking fountains be put up around town. The entitlement of the Jewish community in LA is beyond measure.

I'm glad you feel that way. You wouldn't mind if your religious business (aka your church) was taxed in the future, would you?

[Mashi]

Originally Posted by Charles

I'm glad you feel that way. You wouldn't mind if your religious business (aka your church) was taxed in the future, would you?

Honestly, I wouldn't. So what's your point, and how does a church being exempt from paying tax = a religious group using public lands, fixtures, and funds for their own uses? What happens if my church wants to put up a big cross between the power poles their sabbath wires are strung from and their wires are in the way? Who gets precedent? The ones with the deeper pockets and more political connections?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Mashi

a church being exempt from paying tax = a religious group using public lands, fixtures, and funds for their own uses?

They aren't too far off from one another.

The priest is driving on tax supported roads. The tax supported fire department puts out the church when it is on fire. The tax supported police protects the church from vandals. The people attending church know how much money to put into the collection plate due to the education they received in tax supported schools.

Next question?

And, to keep this post on topic, the Jews who are raising this "issue" are impeding a tax supported project - a project for which their synagogue or temple pays no taxes to fund.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Oy, let's all take a bite of gefilte fish and stop this arguing before we all go mashugana. This is serious business -- I know a rabbi who had to attend a bris but since the Eruv wire was absent he couldn't bring his bris scissors and therefore had to use a KaBar. Oy gevalt!

[Fontucky]

They've been through worse. They'll survive. (no sympathy emoticon goes here)

[EscapeCalifornia]

This reminds me of silly games kids play, like having to step on every 3rd crack on the sidewalk or a monster will get them.