Haringey set to get an eruv to help Jewish residents during Shabbat

The Highgate and Muswell Hill Eruv application wins unanimous approval from planning committee, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

An eruv in the Golan Heights (credit Netanel_h via Wikimedia Commons)

Plans to create an eruv in Haringey to allow Jews observing Shabbat to carry and push objects have been approved by councillors.

The Highgate and Muswell Hill Eruv will be marked out using a series of steel poles linked with nylon filaments in 33 locations across the borough, including Highgate, Stroud Green and Hornsey.

Joining up to eruvs in Camden and Islington, the symbolic boundary will enable those observing Shabbat – the Jewish Sabbath, which runs from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday – to carry objects and push wheelchairs and prams.

Undertaking these activities outside of private areas is forbidden under ancient Jewish law, but an eruv is exempt from the restrictions because it is considered a private space.

Council officers recommended approving the measures, writing in a report presented to a meeting of the planning subcommittee on Monday that they would enable those observing Shabbat “to fully participate in community life”.

The council received 98 objections and 91 letters of support for the proposals during a public consultation. Concerns raised by opponents included claims that it would create “street clutter”, pose a threat to wildlife and harm community relations.

One opponent, Stroud Green resident Paul McDonald, told the committee the proposals would create a “massive proliferation of street furniture, which contradicts the [council’s] streetscape manual”.

He added that religious symbols “belong on synagogues, mosques and churches, not outside in our secular public space” and said compromises were available that would involve using existing street furniture and “maps and apps” to create an eruv.

Questioned by Labour councillor Alexandra Worrell on whether he saw the eruv as any different to having a Christmas tree in a public space, Paul replied that Christmas trees “would be accepted by approximately 70% or 80% of the community” while the eruv would be “a fairly large imposition over a large area”.

Daniel Rosenfelder, an agent acting on behalf of applicant Highgate and Muswell Hill Eruv Committee, said Jewish communities in Highgate and Muswell Hill were “very active in foodbank and other cross-community activities”, and the eruv would provide them with “life-changing benefits” and link them to adjoining areas in Camden and north-west London.

He said the poles had “no religious significance whatever” and were designed to mark out the boundary of an area that would “allow very young [people] and wheelchair users to leave home on a Friday evening and Saturday for social, leisure and community activities, which they can’t do at present”.

Daniel said the eruv would not affect social cohesion and there was no evidence that there would be an impact on wildlife.

Under questioning from councillors, Daniel said the poles were designed to ensure the installation was “all on public land” and maintained as a “single unit”, pointing out that existing street furniture can be changed. He added that nylon wire was preferable to other materials because it is less likely to break.

Following the debate, committee members voted unanimously in favour of the proposals.

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