Although the area is already covered by the London Beth Din’s North-West London eruv, many families who attend synagogues to the right of the United Synagogue sought a facility that followed a more stringent application of Jewish law.
Eruv mastermind: the Federation's Rabbi Zimmerman[Missing Credit]
The Federation explained, “For example, it does not encompass busy roads or dual carriageways, and special dalsos (adjustable barriers) have been installed, which will be closed at key locations in a manner agreed upon with Barnet Council.”
The technical execution was overseen by experts in the laws of eruvin, it added, “who worked tirelessly to complete the project to the highest standard”.
After initial planning permission was obtained in July 2023, the project underwent further modifications to satisfy some strictly Orthodox rabbis in the area.
However, it remains to be seen how widely it will be accepted as leaders of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations issued a statement a few weeks ago which disputed its validity.
Some rabbis of UOHC affiliated-congregations nevertheless have declared support for the new eruv.
While Rabbi Yisroel Meir Greenberg of one of the older UOHC synagogues, Golders Green Beth Hamedrash (Munks), has opposed the eruv, by contrast Rabbi Raphael Goldblatt of Beis Hamedrash Beis Avrohom (Goschalks) has been involved with its construction.
One local rabbi said, “If I had to guess, 70 to 80 per cent [of potential users] will use it one way or another.”
Rabbis might differ in guidance they give, he suggested: for example, some might say that if adults wanted to be stricter and refrain from usage, a child under the age of bar or bat mitzvah could still push a pram.
“The overall intention is to that Shabbos will be made more pleasurable for all involved,” he said. “Hopefully, Shabbos will be enhanced and peace will be kept.”
He pointed out that the one of the features of the eruv, the dalsos —literally “doors”, boxes containing adjustable barriers — had mostly been added at the request of Rabbi Shlomo Freshwater, a representative of Golders Green on the Union rabbinate, and were designed and located according to his specification.
“The eruv was delayed two years in order to get the planning and then construction of these doors, to try and incorporate as many opinions as possible and to avoid as much as possible this new eruv creating politics and dispute,” the local rabbi explained.
In a letter to the community, Rabbi Zimmerman said “the new eruv that surrounds the Golders Green neighbourhood surpasses most city-wide eruvin in the world, in that it encompasses only a limited part of the city, it does not include highways, and particular effort was invested in its creation, both in terms of strong and stable construction, and in terms of adding many halachic chumros [stringencies] at the request of local rabbonim, such as gates that are able to be closed and many other enhancements.”
The eruv was “certainly kosher and may be relied up to carry within its boundaries on Shabbos and on Yom Kippur,” he stated.
An appeal at the end of last year raised £250,000 to ensure the go-ahead for the project.
The eruv will be inspected weekly to make sure it is intact with users able to check its status online before Shabbat.
