Letter from Irwin Shapiro to Israel Silverstein Expressing Concerns Regarding Lack of Transparency about the Eruv (1965)

Many of the discussions surrounding the eruv were conducted discreetly due to fierce opposition from segments of the Orthodox right. Meanwhile, even as rabbis were finalizing plans for their communities to rely on it, the eruv’s finances remained highly precarious in 1965.

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Letter to R. Kasher about Upper West Side Eruv (1962)

לר׳ הרה״ג הרמ״ם כשר שליט״א: בטח כבר הודיע לו הרב פרוטינסקי על מה שהתרחש פה בעניין העורוז מאז עזובו את ארצה"ב. אמנם רבו הפרטים מלספר, ואי״ה כאשר נפגש פא״פ ארחיב את הדיבור. יורשה נא לי למסר למע״כ רק פרטים ספורים בפרשה זו. ראשית, עשיתי את שליחותי כאשר צוה עלי כו׳. העירוב נעשה בביתו של האדמו״ר מקפשניט ע״י הדביונז. כידוע, הרב אייזנשטט המשתט, בגדר כל הירא ורך הלבב. שלשום סדרתי עם הרב אלברג.

Eruv

Letter from R. Pirutinsky Addressing Halachic Concerns with Eruv (1965)

לכבוד ידידי הרב ר״ן לאם שליט״א אחדשכ״ט, שיעור זו שלחתי כל הקונטרוסים שנכתבו בעת עיריות במנהטן חוץ מתעם ח״א ששם מבואר ומובא דעת האחרונים בזה אע״פ שהוא בקיצור גדול. ויותר היה נכון לראות ספר אזני יהושע המתקן הראשון מרשת במנהטן. ואודות צורת הנשרים והמנהרות מפורט בספר תד״ן מרודת להכר מסף ״דנט,״ ובדרך כלל בקונטרס ששלח, יש ״מאפ״ מאי מנהטן, אבל בכלל זה יהיה ניגר אח״כ, עם יסכים לעצם התקן ואח״כ יתחיל השאלות באותם פרצה ד׳ במבוא ילחו אחת מד׳

Eruv

Letter to R. Kasher about Proposed Eruv Proclamation (1965)

Dear Colleague: At our meeting at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue on November 11, 1965, the undersigned were asked to prepare a proposed Eruv Proclamation which would incorporate all the recommendations of those who met, and which would be issued by the following (in addition to the undersigned): Rabbis Rasner, J. Lookstein, H. Lookstein, Goldstein, Reichel, Jakobovitz, Schneier, and Riskin. We suggest that you study this statement and offer us your comments. After all these years of struggling with the problem, we seem on the verge of a consensus and solution of our dilemma. With the cooperation of all of us, we may yet succeed in a great *Kiddush Hashem*.It was decided at that time too, that our congregations must accept a permanent commitment to finance the Board of *Mashgichim*. It was tentatively proposed to pay about \$2,000.00 a year for this purpose. Whatever is in excess of this sum from the amounts collected will be used for the publication of a volume containing all *responsa* on the subject and whatever other publications appear necessary to explain the *Eruv* to our people and encourage their observance of the Sabbath.We agreed that the enclosed statement would be announced in identical form on the same Saturday, and only from the pulpit. *There is to be no printed announcement or discussion of the subject.*The amounts recommended for each synagogue are as follows:* The Jewish Center – \$500.00* Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun – \$500.00* West Side Institutional Synagogue – \$250.00* Fifth Avenue Synagogue – \$500.00* Congregation Zichron Ephraim – \$250.00* Lincoln Center Synagogue – \$450.00* Congregation Orach Chaim – \$250.00* And if Rabbi Gettinger agrees to join us – the Young Israel – \$250.0As soon as we have your response, we shall call another meeting of our group to finalize matters.**NL/lg**Enc.---**SUGGESTED ERUV PROCLAMATION**The following announcement is authorized by the “Committee for an Eruv in Manhattan” which includes, among others, the R…

Eruv