Long Island, NY – Hamptons Eruv Holy War

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    Photo: NY Post - Hampton Synagogue member Alan Shecter yesterday confronts an angry opponent of a symbolic boundary favored by Orthodox Jews.Long Island, NY – Tensions over the proposed creation of a symbolic Orthodox Jewish boundary in a tony Long Island hamlet boiled over yesterday at a raucous meeting in Westhampton Beach.

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    Organized by a group called Jewish People Opposed to the Eruv, the rowdy morning gathering of more than 250 people pitted Reform Jews against Orthodox Jews.

    At issue was the proposed creation of an “eruv,” a boundary consisting of marked telephone poles that form a figurative extension of a home. The eruv would allow Orthodox Jews to engage in activities normally prohibited on the Sabbath, such as pushing strollers and carrying keys.

    Members of the Hampton Synagogue, led by high-profile Rabbi Marc Schneier, had hoped to marshal support for the eruv during the summer season. But recent town meetings have degenerated into shouting matches.

    “We don’t want to change the community,” said Jack Kringstein, co-chairman of the Jewish group opposed to the eruv. “We feel like we will be converting Westhampton to [Orthodox Jews’] tastes.”

    Hampton Synagogue member Alan Shecter, one of only a handful of eruv supporters at yesterday’s meeting, was shouted down.

    Schneier said that the opposition is inspired by baseless fears of an Orthodox influx.
    “I’m very saddened and disappointed by what’s taken place,” he said.


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    39 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    American chilonim are becoming as bad as Israeli chilonim who hate religious Jews with a passion. Just last week the Israeli chilonim had the same dispute.

    Bernard
    Bernard
    15 years ago

    A cherished value of American life is allowing folks to pursue their interests and to be tolerante of others’ needs, especially if what one needs does not really effect their lives all that much.

    What is unasked is why the hostility? What negative stereotypes are there and how does the Orthodox community overcome them? Not to say the Orthodox have done anything wrong or that Orthodox Jews need to change for the sake of acceptence. However there is an obligation to sanctify G-D’s name and draw people closer to G-D.

    IY’H Mashiach will be here soon

    Potitics
    Potitics
    15 years ago

    Why dont the reform offer to drive the orthodox to shul?

    Avrohom Abba
    Avrohom Abba
    15 years ago

    People who are ashamed of their Jewishness hate to see other Jews walking with a talis on Shabbos and the eruv has also become an issue, because these things call out loud about their Jewishness and they feel embarrassed. They are ashamed to be called Jewish if this is the Jewish way of expressing observance. It’s the old, “I’m a Jew in my heart where it counts and I don’t need to display it publicly,” trick).

    Many of them forgwet how easily they accept Catholics conducting parades with their Cardinals and Bishops all dressed up in priestly garb and carrying special symbols and statues to signify their faith.

    If they see Moslems every Friday in Islamic garb, they accept that as part of the Moslem approach but it bothers them if Jews do that.

    Being truly open minded should include all, and our own included.

    Anon
    Anon
    15 years ago

    What can you expect from liberal Jews? Compared to any other ethnic group they probably contain the greatest percentage of antisemites. I suspect that if a moslem group wanted to build a mosque in their town, the local liberal Jews would not only be completely supportive but also be the first to contribute financially and sign all the anti-Isreal petitions!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The guys wearing all pink, explains it all…

    Poshute Yid
    Poshute Yid
    15 years ago

    An Eruv in Westhampton. That sounds like a joke. These people go to shul in their shorts and go mixed swimmimg. What do they care if they have an Eruv or not? And Rabbi Shnaier, what number wife is he up to now,4? Aa Bitter Gelechchter!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    so since they dont do everything to what you think is right they should just not do anything at all? your not so pashut

    A Simple Jew
    A Simple Jew
    15 years ago

    To Poshute Yid

    You know I hate to say it but your comments were uncalled for. Werent you ever taught not to throw rocks in a glass house. There are plenty of so called Yeshiva/Frum guys that do much worse. A community that wants an eruv is reinforcing their yiddishkeit and we should encourage it instead of disparaging them.

    Lover of Jews
    Lover of Jews
    15 years ago

    Eisov Soineh L’Yakov and sometimes, Yakov soineh L’yakov.

    Yossi G.
    Yossi G.
    15 years ago

    >These people go to shul in their shorts and go mixed swimmimg. What do they care if they have an Eruv or not?< What a nasty thing to say! If you think that mixed swimming equals chilul shabbos, you need to go back to yeshiva grade 2!

    our own worst enemy
    our own worst enemy
    15 years ago

    wouldnt it be great if bobov bought some pubs in west hampton instead of london and made shuls and bungalow colonies right next to our loving reform brothers and sisters

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    RE:These people go to shul in their shorts and go mixed swimming. What do they care if they have an Eruv or not?

    That is the most arrogant comment I’ve heard, this guy is on the Trief Internet doing Kol Dovor Osser and he’s worried about going to shul in shorts which happens to be a false statement, whos raizing these morons?

    Jerry F.
    Jerry F.
    15 years ago

    RE:These people go to shul in their shorts and go mixed swimming. What do they care if they have an Eruv or not?

    That is the most arrogant comment I’ve heard, this guy is on the Trief Internet doing Kol Dovor Osser and he’s worried about going to shul in shorts which happens to be a false statement, whos raizing these morons?

    anonymous
    anonymous
    15 years ago

    How is this any different from discriminating against blacks, or any other minority?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    why the contention? because the “newcomers” have no respect for what is already there. They come in and want to change everything their way….whether you like it or not. The selfishness and disrespect for others from the Ultra Orthodox groups…is disgusting bringing hate for them from within Jews and outside of Jews. THEY cause anti-semtism. Nobody likes/tolerates selfish creeps. LEAVE things as you found them!!!!!!!! or get lost.

    anti Nk
    anti Nk
    15 years ago

    You are not a Poshute Yid you are a bigot. You think only chardim pray that right way.

    berish
    berish
    15 years ago

    america is a democracy and in a democracy you go according to the majority so lets take a vote

    anon
    anon
    15 years ago

    To Anonymous 1:14 There is absolutely NO difference between discriminating against religous jews and any other minority. Liberal jews have a double standard when it comes to discrimination.

    Esq.
    Esq.
    15 years ago

    Discrimination in America only goes one way. You can have BET – Black Entertainment Television network (for all the yidden w/o TV’s this is a channel on TV that caters to a black only audience). TRy having a White network.

    Vote McCain - Palin In 08!
    Vote McCain - Palin In 08!
    15 years ago

    Of course the reform aka NOT OBSERVANT are upset about this. oif dem ganif brent di hitt’l!

    Anon
    Anon
    15 years ago

    To the very angry 1:25pm – Exactly what will the newcomers do that evidences a disrespect for waht is already there? What is there??? Is there something special about that neighborhood that would be incongruous with orthodox jewery? ANd what selfishness and disrespect are you referring to? It seems to me that you and those who share your views are being disrespectful of their way of life. If they can afford to live in this neighborhood and pay exhorbitant property taxes yet not use the schools whata are you complaining about? What kind of neighbors would you prefer????

    shmiel glassman
    shmiel glassman
    15 years ago

    dont get carried away with on e jerks comment “a poshite yid” -chilodish comment he probaly said it just to get the thread rolling

    Allan
    Allan
    15 years ago

    This is a pathetic display of Liberal ashamed Jews hating their own. I am not a Frum person but would never deny my Jewish identity as these fools out in the Hamptons are doing. I try my best to be a defender of the rights of the Orthodox to do as they need to maintain their religiuous lifestyle…and why not!!..From non Jewish bigots this type of hate could be expected but to get it from your own is insane.

    Lock & Load
    Lock & Load
    15 years ago

    This is my Kinda Rabbi…….

    Eruv and Mix Swimming….

    NY
    NY
    15 years ago

    If the reform jews there would be able to, they would petition that you cannot display any sign of jewishness, because it ‘changes’ the community.

    mikey
    mikey
    15 years ago

    To Anon 1:25

    I suppose you

    A. Have a crank telephone at home or maybe a couple of carrier pigeons

    B. Your commute is done by ox cart

    C. When you vacation overseas you book on the local sail ship

    D. You have a cow in your backyard for fresh milk

    E. How did you post to this site if you don’t want change and believe people impose on others

    You are a caveman hypocrite

    A wire strung to allow people to carry a siddur or push a wheelchair will not disrupt anything except your sensibilities about your level of Jewish observance.

    I am modern orthodox and I don’t criticize my neighbor who drives two blocks to shul, I wish he didn’t and I suggested once he might want to walk, but its between him and G-D.

    I would not in any way expect “black hats” to appear in the Hamptons – few if any can afford a million dollar second home and 10 kids – so get a life.

    Self loathing Jews
    Self loathing Jews
    15 years ago

    They don’t want an Eruv because they don’t want Jews who may be identifiably Jewish.These Secular-Reform-so called Liberal Jews would paste back their circumcision, if they could, (In fact that waa the custom among the Hellenizers at the time of the Maccabees).

    In truth, there is nothing liberal about these Jews.

    If the Jews in Schneier’s shul had any brains, they would announce that they will leave Southhampton en masse if the Eruv is not approved, and will sell their house to Saudis and Abu Dhabi sheiks. Then these liberal Jews can enjoy watching the Burka clad wives shpatzir in the streets while the Sheiks hit in their womenfolk.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I was in Smicha at YU with Schneier.

    It’s funny he’s advocating an Eruv.

    He was such a racist in YU now he’s the head of some ethnic organization.

    If they knew the filthy racist jokes he used to tell, they’d throw him out on his rear end.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    6:26 PM

    Re:He was such a racist in YU now he’s the head of some ethnic organization.

    If they knew the filthy racist jokes he used to tell, they’d throw him out on his rear end.

    maybe He’s done tshuva for that, and this ethnic understanding organization his Tikkun for the immature misbehavior of his youth.

    I hope you’ve grown somewhat since those days….I hope we all have.

    Vote McCain - Palin In 08!
    Vote McCain - Palin In 08!
    15 years ago

    anon 125,

    what is the big deal about an eruv? no one will notice it anyway. this is a big fight being put up by the reform for no reason at all. i have seen this in other communities too. when they want to make an eruv all of a sudden the reform shrei about it for no reason whatsoever (other than to cause tzoris).

    look
    look
    15 years ago

    lets wait and see, the tora ususally wins out since it knows whats best for us.

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    15 years ago

    “Jewish People? Opposed to the Eiruv” is an OXYMORON (fardryter ox) or a DOUBLE NEGATIVE (like “I ain’t goin’ Nowhere”!) It’s a well established fact (without fail) that those in the loudest [and only] opposition to the establishment (among other synonyms) are of Jewish descendancy!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The opposition to the eruv is mostly from goyim and some secular Jews. Its time to bring down the neighborhood is buy having a dozen chassidim walk around there on shabbos.That will scare away the modern orthodox as well and we can move in hundreds of real orthodox jews who need housing for their large families.

    THEKOHEN
    THEKOHEN
    15 years ago

    TO POSHETE YID AND ALL OF THE SAME OPINION

    PLEASE TRY NOT TO SHOW OFF YOUR PROSTKEIT AND AM HAARATZES. SINCE WHEN DOES ANY AVEIRA IN THE TORAH CANCEL OUT YOR CHIYUV OF EVEN THE SMALLEST MITZVAH.OUR CHIYUV IS TO KEEP EVERY SINGLE MITZVAH 100% ALL THE TIME. IF CHAS VESHOLOM SOMEONE DOSEN’T KEEP ONE MITZVAH IT DOSEN’T PATER HIM FROM ANY OTHER MITZVAH BIG OR SMALL. MI SHEOCHAL SHUM YACHZOR VYOCHAL SHUM???????

    GET WITH THE PROGRAM, STREIGHTEN OUT, BECOME AN EHRLICHER YID AND START LOVING KLAL YISROEL UNCONDITIONALY WHICH WILL HASTEN THE BINYAN BEIS HAMIKDASH AND THE COMING OF MOSHIACH TZIKEINU BIMEHERAH BEYOMEINU.

    A KSIVAH VECHASIMA TOVA FOR ALL.

    anonymous
    anonymous
    15 years ago

    DEAR ALL,

    THIS CASE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE IN SELMA ALABAMA. BUT THIS TIME WE CAN ALL HELP OUR JEWISH FRIENDS LIKE THEY HELPED US YEARS AGO. WHY DON’T WE ALL GO DOWN TO WESTHAMPON BEACH AND JOIN OUR ERUV BROTHERS AND SISTERS.. WE SHALL HOLD HANDS TOGETHER AND BECOME ONE LONG HUMAN ERUV!! WE CAN DO SO EVERY SABBATH OF EVERY MONTH.. WE SHALL PRAY TOGETHER AND CALL OUT FOR SALVATION ALL UNITED IN ONE VOICE.

    RACISM MUST STOP IN MANHATTAN..

    IT MUST STOP IN LONG ILSAND

    IT MUST STOP IN WESTHAMPTOM BEACH

    JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE YOU READY FOR US? WE MUST ALL HELP BROTHER RABBI MARK!

    THE ERUV MUST LIVE AND PEACE MUST REIGN ON EARTH BETWEEN ALL OF GODS CHILDREN. AMEN

    mikesdinette
    mikesdinette
    15 years ago

    To Poshiter yid; you seem to have alot of time on your hands; look in your own backyard before you spread unwarranted rechilus about people.

    Remember ELUL???

    Your name pretty much sums up who you are. Kol Tuv.

    sholom u'brucha
    sholom u'brucha
    15 years ago

    They sound just like the willimsburg people fighting over the eruv

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I am an orthodox jew living in Los Angeles, Namely Hancock Park….A very affluent neighborhood, like the Hamptons…We have been fighting the same battle…not over an eruv , but the existance of our shul in a neighborhood home…They are worried about traffic and parking…funny thing tho’ we don’t drive on shabbos..we get the same opposition from other jews…Why does a pole and string threaten them so much? Very sad …If it went the other way…we would never deny this to them….or any other religious group….