ShuT/Eruv
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< ShuT
The question is: may one rely on the `eruv in most places?
In Israel, every city has at least one `eruv, which exists in order to permit people to carry from one house to another, etc., on shabbath.
The following problems exist (there may be more problems, but these are the big ones):
- The streets in the cities are "Biblical public domains" according to Sh"A, Rambam and the Talmud
- An `eruv must have the active participation of the parties
- There are numerous "public shabbath transgressors" in our cities; they need to be dealt with in a special way in order for their "domains" to be included in an `eruv
- The enclosure (what people call the `eruv) must be an halachic "wall" with "doors". The current practice of using a wire placed on top of telephone or power poles, satisfies none of these requirements.
Because of the first problem, it is not even possible to make an `eruv at all in most places, since an `eruv cannot be used to subvert Biblical domains - but only Rabbinic domains. Therefore, since at the very least there is a doubt as to the permissibility of these `eruvin, and in the case of a doubt regarding Biblical mitsvoth one must be strict, it is not permitted to rely on such `eruvin, even in a time of need.
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