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Westhampton Beach, NY - Boos, Walkout at Synagogue Meeting on Eruv |
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Westhampton Beach, NY - An effort by officials of the Hampton Synagogue to explain to their Westhampton Beach neighbors why they want to erect an eruv, evoked catcalls, boos and a walkout by about a fifth of the crowd that filled every seat in the temple's main hall.
The walkout was set off at the start of the meeting when temple officials read some of the anti-Semitic responses on the Web site of a local weekly paper that had printed an article about the proposal.
"We don't need to hear this," one man shouted. "Questions and answers only," yelled a woman as she walked out.
It was the same setting where, 10 days earlier, Gov. David A. Patterson told a cheering crowd that the proposal was clearly a civil rights issue and that the state would be monitoring the situation.
Rabbi Marc Schneier estimated that about 95 percent of the Wednesday night crowd of about 700 was not affiliated with the synagogue. He had asked members not to attend to make room for other residents.
A fact sheet distributed to the crowd explained that an eruv is typically defined by an easy-to-see boundary marker. And if a utility line were designated, for instance, a connecting line would be required where gaps occur.
Westhampton Beach Mayor Conrad Teller attended the meeting, but did not take part in the debate. He has said residents have told him they fear an eruv would lead to the village's becoming an Orthodox Jewish enclave.
The congregation requires village approval before it can set up an eruv. "Legally, we have no compelling reason to turn it down," Teller said.
He said many of the questions from those in attendance -- ranging from how much of the year the rabbi lives in the village, where else he owns a home, and how many members of the congregation are Orthodox Jews -- missed the point, as did requests to hold a public referendum on the eruv.
At the meeting, several people asked, "Why do you need it now?"
Schneier said that, in its 18 years, the synagogue has grown large enough that many members live more than a few blocks away, and families with young children and elderly members in wheelchairs cannot go to Sabbath services unless they are pushed, an act permitted only inside the boundary of an eruv.
"It's not that we are seeking the community's approval," Schneier said. "What we are seeking is the community's understanding."
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Read Comments (15) — Post Yours »
1
Aug 14, 2008 at 11:56 PM Anonymous Says:
we live in golus my dear friends let us not forget!! lets get a govenor involved to fight our battles only where it is vital. that is not to say that the villages fears is not based in fantasy best to my knowledge. i dont think a town becomes a enclave for jews via the existance of an eiruv. also isnt it a bit wierd to announce publicly that we r scared that more jews will move in as if thats a long lost plague?? the rev. wouldnt stand for that if it was said about blacks. Golus rabosai!!
2
Aug 15, 2008 at 12:29 AM Milhouse Says:
We live in America, where we have the same rights as the goyim. Sure it's golus, because we don't have the beis hamikdosh, but we're as free as anybody else; the land belongs to us just as much as to anybody else.
3
Aug 15, 2008 at 01:27 AM Anonymous Says:
In all these eiruv cases the only reason these people dont want it is plain and simple selfish. I would like to know what harm can an Eiruv bring to these people. Non jews may not want because of covert anti semetisim. while secular jews don't want to be reminded of their jewishness.
4
Aug 15, 2008 at 01:35 AM MARK Says:
RABBI SCHNEIR WIIL PREVAIL,,,,,,,,
5
Aug 15, 2008 at 01:44 AM Anonymous Says:
To 1:27 it's more then selfish it's really hypocricy. These same people make flea markets, bazzars, block parties etc. that bother me. I learn to live with other people.
When I was a kid in Boro Park 70s / 80's we had non jewish neighbors who would call the police if we sang zemiros to loud on succos (it wasn"t) Or if someone made a vort and there was a bit to many people for their liking. Yet these same people would blast their music every Shabbos, while washing their cars and keep the block awake every holiday with bbq and fireworks. Yes we are in golus.
6
Aug 15, 2008 at 02:59 AM Anonymous Says:
u gotta wonder why all these people(a good portion of which are jewish so dont scream anti-semite )dont want orthodox jews moving in
7
Aug 15, 2008 at 08:18 AM Anonymous Says:
To 2:59 are you insinuating that we are the problem. No we aren't perfect, but the post before yours 1:44 hit the answer on the head. It's usually people who don't want to be reminded of who they are. What in the world can bother a not frum or non jewish person about an eiruv?
8
Aug 15, 2008 at 09:04 AM Daniel Says:
I understand their concern. Look at Monsey - over the years, it changes from a nice rural area to an overcrowded place! Why? because of all the Jews who moved in, built these huge houses, and just made it into another Boro Park. Many people don't want that.
9
Aug 15, 2008 at 09:45 AM MonseyMan Says:
I live in Monsey and I agree with Daniel. They don't want the look of their town to change that is why they pay high property taxes. The last thing they want is cars stopping in the middle of the streets to do a 'mitzvah' and give others a ride. They also don't want garbage on the streets.
10
Aug 15, 2008 at 10:30 AM Avi Says:
What do you expect from the modern orthodox!!!!??
11
Aug 15, 2008 at 10:53 AM BRENTXING Says:
I think you are confusing Mosey with the town of Keisser (formerly monsey)
12
Aug 15, 2008 at 11:33 AM bigwheeel Says:
Avi 10:30AM. You are wrong! It's not the Modern Orthodox who are against the Eiruv. It's the others! Goyim! Yes, Goyim and non-Religious Jews!! The Mod. Orth. want the Eiruv. Their Rabbi is Marc Schneier!
13
Aug 16, 2008 at 01:31 AM Anonymous Says:
Please help this goy out: what's an eruv? I really don't know...
14
Aug 16, 2008 at 10:35 PM AHN NJ Says:
Anyone who thinks Westhampton Beach is going to be another Monsey because of the eruv is insane. You can't touch a house there for less than $1.5 million. The beach is public so forget about separate swimming. No reasonable frum person is going to drive two hours to be there sweating in the Summer on Shabbos. There were also battles when the shul building was being erected, and Rabbi Mark won those, he will win this too, and the last of the guys with III after their name will move on to East Hampton.
15
Aug 20, 2008 at 11:29 AM Anonymous Says:
To 1:31 -
An eruv is a demarcated boundary, which is often a phone line or as the article mentioned a utility line. Its purpose is to effectively turn the enclosed area into a "private area" rather than a "public area" according to Jewish law.
This then allows people to carry outside on the Sabbath, which would otherwise be prohibited. The benefits are quite obvious in that people can carry bags (women often like to change their shoes if they have to walk beyond a certain distance), families can push a stroller with their children or wheelchairs for the elderly.
The overall physical changes to the area are relatively minor - certain boundary markers are added to the telephone/utility poles to denote the border, and the benefits are much greater.
The arguments involved deal not with either of these two points (the physical changes or the benefits), but rather with the anticipation on the part of the non-Jewish community that the eruv will be the tipping point for many other Jews to purchase property/move into the area and change the tone/timber of the current atmosphere.
This is partially a realistic expectation and partially old-fashioned bias and anti-Semitism.
Likely more people will move in; the degree to which any change will take place is highly overestimated; the unfortunate attempts to prohibit the construction of an eruv are, sadly, racist, close-minded and an abysmal showing as to the ability of an American city and its inhabitants to be welcoming to people who practice a different religion than that of the original inhabitants.