Lincoln Park Neighborhood Resources

The Lincoln Park - Yonkers Eruv

Definition of Concept: An “eruv” (“eruvin” pl.) is a ceremonial demarcation of an area within which Orthodox Jews may engage in certain activities on the Sabbath that would otherwise be prohibited. These activities include lifting, carrying or pushing objects, and thus would preclude carrying a young child or pushing a wheel chair for an elderly or handicapped person en route to religious services, for example. Typically, an eruv is put in place by using existing horizontal wires strung on utility poles together with vertical wooden strips called lechi s that form a symbolic "doorway." The practice has been used by Orthodox Jews for 2,000 years, based on principles derived from the Bible, developed in the Talmud and codified in Jewish Law. They are generally established by means of a ceremonial proclamation issued by municipal authorities, as has been done in such cities as Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, Cincinnati, OH, Charleston, SC and Jacksonville, FL. Indeed, even the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, DC sits within the boundaries of an eruv.

Locally there are existing eruvin in Riverdale the Bronx, New Rochelle and Mount Vernon. The Riverdale Eruv, presently extends into the southernmost parts of Yonkers and incorporates Congregation Sons of Israel on Radford Street. The proposed Yonkers Eruv would create this symbolic demarcation around a large part of the southeastern half of Yonkers. The Eastern demarcation would be along the Bronx River Parkway The southern along Van Cortlandt Park until McLean Avenue and then eastward where it meets with the Bronx River Parkway. The Northern demarcation would be the Cross County Expressway until Rumsey Road. The Western boundary would run along Rumsey Road until Spruce Street and then south at VanCortlandt Avenue until the park boundary.

Method of erection of the Eruv: The traditional eruv is created by erecting poles around the area selected for demarcation and attaching a wire to the top of the poles that runs the entire length of the poles completely surrounding the area in a similar manner to a fence. This is called a ‘tzurat hapetach’ or shape of a door. Other “walls” can be created by means of natural barriers such as the slope of the Bronx River Parkway. Or an actual wall such as the structures of the Cross County. Since the electrical poles around our area already provide poles and wires no adjustment would be needed to them except placing an occasional 1” X 2” X 50” wooden pole at the base of the pole directly under the wire when it runs along the side of the pole. The added poles would be painted dark brown as a way to preserve them and so that they will be virtually unnoticed by pedestrians. They will not interrupt the flow of traffic or the function of the pole. The southern boundary will rely on the slopes and fencing around Van Cortlandt Park except where it ends near Alexander Avenue and 242 Street where we will use the electrical poles and wires along Marta Avenue and then across the northern side of the street on McLean Avenue. A series of poles would be marked along Bronx River Road to create the wire and pole demarcation (tzurat hapetach) all the way to the cross county. Here the walls of the Cross County and existing fencing would create the boundary. No changes would need to be made. The western boundary would begin at Rumsey Road. The western side of the street would be used by marking the electrical poles with the same strips of wood creating the wire and pole boundary it would turn onto Spruce Street and then head south along Van Cortlandt Park Avenue where it ends at the park boundary.

Rationale for creation of Eruv: Lincoln Park Jewish Center, located at 311 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10704, is a Jewish congregation established in the City of Yonkers for over 65 years. It is located in the Lincoln Park area of Yonkers. For most of its existence it has had a very high number of member congregants. During the late 1980’s however there has been a dramatic shift in Jewish population away from Yonkers and towards the northern parts of Westchester County. This has caused a large number of Jewish congregations to close or they are currently faced with the prospect of having to close their doors. The Lincoln Park Jewish Center has until very recently been facing just such a crisis. Its population was dwindling and aging. In April of 2003, Rabbi Sternstein who served the congregation retired after 53 years of service to the congregation.

At the time of Rabbi Sternstein’s retirement the congregation hired a dynamic new Rabbi (Rabbi Rigoberto E. Viñas) hoping to attract new members to its ranks. The congregation approved a denominational shift from traditional Conservative to Modern Orthodox at Rabbi Viñas’ direction. This has attracted 16 new families in the first year alone. At present there are three Modern Orthodox young families seeking housing in the Lincoln Park area. If we were successful at attracting young Modern Orthodox families it would mean that the congregation has a strong future ahead. Since Jewish law strictly prohibits carrying or pushing strollers in a public street that lacks the demarcation of an eruv these families would not be attracted to the area unless there was an eruv in the area. Additionally, the existence of an eruv provides a signal to these families that it is an established community and that both the Jewish and secular communities are welcoming to them. LPJC would like to use the eruv to attract families to the area. We believe that this will be mutually beneficial to both our congregation and to the City of Yonkers. At present there are a growing number of young affluent families living in apartment housing in the Riverdale section of the Bronx that would be interested in living in houses with a higher quality of life than apartment living offers them. They have been attracted there by the growth of the Modern Orthodox congregations in the area. We believe that Yonkers could be a very attractive alternative to apartment living. The Stein Yeshiva of Lincoln Park an Orthodox Day School will be cooperating with the creation of the eruv, because they also see the value of attracting new families into the area.

Mayor’s Office involvement: We are seeking approval to proceed with the final stages of the creation of the Yonkers Eruv. We would also like to engage in a ritual with the mayor called a “sechirat reshut” (permission granting) which means that we would need to be granted his permission to create this “private domain” by a symbolic handshake and gift of a small sum which he could then give to charity. This symbolic ritual would allow the creation of the “private area” in the most acceptable fashion according to ancient Jewish law and would let the Modern Orthodox community know that Mayor Amicone is also involved and interested in welcoming them to the area.

Maintenance and Upkeep: Since the majority of the eruv will be constructed using existing structures and electrical wires we expect very little upkeep and maintenance. The Lincoln Park Jewish Center will serve as the primary organizers of the eruv and will assume responsibility for its upkeep. This will include replacing the lechis vertical poles whenever necessary and providing public information regarding the eruv.

Final Steps in implementation: We are exploring uniting the Yonkers Eruv with the present Riverdale Eruv (to the west) and possibly with the Mount Vernon Eruv (to our east). There are some gaps in the boundaries. We are seeking a means to close off the gap at the intersection of Central Park Avenue on both sides of the Thruway and there is a small gap in the power lines on VanCortlandt Avenue that would need to be filled in as well.

Contact Person: Rabbi Rigoberto E. Viñas, CSW

(914) 965-7119 synagogue office

(914) 965-6750 home office

Lead agency: Lincoln Park Jewish Center

311 Central Park Avenue

Yonkers, New York 10704