As a follow-up to last week’s column, please note the following important information regarding the Teaneck eruv.

1) The Teaneck Eruv Team—The Teaneck eruv has since its inception been a fine eruv. Recently, intensive efforts have been made to further upgrade the eruv. First, let’s introduce our team. The lay leaders, Joey Bodner and Murray Leben, are a constant source of support and encouragement to the rabbanim
to maintain the Teaneck Eruv at the highest standard possible. An eruv vaad has been created with myself, Rav Rothwachs, Rav Sobolofsky and Rav Taubes serving as the rabbinic leadership for the eruv. Most important, Rav Micha Shotkin has been hired to serve as the administrator of the eruv. Rav Shotkin has emerged as a superstar in the eruv world. Armed with his own bucket truck, Rav Shotkin is a very talented man and exceedingly dedicated to maintaining
the eruv at the highest levels. Rav Shotkin already serves this role in Passaic, and communities throughout the country are vying for his time and help.

2) Annual Walking Inspection by the eruv vaad—This summer, the eruv vaad devoted no less than 14 hours to walking the entire perimeter of the Teaneck  eruv. Every nook and cranny of the eruv was inspected with an eye to bringing it to the highest level. The eruv vaad, while it had some recommendations for improvement, marveled at the tremendous work of Rav Shotkin. Extraordinary efforts are made to satisfy even the most demanding of Rav Schachter’s chumrot such as avoiding the use of lavud in a tzurat hapetach. Needless to say, the eruv is inspected weekly by a capable pair of eruv inspectors.

3) The Teaneck Eruv connects with the Englewood and Tenafl y eruvin. I also serve as the rav hamachshir for these two high-quality and well-maintained eruvin.

4) Carrying on Teaneck Road immediately north of Route 4 is subject to Halachic debate (Route 4 is not halachically sealed off from this area). Please consult your rav for guidance.

5) Carrying on River Road—this has been a very challenging street for our eruv team. While it is best to avoid carrying on this street, it is difficult for many to avoid. We have made every effort to move the eruv from the east side to the west side of the street (at some areas north of Route 4), but the infrastructure does not exist to fully support this effort. As a general rule, one should carry only on the east side of the utility poles on River Road. This poses
an acute challenge just south of Route 4 on River Road where the utility pole (the third pole south of the Route 4 overpass) is located east of the sidewalk. More detail is available by viewing the Teaneck eruv map available online at http://www.tberuv.org/ Map.html and by consulting your rav.

6) Sussex Road and Billington Road— both sides of the Sussex Road crossover above Route 4 are now included in the eruv. Both sides of Billington Road are also now included in the eruv.

7) Both sides of the Queen Anne Road underpass and Windsor Road underpass are now included in the eruv. The Lincoln Place Bridge is included in the eruv.

8) Carrying on the Margaret Street Bridge and Phelps Road overpass is subject to debate (Route 4 is not halachically sealed off from this area). Please ask your rav for guidance.

9) The southern portion of the Teaneck eruv is on the same halachic standard as the northern portion of the Teaneck eruv.

10) The sechirat reshut covering the entire Bergen County was renewed on July 1, 2016, for a 20-year period ending June 30, 2036.

Eruv chatzerot—is stored at my home. There is also an eruv chatzerot stored at Congregation Bnai Yeshurun and the home of Rabbi Neuberger. The eruv chatzerot in my home covers Teaneck, Englewood and Tenafly.

Please feel welcome to pose any questions or share any concerns about the eruv with your rav.

Rabbi Haim Jachter is the rabbi of Congregation Shaarei Orah, the Sephardic Congregation of Teaneck.