Kids in the Eruv

Kids in the Eruv- One of the biggest benefits that the eruv offers to observant families, is the ability to carry their children, whether that means pushing them in strollers or merely picking them up, during the sabbath. Many observant Jews who live outside of the eruv boundaries will move inside once they have children. 

Susan Silver, who was a central player in the campaign to construct the eruv, explained the many ways that it makes life easier for the very observant Jews in this community, especially mothers. Her husband, Tom, explained, “There were people who wouldn’t even carry a kleenex around in their pocket, even pushing your kids in a stroller counts as carrying so it’s really difficult for parents.”

“I remember one woman just begging her child, just trying to convince him to stand up on his own. It was pouring rain and he was just sitting there, he was probably about two, but she wouldn’t pick him up. He was just sitting out in the rain.”

“I invited her into the house because shabbos was almost over,” Susan adds, “but she told us she was a Lubavitch, and they observe shabbos for an extra half hour so we just had to wait it out.”

“With the Eruv it's all just a lot easier for the whole community."

Even for those who don't observe Shabbat as strictly, many choose to raise their children in the eruv anyway. Walking around town, it's not uncommon to see open doors, children's toys scattered across front lawns, and both Jewish and non-Jewish kids playing in the park. 

“With the Eruv it's all just a lot easier for the whole community."- Susan Silver

In fact, many less religious Jews, feel that the presence of the Orthodox community makes the area ideal for raising children, religious or not. One Reform woman commented "raising my kids in the eruv was great. They loved growing up there because people were in the streets there all of the time, and it was safe. Orthodox people were walking to synagogue all of the time, and there were so many kids. It is an awful lot safer when kids are little, and there are tons of little kids walking up and down the street, even at night, and going to the park. The whole idea is the more people in the street, the safer it is. "