'Eruv' erection causes a stir

A storm is brewing on the Atlantic seaboard over proposals for an orthodox Jewish demarcation of Clifton and Camps Bay.

The Sea Point orthodox Jewish community is proposing the construction of an eruv - a demarcated area.

The eruv would allow orthodox Jews to carry certain objects freely during Sabbath (from Friday evening to Saturday evening), to the city's premier beach destinations.

For example, carrying sets of keys and pushing a pram during the Sabbath cannot be done in public.

The construction of the eruv could be considered a private space within a public space.

A few residents have written to mayor Patricia de Lille, objecting to the proposal.

In a letter on behalf of several residents, Soren Elvin-Jensen said the construction of the eruv went against the constitution.

"It would appear that by the establishment of an eruv one religious persuasion seeks to impose and establish a 'private domain in a public area .

"We assume the construction of the eruv has been undertaken without council permission or approval, which is a prerequisite," said Elvin-Jensen.

The ward councillor for the area, Bev Schafer, said at a recent sub-council meeting that she had proposed that guidelines be introduced for the erection of eruvs in Cape Town.

"At the moment it's only one or two individuals making those decisions," said Schafer.

While Sea Point had a single eruv, Schafer said Johannesburg had about 16 across the city.

She said: "The Sea Point eruv went through an extensive process of public participation for a year.

''In December, an eruv was put up on someone's home who was not Jewish and this caused problems."

Rabbi Alan Levin, from the Sea Point Hebrew Congregation, said: "For 10 years we've tried to put up an eruv but the city tried to block it.

''The city puts up 16000 Christmas lights, the least they can do is [allow us] to put up 16 poles [between Sea Point and Camps Bay]," he said.