Rabbi Jundef and Jacob Korman wade through the wetlands during survey
of expanded eruv area.
ple living within the expansion area,
within the existing eruv and other
generous-minded Jews," Dr. Korman
said. "Rabbi Leonardo Bitran of
Shaarey Zedek B'nai Israel was an
essential part of the fund-raising for
both the original eruv and the exten-
sion."
The Eruv Committee is involved in
ongoing fund-raising to cover the cost
of maintenance, repair, communica-
tion and regular checks of the eruv to
assure that it is operational on Shabbat
and for use on Yom Kippur, the only
Jewish holiday where carrying is not
permitted outside of an eruv.
With perhaps one of the most
unusual after-school jobs around,
Nathan Stiennon, 17, of West
Bloomfield rides his mountain-style
bike around the entire area of the eruv
each week before Friday to make cer-
tain it is intact.
"It takes about three hours," said
Nathan, a member of Ohel Moed.
"Sometimes, I stop and walk part of
the area on foot."
But there are no complaints from
Nathan Whose job expanded with the
eruv.
"My two-square mile ride became
three after the expansion," he said.
"But I like that I'm doing something
for the community and I know how
important the expansion is to those
who want to carry something to shul,
or to push their children in a stroller."
Every so often, he finds a broken
pole or a snapped wire and contacts
Mendelson or Rabbi Jundef to have it
repaired.
"If we spot a broken section of the
eruv on a Thursday, sometimes it can
be repaired before Shabbat,"
Mendelson said. "That's when Rabbi
Jundef and I will repair the section by
To view a map and street listing of the entire eruv area, access the Ohel
Moed Web site, at www.ohelmoed.org
For the weekly status of the eruv, call the West Bloomfield Eruv Hotline at
(248) 788-6782. For information on the eruv, call the West Bloomfield
Eruv Committee at (248) 737-2626.
cutting small tree limbs — with per-
mission from the landowners — that
have damaged the wires or re-install
certain wood moldings attached to
telephone poles or trees that are part
of the halachic requirement to make
an eruv kosher."
After each weekly excursion Nathan
updates the "Eruv Status" on the Ohel
Moed Web site, posting the date and
whether the eruv is operational.
"As soon .as I input the information,
the server automatically sends out e-
mails so everyone on the list will get
mail telling them whether the eruv is
up or not."
He also records a voice-mail mes-
sage for those who call the Eruv
Hotline.
Those who access the Ohel Moed
Web site, created by Ari Mendelson,
16, son of the Eruv Committee presi-
dent, will also be able to view both a
map and a street listing of the eruv
boundaries. Mendelson designed the
site, which is maintained by synagogue
member Steve Thompson of Howell.
Being able to carry books, toys,
house keys and a pair of shoes for days
when boots are necessary has made
Shabbat observance much simpler for
many who live within the eruv.
"The eruv has changed our lives in
many ways," Dr. Korman said.
-
"Maybe most importantly, it has
cemented my household in the shul
community by allowing other families
to push their kids in strollers for
Shabbat meals and bring books for
study to our house."
His hope is that other observant
families will be encouraged to move
into the area within the eruv.
"The feeling of not having an eruv
around our home is as if there was a
warm blanket wrapped around the rest
of the community while we were shiv-
ering in the cold," he said.
"Now the blanket has been
wrapped around us as well, and the
feeling is spiritual and special." El
Tax-deductible donations toward
the inspection and maintenance
of the eruv may be made payable
to the West Bloomfield Eruv
Committee and mailed to: Dr.
Howard Korman, Urology
Specialists of Michigan, P.C.,
Beaumont Cancer Center, 3577
W 13 Mile, #202, Royal Oak,
MI 48073; or call Dr. Korman at
(248) 551-9955 or e-mail at:
hkorman@beaumont.edu
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