West Hampton, NY - A renewed push for a symbolic Jewish boundary on the East End has sparked a bitter battle between supporters of the religious marker and opponents who brand it divisive.
Led by Manhattan attorney Marvin Tenzer, an Orthodox Jewish group is lobbying to install the boundary—known as an eruv—in West Hampton Beach, Quiogue and parts of Quogue and greater West Hampton.
Demarcated by translucent wire strung along the tops of telephone poles, the eruv serves as a symbolic extension of the Jewish home and allows Orthodox Jews to perform certain outdoor tasks on the Sabbath, such as pushing strollers.
Opponents argue that an eruv would gradually lead to an Orthodox annexation of the East End enclave.
The issue has sparked massive controversies in other areas, including Tenafly, NJ, where eruv supporters prevailed after a seven-year legal battle.
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Tenzer, who has already mapped out the roughly five-square-mile area of the eruv and plans to push ahead with the project in the coming months, called the loud opposition alarmist and possibly anti-Semitic.
“Putting up the eruv is not splitting the community; the opposition to it is,” Tenzer said. “There is no downside to it. People won’t even see it. That is what is so egregious about the opposition here. Maybe there is some element of anti-Semitism. I don’t know.”
But Arnold Sheiffer, a Westhampton resident and vocal opponent of the eruv plan, scoffed at Tenzer’s claims.
“There is enormous opposition to it here,” he said. “In the end, this is an effort to contravene the wishes of the vast majority of people who live here.”
Sheiffer, who is Jewish and organized a group called Jewish People Opposed to the Eruv, blasted Tenzer’s claims of anti-Semitism. “We have Holocaust survivors here who are opposed to this,” he said. “That is a ridiculous claim.”
Westhampton Beach Mayor Conrad Teller said he found the eruv effort unsavory. “This is divisive,” he said. “We are a small seaside community where people have always got along. This is dividing us.”
This has been going on for years now. At this point it is foolish. If you have such a hard time keeping shabbat without an eruv then move to another place. We have other areas, Jewish communities that have large eruvs. You are well aware of the high standard of living in the Hamptons. You get what you pay for, nouveau riche with a dash of anti-semetism
ReplyDeleteMr Sheiffer, nice try.
ReplyDeleteAnti Semitic doesn't narrowly translate into "against jews," as you suggest. It can mean an antipathy to Orthodox Jews as well.
So your "defense" to the charge of anti semitism in that the opposition includes non-orthodox holocaust survivors fails, because anti orthodox jews is blatant anti semitism
Blondie you are an idiot Orthodox Jews have no problems with u putting up a Christmas tree its the same group of liberal self hating "Reform Jews" that are opposed to your Chrismas tree who are opposed to the Eruv.
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Sheiffer,
ReplyDeleteIf you take a look at the Tenafly case, you'll see that in the end, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals (3rd Circuit) reversed the District Court, and granted the plaintiffs (the Eruv Association) the right to have the Eruv. Interestingly, the Court ruled against the Eruv Association on the issues of free speech and fair housing, but in their favor on free exercise (first amendment). So here is my question for you: Given that Tenafly claimed non discrimination, but the Federal court found discrimination by their actions, why is your case any better when you openly admit your purpose is to prevent certain types of people from moving into your town? I mean, the courts don't really care if you or the government officials are Jewish or not, or even if the majority of the town doesn't want certain types of people to move in; illegal discrimination is still illegal, even if the majority wants it.