Did you know that those kilometres-long wire fences along Bondi Beach and several sites in the Eastern Suburbs are among Sydney’s Eruv and they hold a cultural and religious significance for the Jewish community?
Many Sydneysiders are unaware of the significance the fences hold and their role in the lives of Jews, granting them the freedom to engage in certain activities during Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest.
In Jewish practice, “Eruv” refers to a symbolic “fence” that defines the boundaries of a “walled courtyard,” allowing for the carrying of objects outdoors on the Jewish Sabbath, which would otherwise be prohibited by Torah law. The concept of an Eruv traces its roots to Jewish law and tradition.
Without an Eruv, observant Jews face restrictions on everyday activities such as carrying keys or tissues in their pockets or pushing baby carriages during Shabbat.
Eruvs help preserve tradition and community unity. It plays a pivotal role in making Shabbat observance more accessible and enjoyable, especially for families with young children.
Its boundaries are meticulously marked by wires suspended from power poles, with the condition that the Eruv remains unbroken for its validity.
Aside from Bondi Beach, these wires are also found in Bellevue Hill, southern and eastern Bondi Junction, Queens Park, Waverley, Tamarama, North Bondi, eastern Rose Bay, eastern Woollahra, Dover Heights, and Vaucluse.
Weekly inspections by a Rabbi ensure the integrity of the wires, maintaining the Eruv’s status as a legitimate symbolic enclosure.
While the Sydney Eruv is well-established, there are others of its kind. Eruvin exist in various cities worldwide, including Melbourne, Perth, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Venice, and London. Notably, the most expensive Eruv is the one surrounding Manhattan Island in New York, with an estimated annual maintenance cost of $220,000.
Published 12-Jan-2023