Synagogue granted permission to create Eruv (From Times Series)
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The Woodside Park Synagogue granted permission to create Eruv in Barnet
3:13pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News
By Emma Innes
A synagogue was, last night, granted permission to create an Eruv in Woodside Park.
At a meeting of Barnet Borough Council’s Planning and Environment Committee, which took place at Hendon Town Hall, in The Burroughs, trustees for The Woodside Park Synagogue were granted permission for their plans.
They have been given three years to start work on the ritual enclosure, which will give Jewish people the ability to carry out activities, such as pushing prams and wheelchairs, on the Sabbath.
It will make it easier for people, especially those with children or with disabilities, to get around their neighbourhoods.
Jewish Law prohibits Orthodox Jews from carrying on the Sabbath, however, carrying is permitted within the defined boundary of an Eruv, as is the use of pushchairs, wheelchairs.
The Eruv boundary is formed by utilizing continuous local features, such as fences or walls, alongside roads, railways or terraced buildings.
However, where this continuity is not possible due to breaks in the boundary, such as roads, then this breach must be integrated by the erection of a notional 'gateway'.
Such a gateway consists of posts or poles linked on top by a wire or cross bar crossing the highway.
The Eruv, which will be constructed from wooden poles and wire, will pass through the wards of Coppetts, Brunswick Park, East Barnet, East Finchley, Mill Hill, Oakleigh, Totteridge, West Finchley and Woodhouse.
A number of conditions have been placed upon the planning permission, including that bat boxes must be attached to some of the wooden poles to maintain biodiversity, and that plans must be approved by Transport for London to ensure they will not compromise road safety.
According to the planning documents, the application was approved because the proposals would not have a negative impact upon the environment.
The documents say: “It is considered that the proposed 'gateways', by virtue of their siting and design, would not represent unduly intrusive additions in the street scene and would not result in an over proliferation of street furniture within the various townscapes.
“The developments proposed at the locations within the Conservation Area would have a neutral impact on its character and appearance.
“The openness of the Green Belt and/or Metropolitan Open Land would not be compromised by the 'gateways' proposed.”
Some local people did oppose the proposals for an Eruv on a number of grounds.
These included that it would be an eyesore, that it would make streets look cluttered and that it would damage wildlife.
However, planning officers decided that the benefits to the Jewish community would outweigh the disadvantages.
Woodside Park Synagogue’s Rabbi Hackenbroch said: “I am absolutely thrilled that we have received planning permission and am sure this will be of tremendous benefit in our community’s continued development.”
Comments(18)
Headabovetheparapet
says...
11:15am Thu 25 Oct 12
It is as if we are being enclosed in a religious compound! I live in East Barnet, and I don't want to be in a religious net. I feel that religion divides and separates us, and as such it should not be advertised that a certain area is 'owned' by one particular religion. Where will it stop? There are synagogues all over the UK. Will there be a continuous wire around us all? The imagery of wire and being fenced in, is actually not conducive to the freedoms we have in this modern age. We will become a network of wires, posts, images, sounds soon as we pander to every whim of every orthodox religion. You are right! I wasn't consulted, was anyone?
V 4 Vengance
says...
2:26pm Thu 25 Oct 12
Mr. Datchery
says...
4:31pm Thu 25 Oct 12
NoToMob Member
says...
5:51pm Thu 25 Oct 12
Mr. Datchery
says...
7:22am Fri 26 Oct 12
Right then!
Have a look at this
http://www.edgwareer
uv.org/register.htm
Here are two quotes from it;
"The Edgware Eruv was initiated and
constructed by the Edgware Adath Yisroel
Congregation to provide an Eruv for the
Edgware Jewish community."
"The Edgware Eruv is reliant on the
financial support of the entire community."
Also I was amused to be called stupid by somebody who cannot spell themselves.
Also Semitic should have a capital S.
harvey_uk
says...
12:32pm Fri 26 Oct 12
Mr. Datchery wrote:Really, guess the CPS will be building a case against me and I should flee the country? Is my freedom of speech being shackled, can nobody have another opinion apart from agreeing with this council decision without being branded as an anti-semitic? Nothing I can I legally interpret is 'anti-semitic', why don’t people stop using that self-coined expression to stop any negative comments on matters relating to this article. As said, wonder if the council would have approved a line of minarets on Barnet’s conservation land, doubt it. In today’s multi-cultural society, no one minority culture should be allowed greater influence or it might lead to resentment. One minority’s religions ‘short-cut’ tactics shouldn’t be imposed on the great community. Someone from the West Bank living in Barnet might be offended and see this as another ‘barrier’. What a great safe equal opportunities country GB is to accept all religions, but let’s not forget Christian country (capital C). PS: still waiting from the council consulting the ‘other’ residents of Barnet on this planning permission, surely if the electricity company were to put up pylons we’d be consulted?
And so the barely concealed anti Semitism comes oozing to the surface again.
james smyth
says...
5:21pm Fri 26 Oct 12
The council are pandering to the jewish community,they even say for themselves,"the benefits to the Jewish community outweigh the disadvantages" but what about others? dont anyone else get a say?
The last thing that I woulod of thought is for Jewish folk to want to be fenced in seeing as they keep banging on about things that happened decades ago!
All this rubbish about not being able to do this and that according to ones religion is taking things a little too far,they only do it to suit themselves.
Most drive to Shul and park their cars around the corner then do a brisk walk to the door to give the impression that they have walked all the way.
Even a so called "pillar" of society,that Lord from Mill Hill gets a lift to and from Shul,its quite comical to see him looking around to make sure no one is watching while he exits his car by the Esso garage,then does a quickstep to Shul,puffing & panting ! Then on the way back he quickly leaves Shul so he is able to walk on his own,around the corner to get his lift.
What a Hypocrite!
NoToMob Member
says...
12:42am Sat 27 Oct 12
Mr. Datchery wrote:You may by all means try to deflect the attention from the original comment you made, by criticising my grammar and spelling. It will not alter the fact that you are the person wishing to inject Semitic / anti Semitic connotations into the thread. I however do not think religion of any kind! should be funded from the public purse. Religion is a personal choice not a requirement!
And so the barely concealed anti Semitism comes oozing to the surface again.
If you want a new Temple, no problem pay for it yourself's, if you want a new Church, no problem pay for it yourself's, if you want a new Mosque, no problem pay for it yourself's. Do you see a pattern emerging Mr Datchery? I also am of a Faith but I would not expect you to pay for my beliefs or try to force my beliefs on you.
As I said it is a personal choice.
Mr. Datchery
says...
9:49am Sat 27 Oct 12
The accepted European definition of anti-Semitism includes the following:
“Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews…toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities” and
“making mendacious, dehumanising, demonising or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective, such as…controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.”
Finally, for those who are neutral on the subject of eruvim and live within one, cheer up because there is clear evidence that your house is worth 10% more as a result.
Mr. Datchery
says...
9:52am Sat 27 Oct 12
harvey_uk
says...
11:16pm Sat 27 Oct 12
Harroweveryman
says...
9:46am Sun 28 Oct 12
Does god really discriminate against the less able by effectively banning them from travelling in wheeled chairs to temple on the sabbath?
Also, given that the bible and all other religious texts are subject to very broad interpretation and can be used to back up almost any protagonists point of view, the whole subject of eruvs is somewhat moot.
However, I'm sure that god really appreciates everyone doing him/her a favour.
Mr. Datchery
says...
9:53am Sun 28 Oct 12
chris stevens
says...
8:57am Wed 31 Oct 12
If I wasn't against the Eruv before, I certainly would be now.
Mr 'Datchery' does more to encourage anti-Semitism (you forgot the hyphen Mr 'Datchery') than all the Muslims in Barnet.
If you read Edwin Drood you will discover the true nature of the character of Mr Datchery, which goes a long way to explain his outbursts here.
Regarding the Eruv, it's bonkers, and I can only hope a suitable thunderbolt from Moses will give it the send-off it deserves. Or maybe an 'accidental' firework or two next week will see it off.
If our esteemed council believe in promoting random public erections of religious iconography I look forward to re-enactions of the Way of the Cross in Oakhill Park at next year's East Barnet Festival, whirling Dervishes giving regular performances in The Spires, and the lights of Diwali illuminating my way home from High Barnet station.
May God save us all (except in this instance Mr 'Datchery', from whom may God preserve us).
Hopefully the only good that may come out of the debacle that is our brand-gleaming-new One Barnet/Easy Barnet fantasy 'virtual' Council will deem the Eruv a bizarre waste of Council time and kick it into the long grass where it belongs.
nlygo
says...
11:51am Wed 31 Oct 12
the only people paying for this eruv are members of the woodside park synagogue and other synagogues in the area who will be able to take advantage of it
there are no costs whatsoever to the wider community in barnet
the use of the word 'community' by synagogues refers exclusively to the members of that synagogue and other members of the jewish community, not to the wider community at large.
semantics yes, but important ones.
eruvs already exist in finchley and edgware. those who object should perhaps relocate to an area of the country that offers less diversity
chris stevens
says...
9:14pm Wed 31 Oct 12
nlygo wrote:"those who object should perhaps relocate to an area of the country that offers less diversity".
anyone who writes 'Jewish wooden pylon' clearly has issues of his own
the only people paying for this eruv are members of the woodside park synagogue and other synagogues in the area who will be able to take advantage of it
there are no costs whatsoever to the wider community in barnet
the use of the word 'community' by synagogues refers exclusively to the members of that synagogue and other members of the jewish community, not to the wider community at large.
semantics yes, but important ones.
eruvs already exist in finchley and edgware. those who object should perhaps relocate to an area of the country that offers less diversity
Disgraceful. Almost unbelievable arrogance. And probably in breach of the Race Relations Act 1976 to boot.
I hope this attitude is not representative of The Woodside Park Synagogue.
This had nothing to do with 'diversity', this is to do with competing rights. What about the rights of those in the majority who may not want to live inside an Eruv or inside any other particular religious zone with visible boundaries on the ground that demarcate religious territory?
What's wrong with a territorial map? Or a 'virtual' Eruv?
Come on guys, this is a step too far, setting a precedence for all kinds of PUBLIC religious expression that should belong INSIDE the church, mosque, temple or synagogue.
nlygo
says...
10:40pm Wed 31 Oct 12
am not sure how my comment could possibly be in breach of the RRA 1976 - perhaps you would like to ask the police to investigate
if you are not jewish the eruv will not affect you. many of the boundaries already exist (by following main roads and motorways, railway lines, streams etc) and those that have to be set up are virtually invisible - the poles are linked by thin wire that is set above street level that is very difficult to see
the point of the eruv is to make life easier for orthodox jews, it does not affect anyone else
oh yes, there is one other side effect of living in an eruv. property prices increase! (and i dont live in an eruv...)
harvey_uk says...
4:02pm Wed 24 Oct 12