If you look closely at the very top of the light pole, you might be able to make out two taut pieces of fishing wire running toward the top and left of the photo. They make up a small part of the Manhattan Eruv, a ritual enclosure that allows observant Jews to carry objects within its bounds on Shabbat. The eruv is inspected regularly, and a break was found a few months ago on a Friday afternoon, hours before the start of Shabbat.
I took this photo at the intersection of 8th Avenue and 56th Street, looking north. All the maps I can find online show the eruv running straight along 56th Street here, but you can see in the photo that it turns south along 8th Avenue. Perhaps it was recently altered to include a larger area?
Day 31
The Manhattan Eruv
January 30th, 2012
So interesting. I love learning about all these cultures in New York.
Matt, How do you know all this stuff?? :-) Just looked at the map and it goes right past my building. I have noticed that string in the past, never new what it was for. Thanks!! BTW, I love following along on your walk.
Read this Dan. Maybe then you’ll know why Matt knows so much about Jewish traditions, etc.
http://imjustwalkin.com/2010/08/30/thoughts-on-the-red-line/#comments
Dorinda you know as well as I why Matt knows so much about it, and I just remembered, I’ll bet that’s the article where he tells everyone about himself. well gotta go Dorinda have nice weekend, and it’s good you have been on here do not see anybody else much of our old gang on here.
So they use government property-the light pole- to connect this eruv which is a religious thing. Who puts the wires up there?
All the gods must like string. I have a hindu friend who wears a simple string around his neck. And this string around a city. With god the relationship is definately not “no strings attached”.
WHAT KIND OF OBJECTS DO THEY CARRY AROUND.