Atheists Demand Removal of Miami Beach Eruv

[rug]

Organization argues ritual marker imposes Orthodox Judaism on all residents

By Stephanie Butnick | July 11, 2014 7:07 PM

An eruv constructed last summer ignited a tense battle among residents of the Miami Beach neighborhood of Pinetree Park, and it shows no signs of simmering. An eruv is a Jewish loophole of sorts, a minimally defined wall inside which observant Jews are allowed to carry objects on Shabbat, a practice which is typically forbidden outside the home.

There are eruvs in cities like New York City or Los Angeles, thin strings attached to pre-existing poles, that most residents are entirely unaware of. But some eruvs are controversial—a Westhampton Beach eruv recently prompted three federal lawsuits—and Miami Beach is the latest battleground.

According to the Miami New Times, an eruv has in fact surrounded Miami Beach since 1985 in the form of seawalls (those count too), but a kayak ramp built into the water in Pinetree Park constituted a breach. The new eruv was constructed to close the proverbial gap. At the time, the New Times described this particular eruv as “a giant spider web slowly surrounding the park.” Residents objected to the park’s addition, which they said was both unconstitutional and ugly.

Now, the New Times reports, the neighborhood battle has escalated, with a national atheist organization weighing in on the controversy.

http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/179018/atheists-demand-removal-of-miami-beach-eruv

[cbayer]

1. This is where these things gets sticky.

The FFRF spokesperson says:

“They are objects which are significant only to some Jews as a means to obey religious laws that have no bearing on non-adherents."

Now, one could go from that to say that they should just be ignored or go from that to say that they should be removed.

The only images I can find show lines posted atop poles at a height where they do not interfere with anyone's movements





OTOH, they are apparently constructing them on publicly owned land and they are religiously symbolic.

This seems to be one of the those situations where something might be worked out that satisfies everyone instead of making it into a pissing match.

[rug]

2. I expect eruvs are few and far between in Wisconsin.

[cbayer]

3. Not so in Miami, though.