Thursday, August 01, 2019
Controversial eruv is being reinstalled on Staten Island
An eruv -- which is an overhead religious wire -- is being reinstalled on the North Shore, after it was removed in May amid controversy over its installation and Jewish residents from Boro Park, Brooklyn, moving into the community, the Advance has learned.
After the eruv, which was erected by a group of Hasidic Jewish residents, was visible to the local community, multiple sources told the Advance that anti-Semitic comments were voiced at a Westerleigh Improvement Society meeting in May. In addition, signs saying: "Westerleigh Strong. We're Not Selling" started popping up on lawns throughout the community.
Community members said they were upset the eruv was erected before the necessary approvals were granted by Consolidated Edison.
An eruv's purpose "is to make each individual who dwells within its boundaries a part owner of the enclosed area for certain Halachic purposes," according to Young Israel of Staten Island's website.
Those in the community who would benefit from the religious wire had to split the cost to take it down and wait for permits to be granted -- but they are now in the process of putting it back up, according to a member of the Hasidic community who spoke to the Advance.
A spokesman for Consolidated Edison confirmed the license for the installation was granted in July.
"It took 10 weeks to get the permit, but as soon as we got it, we started working. We got the contractor...It should be complete by Friday," said the Hasidic community member.
He said he raised $40,000 to cover the following costs: installation and removal of the eruv; an architect who drew up blueprints; insurance; reinstallation of the eruv; paperwork for the city and the utility company.
"We had to get $10 million in liability insurance," said the community member. "The community will now feel relief, and will be able to carry during the Shabbat."
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