Profile of The Northern Eruv Inc.
Eruv in St Ives project commenced in 2004
The Northern Eruv Inc. incorporated in April 2005 with independence of existing Jewish institutions
Boundary:
a. Proposed route identified in Dec 2005
b. The proposed Eruv is an irregular shaped area encompassing the majority of the built up areas within the suburbs of St Ives and St Ives Chase, and has an approximate area of 4.8 square kilometres (Eruv perimeter length of approximately 20km)
c. It is generally bound by Dalton and Kitchener Roads to the north, Cambourne and Melaleuca Streets to the east, Hunter Avenue to the south, and Warrimoo Avenue to the west
d. The suburbs of St Ives and St Ives Chase accommodate over 2300 Jewish residents – some 13.4% of the total population - as recorded in the 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census. The area also accommodates a number of Jewish facilities including two synagogues and a Jewish high school
e. The proposed Eruv will serve 95% of the St Ives area Jewish community
f. Investigations currently in progress on boundary modifications following rejection of DA by Ku-ring-gai Council
Development Application to Ku-ring-gai Council:
a. All necessary consents, permitting the construction of necessary infrastructure on private land, received from residents whose properties border the proposed Eruv boundary
b. Energy Australia, Optus and Telstra have also granted their consent to the proposed scheme
c. Initial submission of Development Application lodged with Ku-ring-gai Council in June 2006 with no environmental and aesthetic impacts. Amendments were required
d. A certified Town Planner, Neustein Urban, appointed in September 2006 to facilitate a smooth resubmission of the DA
e. Revised Development Application submitted to Ku-ring-gai Council in October 2007. Rejected by Council in September 2008. Additional clarifications currently in progress. Date of re-lodgement is to be advised.
g. Investigations currently in progress on boundary modifications following rejection of DA by Ku-ring-gai Council
h. Public information meeting held in late November 2008. See Educational
Information page for more information.
Halachic Parameters:
a. Under supervision of Rabbi M. Gutnick, Rabbinical Council of NSW and Sydney Beth Din
b. Rabbinical Advisory Committee established October 2006 comprising Rabbi Gutnick and Rabbi Krebs (Kehillat Masada), Rabbi Schapiro (Chabad House of the North Shore) and Rabbi Lewin (North Shore Synagogue).
c. Acceptance criteria delineated providing guidelines ensuring that the Eruv boundary is established according to Halachic standards.
d. Appointment of Rav HaMachshir, Rabbi Yosef Feigelshtock, Head of the Beth Din of Argentina, to authorise Eruv establishment, October 2006
e. Eruv boundary to be facilitated through tzurat hapetach structures (either plastic PVC conduits or flag-poles, crossed with wires with no electrical current) or walls / fences.
f. Although the current Eruv boundary conforms to Halachik standards as required by Rav Feigelshtock, it does not conform to rov mechitzot standards. That is, the current route does not have continuous solid mechitzot. The leniency of Rabbi S. Eider allowing a solid mechitza less than 10 amot from a parallel tzurat hapetach to be included as part of the rov mechitzot boundary.
g. Rabbi Yosef Feigelshtock, Head of the Beth Din of the Chabad Community
of Argentina, visited St Ives in December 2006 to understand the specifics
by which the boundary of our Eruv is to be constructed. With his expertise,
Rabbi Feigelshtock advised that a particular complexity (Karpafiot), the
bushland pockets within the boundary, were not Halachically problematic.
h. The committee continues to be in regular communication with both Rabbi Feigelshtock and Rabbi Gutnick regarding queries.