‘Eruvs’: coming soon to a nice neighbourhood like yours, as Jewish exceptionalism stakes out its territorial gains on English soil (symbolically, of course)

by Stuart Littlewood



An Eruv is described http://www. secularism.org.uk/news/2013/ 09/controversial-eruv-given- go-ahead-by-local-authorities as a symbolic boundary, consisting of poles connected by wire to form ‘gateways’, which will turn Bushey into an area where strict Sabbath rules are relaxed for orthodox Jews. They won’t now have to worry about being forbidden to carry or transport items like wheelchairs, pushchairs and handkerchiefs. The application was made on behalf of the Bushey United Synagogue.

The actual Planning application describes the scheme thus… “Erection of supporting poles and linking wires associated with the creation of an Eruv (continuous boundary designated in accordance with Jewish Law) in 25 locations around Bushey”.

The paperwork goes on to explain that “Jewish Law prohibits Orthodox Jews from carrying or transporting on the Sabbath day, but carrying is permitted within the defined boundary of an Eruv (plural: Eruvin), as is the use of pushchairs and wheelchairs.

“Although symbolic, an Eruv boundary has to have a physical continuity. It is formed by utilising continuous local features such as fences or walls alongside roads, railways or terraced buildings. However, where this continuity is breached, e.g. by roads or footpaths, then such a gap must be closed by the erection of a notional ‘gateway’. A gateway can consist of poles linked on top by a wire crossing the highway at a height of 5.5 metres in order to clear all vehicle traffic. Where the wire only crosses a pedestrian footpath the height of the wire is 2.5 metres.”

The Bushey Eruv is only the latest of several in North London. An Eruv has been approved and implemented in Borehamwood/Elstree. The London Borough of Barnet has approved two Eruvin, the first covering much of Hendon, Finchley and Golders Green, and the second, within Edgware and Hale wards. Further Eruvin are planned for Woodside Park and, further afield, in Greater Manchester.

Strong objections have been voiced and these include….

It would impose religious practices on the non-Jewish community.

The Eruv would promote one faith which is a minority in Bushey.

The Eruv would promote social exclusion.

The Eruv would impact property values.

The Eruv would creation a sense of ownership over the land within the Eruv.

The planning committee dismissed all these concerns and passed the proposal unanimously. The agenda papers included this officer comment: “As a symbolic boundary which only has spiritual significance, the Eruv itself is not a structure which requires planning permission and it is not for the Planning Committee to refuse or approve the Eruv as such.”

Hertsmere’s Portfolio Holder for Planning & Localism is a councillor who was educated at JFS, which describes itself as Europe’s largest and most successful Jewish secondary school and “committed to the development of students… who have a strong sense of identity with Judaism and Israel”.

The Watford Observer reported that the proposals met with fierce opposition from some residents. A public meeting was attended by hundreds, who called on Bushey United Synagogue to defer the Eruv application and allow for greater consultation between the orthodox Jewish community and wider Bushey population. “There was an overwhelming feeling that these discussions were too little, too late, as the meeting fell just nine days before the application was due to be heard before Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee,” said one resident.

She complained: “Sadly they decided not to give us more time, which has had all sorts of implications… One of the big issues from the beginning was the way it was getting pushed through without a proper consultation. They could have deferred the application and that would have made the difference to all of us.”

John Dowdle, Chair of Watford Area Humanists, said: “An Eruv enforces a religious identity on all others living within the religious boundary, whether they share those beliefs or not. I have serious concerns about the detrimental impact this could have on social cohesion. In Israel, people driving cars on Shabbat (Saturday) are subjected to stone throwing by ultra-orthodox religionists. Are we opening the way for this kind of behaviour in Britain?”

A Bushey Synagogue board member rejected claims that the Eruv would have an impact on the locality or create a Jewish exclusion zone. “Our application will benefit a significant number of people in the local Jewish community, without having any detrimental effect on the wider population or the visual amenity of our area.”

Hertsmere Council said there would be “no unacceptable adverse impact”.

Thin end of the wedge?

It seems that Jews in England can’t abide their own religious laws any more than their brethren in Israel can cope with international law and humanitarian law. Is this the thin end of a wedge to achieve annexation by the back door… lots of Little Israels in England‘s green and pleasant land? Bushey is already occupied territory, evidently. Whatever next?

The Eruv schemes rely on there being no grounds for refusal under Planning Law. But would the Jewish state grant Christian and Muslim communities such planning privileges and similar boundary marking in Tel Aviv or Israeli-annexed Jerusalem? I don’t think so.

Indeed, the Washington Post reports that in Nazareth Illit, a Jewish suburb of the mainly Arab town of Nazareth (now in Israel although not allocated for a Jewish state in the 1947 UN Partition), the mayor makes no concessions to non-Jews. “This is a Jewish city,” he says, “now and forever…. I would rather cut off my right arm than build an Arab school.” Ditto mosques. “No, no, no. No mosques, ever.” No churches, Ramadan lanterns or manger scenes. “And no Christmas trees… Everyone can live here, that is the law, as long as they understand this is a Jewish city… And in that way we are a microcosm of the state of Israel… 95 percent of Jewish mayors think the same thing. They‘re just afraid to say so out loud.”

Nazareth Illit is an Israeli new town, built with government support on expropriated Arab lands.

Last I heard, England is a Christian country still. Even David “I’m-a-Zionist” Cameron says so. Do we want microcosms of the state of Israel here?

It smacks of psychological warfare aimed at making non-Jewish communities feel vulnerable and unsafe. Presumably the aerial boundaries will be expanded as the ‘ingathering’ proceeds and uncomfortable non-Jewish residents are driven out. How long before those who complain about this creeping annexation of their neighbourhoods, however “symbolic”, are smeared with the anti-Semitic label?

When I was a boy living in Finchley, the bus route to the West End of London ran through Golders Green. Even in those far-off days it was a standing joke that you needed your passport for the trip. How much worse it must seem today now that Golders Green is pegged out with a demarcation boundary of 5.5 metre poles strung together with fishing line.

Author Details Author Details Stuart Littlewood Stuart Littlewood worked on jet fighters in the RAF then pursued a career in industrial marketing.



More recently he worked as a freelance and with innovation consultancies. Psychology degree Exeter University, Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Served as a Cambridgeshire county councillor 1993-7 and on the Police Authority. Associate of the Royal Photographic Society. Since retiring has been a newspaper columnist and produced two photo-documentary books. He is a regular contributor to a number of internet news magazines.



Stuart’s book More recently he worked as a freelance and with innovation consultancies. Psychology degree Exeter University, Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Served as a Cambridgeshire county councillor 1993-7 and on the Police Authority. Associate of the Royal Photographic Society. Since retiring has been a newspaper columnist and produced two photo-documentary books. He is a regular contributor to a number of internet news magazines.Stuart’s book Radio Free Palestine , with Foreword by Jeff Halper, tells the plight of the Palestinians under brutal occupation. It can now be read on the internet by visiting RadioFreePalestine.org.uk