The West Rogers Park
The West Rogers Park Eruv Hotline:
1-773-74-ERUV-2 (743-7882)
(By clicking here or on our Eruv Hotline Phone Number above, you can check the status of the Eruv on-line)
Click here to sign up for the eruv weekly email update sent directly to you!
To Determine if the Eruv is Operational either click on the phone number link here, or call 1-773-74-ERUV-2 (743-7882) after 2pm every Friday afternoon or every Erev Yom Tov.
The Eruv Boundries are generally as follows:
One the West: The Kedzie
Ave. side of the Chicago River Fence
On the North: The Skokie
Swift Tracks
On the East: The Chicago
Northwestern Railroad Tracks
On the South: The Rosehill
Cemetary Wall, and from there Wires run on the South Side of Peterson Ave.
until Lincoln Ave. and they continue to run northwest along Lincoln Ave.
until the Chicago River.
The following map shows the exact boundries:
What is an Eruv?
The Torah prohibits carrying outside of an enclosed "private" area on Shabbos and Yom Kippur. Nevertheless, areas enclosed are considered "private" and may vary in size from a small home to an entire community. The Talmud specifies both the definition of an enclosure, and how to render an entire area a private domain. All these conditions have been met in order to create the West Side Eruv. It is therefore permissible, within the area outlined, to carry on Shabbos and Yom Kippur, according to the conditions described below.
Please note: It continues to be the responsibility of parents to teach
their children the halachos (what can and cannot be done) as they pertain
to carrying on Shabbos. It is only because of the Eruv that we are allowed
to carry within the Eruv area. Everyone, including children, should be
aware of the appropriate halachic behavior in areas where there is no Eruv.
Rules of the West Rogers Park - Chicago Eruv
The Eruv will be most helpful to families with young children, who will now be permitted to wheel carriages or strollers. Others will find it convenient to bring a talis or siddur to Shul, a sefer to a class or shiur, or to carry eye glasses, a house key or other permitted and/or necessary items. Wheelchairs, crutches and canes may be used if necessary.
It is the obligation of each individual who wishes to use the Eruv
to ascertain, every week,
that the Eruv is indeed kosher and functional.
To Determine if the Eruv is Operational Call
1-773-74-ERUV-2
(743-7882) after 2pm every Friday afternoon or every Erev Yom Tov,
or click the phone number link to check the eruv on-line.
It is not sufficient for one to assume that the Eruv is functional even
if there have not been storms or any adverse
condition (weather) within the past week. Many factors can invalidate
an Eruv, and only specific authoritative
confirmation on Friday validates the Eruv for use each week. Please
remember that if the Eruv is not operational,
carrying in the public domain may be a serious transgression.
The purpose of our Eruv is for the enhancement of the Shabbos observance,
not its diminution.
Therefore, the existence of the Eruv should not be considered a dispensation
to enter places not consistent with
maintaining the sanctity and spiritual character of the Shabbos, e.g.
business establishments, stores or offices.
Athletic activities, bicycle riding, tennis, ball playing, swimming,
skating and sledding are forbidden.
Gardening is forbidden on Shabbos. Watering the lawn is prohibited
as is playing in the sprinkler or playing
with water outdoors. Playing in the sandbox is not permitted. It is
forbidden to mail letters on the Shabbos.
Due to the newfound freedom allowed within the Eruv, the area of athletics
ball playing - is of special concern
to the Rabbonim and a majority of our community.
The temptation to be lenient with our children regarding this matter
is great, and much ball playing was noticed
on Shabbos before the Eruv's completion. It seems that the poskim who
have suggested that "young" children are
permitted toplay ball on Shabbos have been misconstrued to allowing
everything shy of a "little league" team for
Shabbos and Yom Tov. The intention of these poskim was to tolerate
a young child throwing a ball around the
backyard while keeping himself busy.
The Talmud Yerushalmi (Taanis 4:5) records that the city of Tur Shimeon
was destroyed exclusively
because of ball playing on Shabbos.
Even within the Eruv there are a number of common articles which, because
they are classified as muktzeh,
may not be carried or handled on Shabbos. These items may not be handled
even within the home,
and we feel compelled to remind you of that restriction. We cannot
provide a full catalogue of muktzeh items,
but we suggest that you refer all your questions in this regard to
your shul Rabbi.
Some of these categories of muktzeh are:
Any item whose main use is prohibited on the Shabbos, e.g. a hammer, writing implement, wallet, purse, pocketbook, etc.
Any item which is neither food nor a utensil that has a practical use on the Shabbos, e.g. money, animals, stones, credit cards, etc.
Any item so valuable that one would expend extra care for its safety, e.g. passport, checks, expensive artwork, merchandise set aside for sale, etc.
Aany item attached to its source of growth at the onset of Shabbos but which fell from its source of growth on Shabbos, e.g. an apple which falls from its branch, etc.
Any item which cannot be used on Shabbos or whose intended use is for after Shabbos, e.g. car keys or office keys.
An umbrella may not be carried even if opened prior to Shabbos or Yom Tov. Baby carriages should be assembled or set up Friday afternoon before candle lighting. Sun shades on carriages or strollers should be placed in position for use before the onset of Shabbos and should not adjusted once Shabbos has begun. Two wheel bicycles are considered muktzeh, although children's tricycles may be used inside the Eruv.
In order to assure that no joyous event be marred by a disappointment or, G-d forbid, an inadvertent transgression of Hilchos Shabbos, no Kiddush, Bar Mitzvah, Aufruf, Bris, or other Shabbos affair should be planned with the assumption that the Eruv will be operational, as last minute storms or other phenomena might render the Eruv invalid. Therefore, since these events are planned in the future, care must be taken as if the Eruv is non existent, e.g. food should be brought to the place of the simcha prior to Shabbos, or the copy of the Bar Mitzvah boy's derasha should be brought to Shul prior to the onset of Shabbos.
The Eruv will usually be inspected on Friday early afternoon, and a taped message on the "Eruv Hotline" 1-773-743-7882 will notify everyone of the results of the inspection each week. In case of a major storm beginning anytime after preparation of the tape, generally around 2pm Friday afternoon (or after 2pm on the afternoon before Yom Tov), the Eruv should be presumed to be non-operational. Heavy rains, wind, snow or other meteorological conditions can frequently invalidate an Eruv. To eliminate the chance of inappropriate reliance on a damaged Eruv, it is best to automatically assume that the Eruv is invalid in the aftermath of any severe weather condition unless time has permitted the Eruv to be rechecked.
The map, shown above, indicates the boundaries of the Eruv. It is permitted
to carry only within these boundaries.
Therefore, in general, the boundary streets are to be considered outside
the Eruv.
There are those of the opinion that multiple dwellings (derasha.e. two
or three family houses, apartment houses, etc.)
should have an additional Eruv, (Eruv Chatzeros), made without a bracha,
in order to permit carrying from apartment
to apartment if the community Eruv fails. Guidance and assistance in
establishing this type of Eruv is available
from Rabbi Yona Reiss at the Chicago
Rabbinical Council.
In cases of uncertainty regarding the boundaries
or halachos pertaining to the Eruv do not hesitate to contact:
Rabbi Gedalia
D. Schwartz, Rabbi Zev Cohen,
Rabbi
Leonard Matanky, Rabbi Doug
Zelden or your shul Rabbi.
Our Eruv has been constructed in accordance with the highest standards
of halachos governing this complex subject, and in consultation with experienced
Rabbinical authorities. Great effort has been made to fulfill even the
minority opinions among halachic deciders in the Eruv's construction. Nevertheless,
it is important for those who use the Eruv and for those who choose not
to avail themselves of the Eruv, to respect each other's opinions so that
the Eruv will truly help to unify our community.
Children in Shul
With the establishment of our Eruv, the problem with young children attending and disturbing services is a great concern. We need to discuss the problem in two areas: first, the outlook of our Messora or heritage on bringing children to Shul, and second, the avoidance of disruptions to decorum of T'fillah Be'Tzibur (communal worship).
Despite the cherished place children enjoy in Jewish communal worship, there is no license to restructure our synagogues as indoor playgrounds for the young. On the contrary, the Mogen Avrohom in his commentary on the Shulchan Aruch (ibid) mentions: "And one must train them (the young) that they stand (in Shul) with awe and respect. And as for those that run back and forth in the synagogue in levity, it is better not to bring them." The decorum of the services must not be challenged by the young.
Undisciplined children also create problems for themselves in Shul. As the Mogen Avrohom points out, "one must train one's children" to relate to the synagogue with Yirah (awe and respect). Permitting a youngster to roam freely and cause disturbances reinforces negative habits which may remain throughout his life. Moreover, parental example of talking in Shul or failure to show reverence, fosters an irreverent attitude in the child resulting in double damage.:
The disturbance caused to the
Tzibur.
The poor foundation being set for the young in developing their own
relationship to T'fillah and the Shul in general.
Obviously, a youngster in Shul should always be at his parent's side
so that the parent can supervise him and monitor his
spiritual development. To tax a child unfairly by demanding discipline
from him beyond his ability is also unwise.
Many parents bring their youngster to the synagogue near the end of
services, and gradually lengthen the time as
their attention span increases.
It is critically important to instill in one's children a sense of reverence and respect to the synagogue and never allow them to disturb the decorum and sanctity of the T'fillah Be'Tzibur.
The following rules will maximize
the benefits of the Eruv to the community as a whole.
Only children who are able to sit quietly should be present in Shul
during davening. For those children who benefit
from some part of davening, baby sitting / play room services and activities
are available in many shuls.
Children who are brought after davening for the Kiddush or D'var Torah
should be under their parents' supervision at
all times. It is our hope and prayer that the Eruv will greatly enhance
everyone's Shabbos experience.
To Determine if the Eruv is Operational Call
1-773-74-ERUV-2
(743-7882) after 2pm
every Friday afternoon
or every Erev Yom Tov,
or... you can click on the eruv phone number on this website to check the eruv status on-line.
Chicago Area Eruv Hotlines:
West
Rogers Park Chicago Eruv: 1-773-743-7882
Lincolnwood/Peterson
Park Eruv: 1-847-677-3788
Lakeview
Chicago Eruv: 1-312-409-1866
Skokie
Eruv: 1-847-679-3788
Buffalo
Grove Eruv: 1-847-484-1800
Glenbrook Eruv: 1-847-272-7255
Highland Park Eruv: 847-266-0770
If you would like to contribute to the upkeep of the West Rogers Park Eruv,
Please send your tax deductible checks to:
Chicago Eruv Inc.
3050 W. Touhy Avenue
Chicago, IL 60645
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On-Line Status of the West Rogers Park Eruv
This website is courtesy of:
tvrabbi.com
eruvhotline@yahoo.com
Website Creation by:Rabbi Doug