IN THEORY:Should an eruv be allowed?

Orthodox Jews in Venice, Calif., want to establish a religious boundary known as an eruv by stringing fishing line around Santa Monica, Venice and Marina del Rey. The eruv eases some Sabbath restrictions against working, allowing such routine activities as pushing strollers. But the California Coastal Commission recommended against the enclosure, saying it would obstruct ocean views and endanger a rare bird species. Should state officials allow the eruv?

It is true that among Orthodox Jews there is a religious reason for separation. The Jewish religious law in the past elaborated consciously in order to make Jews different in dress, custom and outlook so that there would be less chance of conversion and assimilation. In part, we see this process at work today, when, for example, Orthodox Jews send their children to yeshivas, Jewish parochial schools. This is a way of segregating the Jewish community. The separation of the ultra-Orthodox is even more extreme.

Setting up a border, an eruv, so that one community cannot be seen and isolate itself, insists on a more complete separation than the other Orthodox Jews. Not only do they have their own schools, but they retain traditional peculiarities of dress and hair arrangement that marked off Jews from non-Jews in Eastern Europe centuries ago. They do not live in the modern world. In this group, one must wear Judaism on one’s face in order to strengthen the Judaism of one’s heart.

But the overwhelming majority of Jews do not maintain any of these distinctions. They do not have the fear of loss of faith, and so in a modern world they send their children to day schools, public schools and live among non-Jews. Judaism still perpetuates itself. The majority of parents of these children do not want them to be any more aware of being Jewish as is necessary in a modern world, and that often means just enough to make them immune to marriage with non-Jews. To forestall this, the parents favor residence in a neighborhood that has a high density of Jewish families, that the probability of their children marrying a Jewish person approaches certainty.

I cannot stress enough that there are other ways of preserving Judaism other than isolating oneself from the mainstream community. As American Jews, we contribute both to Jewish and American values. We do not limit ourselves to the ways of life in the modern world and we still are able to maintain our Jewishness.

In conclusion, I am not in favor of creating an eruv in this community or any community.

RABBI MARC S. RUBENSTEIN

Temple Isaiah

Newport Beach

I tend to side with the Coastal Commission. I am not comfortable with religious traditions imposing themselves upon the public domain in this manner. I think this sets a precedent that favors one religion and tends to polarize people who feel that such traditions unfairly force themselves upon others who do not share that belief.

Although I am sympathetic with the Jewish community, this is different from the display of religious symbols; this is an environmental imposition upon an entire community and the local ecology.

SENIOR PASTOR JIM TURRELL

Center for Spiritual Discovery

Costa Mesa

These situations are a tough call. On the one hand, it is important that Orthodox Jews be able to practice their faith in the manner that they feel best and to request the cooperation of the community. On the other hand, the rights of property owners who wish to enjoy beaches and the protection of endangered species are also important. If the eruv could be constructed in such a way that it does not obstruct views or harm birds, that would be the best solution.

One problem seems to be that the birds don’t see the fishing line. If banners or other visible signs are added so the birds do see it, then people also have to look at the warning signs. Is there any other way to mark the enclosure?

I am glad that Orthodox Jews are free to observe the Sabbath restrictions and to practice their religion as they wish. The creation of boundaries in cities so that the “enclosure” is governed by the more relaxed observances that apply at home must be weighed against the rights of others. I believe it is the duty of the Coastal Commission to protect the coast and birds. I think it will be best if the matter is put to a public vote so the community can decide how to balance the competing claims. La Jolla recently passed legislation permitting construction of an eruv.

REV. DR. DEBORAH BARRETT

Zen Center of Orange County

Costa Mesa

I would enlarge the scope of our question and consider the overarching goal of an eruv. This expedient is but one strategy designed to instill a respect for boundaries, what can and cannot be done within certain limits.

An insistent concern of the Torah is separation and division. God creates by establishing boundaries. Light and darkness, kinds of water, sea and land, humans and the rest of the world are all formed through demarcation. Vegetation and animals multiply after their own kind: If you plant a peach seed, the result is a peach tree. The stability of the world is fashioned through limiting creation, imposing order on chaos through separating.

Boundaries define human existence under God. That there are boundaries that should not be crossed and things that should not be mixed is a constant theme of Scripture. Adam and Eve learned, to their great hurt, that what God placed off limits was not to be trifled with, and the builders of the Tower of Babel, who sought to scale Heaven above, received a painful lesson for their impunity. Moses himself came to the realization that he would not be permitted to cross over the Jordan River.

The Bible warns that any attempt to erase boundaries God has set and to create new boundaries of our own making will portend devastating consequences and potentially return the world to its original state of chaos.

How we need this insight today!

Society gravitates to the proposition that if something can be done, then it should be done; that if something is possible, it is permissible. The pervading ethos is “Just do it!” Limits and boundaries have been excised from the vocabulary of many as they “boldly go where no man has gone before.” They do not pause to consider that perhaps we might be trespassing into areas better left unvisited.

In a gluttonous society, populated by people who consider themselves entitled, where is self-discipline to be found? The levees of limits lie in ruins at our feet.

A sign of wisdom is the recognition of boundaries. A relationship can thrive only with an acceptance of limits. There are words that can be said and others better left unsaid; acts to be performed and others better left undone. There are only two groups of people who can say or do pretty much whatever they desire: babies, because such lack of restraint is adorable, and the very elderly, because it is eccentric. Those of us in-between should guard our hands that they do not take what is not theirs, and our mouths that they do not say what should not be spoken.

The foul pole on a baseball field is actually in fair territory. That is what we do: call what is fair “foul” and what is foul “fair.” Whether or not an eruv is to be strung around Venice, we need to stretch one around ourselves.

RABBI MARK S. MILLER

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

It seems to me that there are other ways to meet the needs for the eruv and the concerns of the Coastal Commission at the same time.

A compromise for markers that would not be a danger to animals nor an eyesore to the community and yet would still meet the requirements of the eruv is surely possible and a legitimate request. If the eruv requires a string, then the imposition of a legalistic standard on the greater community would be above and beyond a legitimate request.

LEAD PASTOR RIC OLSEN

The Beacon

Anaheim

In a contest between Orthodox Judaism and the California Coastal Commission, I would root and work for religious freedom.

But if I were given to gambling — which I’m not — I’d bet on regulations governing the beach.

(THE VERY REV’D CANON)

PETER D. HAYNES

Saint Michael & All Angels

Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar