The Daily Show’s video about the residents of the town of Westhampton fighting the building of an eruv is very funny, very true and a very real problem – the problem is I kind of agree with those residents. Sure, it’s anti-Semitic, but let’s just say I was living in a beautiful little town in Montana and a bunch of orthodox Jews wanted to move there and build an eruv (I sure as hell wouldn’t want my town turning into a Monsey) and bring the crowds, garbage and illegal multi family section 8 dwellings that come with ultra orthodox Jews. Then again it’s highly unlikely that any ultra orthodox Jews can even afford to live in Westhampton nor be interested in coming to a beach town on Long Island over the serenity of hitchhiking around the Catskills in search of the perfect Tuesday afternoon cholent deal.
This video is hilarious.
His deadpanning is excellent.
Sure, I sympathize with them not wanting us. Or Blacks. Or Irish.
“You made a 78 year old Jewish man complain….”
I think it should be put up just for the Rabbi’s family… And the geezer can move to Florida.
In South Florida pretty much every other town has an eruv, lol.
That was pretty funny.
First of all I love this video. It’s very funny. And I want my own eric hat.
Second – frum satire was the first thing that came to mind upon seeing this video pop up on my Fb wall. However, rather than send you a msg about it, I figured you had already seen it and couldn’t be bothered by more people “bothering” you about what you should comment on via blog post. So you’re welcome.
Third – Communities like Monsey don’t just spring up overnight and you know that. It can take years to form a stable and “thriving” black and white orthodox community. For all we know the Frum Jews in Westhampton who want the eruv could simply be run of mill modern orthodox yids who just wanna live normally while still abiding by enough appropriate Torah law that’s at their disposal. Clearly that angry 73 year old dude has a limited scope of who constitutes as an orthodox Jew. Which is too bad…
I frankly don’t think Monsey people would even be willing to daven in the Hampton Synagogue.
1. It’s Modern Orthodox
2. Rabbi Schneier is known for speaking out against Islamophobia and for pursuing Jewish-Muslim relations
3. The mechitza there (based on pictures) is in no way getting approval from ultras.
4. The poor out-of-the-city frum communities (Lakewood, Monsey, Kiryas Joel) were founded because land/property there was cheap already. The Hamptons are still very, very expensive.
Even without knowing that facts you’ve stated, I pretty much figured this was the case. But thanks for verifying it.
Stupid IPod auto correct… That should be “eruv” hat, not “Eric” hat.
Funny thing about the eruv hat in the video:
Here’s a way to get the “Black hat is part of Judaism”
people thinking:
The fact is, in hilchos Shabbos, there is some discussion
about what constitutes “Binyan Ohel” (“constructing a
tent”) – a Shabbos prohibited activity. A conclusion is
reached that setting up something wider than a tephach
is Binyan Ohel and thus prohibited.
So what you do is go to the person wearing one of the
super-wide brimmed hats (or a streimel for that matter)
and tell them they are not allowed to put that hat on
their heads on Shabbos because they would be violating
the prohibition of Binyan Ohel, much like opening an
umbrella (or wearing an umbrella hat!).
By the way, narrow brimmed hats are fine.
Confession: I’m a kippa sruga person.
Its often been said but we are our own worst enemy. Those who hate Jews the most are often other Jews.
Those opposed to the eruv are clearly bigoted, whether or not they themselves are Jewish.
I doubt Westhampton would turn into Monsey. Many rich areas across the country remain “rich” looking even with an eruv and orthodox Jews. The nicest areas in Los Angeles (Hancock Park and Beverly Hills) both have eruvs.
Whoa, I had no idea there was a Beverly Hills eruv!
Of course, so that Miss Hilton can carry her Chihuahua around on Shabbos!
Eruv, from the hebrew for “loophole”
R’ Cenac is a well known Brisker and holds like the Rambam. None of these string and pole loopholes for him
Funny video. Heshy you’re entitled to your opinion, it happens to be illegal.
I think the main fear the alta cocker has is that when he and his cronies are being pervs about the ladies they use Yiddish, and the Frum crowd would know how pervy the oldies really are.
My mind is still boggled over the fact that eruvs exist. Taking it a bit to far when you need an eruv.
The whole concept of an imaginary boundry is absurd! Check out ” The Shabbat Elevator”on AMAZON
I love it when people try to disguise their denial of G-d with stupidity.
Stop pretending that you have a problem with the concept of a Halachically valid boundary, when this is really all about you not being able to deal with being told how to live your life.
But Yankel, isn’t there controversy amongst observant Jews about eruvs, too? So just because Hello Larry disagrees, it needn’t follow thta he’s not observant. I read that sometimes, even when an eruv DOES get put up, there are often Jews within the community who don’t hold by it.
Mahla:
Nobody debates the concept of eruv. However, the regulations that surround its construction are complex and highly debated.
Mahla,
What this guy is saying has nothing to do with the validity of any specific eruv. He’s objecting to the entire concept of an eruv simply because he can’t understand why or how it works.
It would be the equivilant of saying “Prohibiting pig meat while allowing cow’s meat is absurd. Flesh is flesh.”
That’s why I’m pointing out that he’s diverting the real issue (his denial of Torah) and trying to make it look like he’s taking issue with a small detailof Halacha, which is admittedly difficult for an outsider to comprehend.
The point is, if you understand Halacha and recognize how it works, then you have no problem with a boundary which is hardly visible, as long as it fits the criteria set forth in the Torah.
If you are unfamiliar with Halacha, then idiotic statements like the above are common.
Thanks for explaining, Yankel.
I remember a while back Rav Eliashiv, I think it was, issued a psak banning Shabbat elevators. Also, I don’t know the exact details but I’m pretty sure that some Litvaks hold very stringent opinions regarding eruvs. There was a big controversy back in the day about whether the eruv in Manhattan was halachicly valid.
This issue has been going on for a while. It’s good that someone finally brought it to the attention of the general public.
READ the book and draw your own colclusions. Don’t let anybody do your thinking for you. Thank U Mahlala
I looked it up on Amazon and in the product description it said “After examining the sources of Sabbath observance as set forth in the Old Testament, the New Testament, and rabbinical writings”. New Testament? If they think that the New Testament has anything to do with Judaism then I don’t think that they’re a very knowledgeable source on the issue.
Oh my gosh, that book actually looks pretty interesting, LOL: “This book focuses on the topic of _circumventing custom_ with special emphasis on the ingenious ways Orthodox (and other) Jews have devised to avoid breaking the extensive list of activities forbidden on the Sabbath. After examining the sources of Sabbath observance as set forth in the Old Testament, the New Testament, and rabbinical writings, some of the most salient forms of circumvention are described. Then drawing on Freud’s insights as to the obsessive nature of religious ritual and his persuasive delineation of anal erotic character, an attempt is made to analyze such facets of Jewish character (in addition to circumvention) as an undue concern with purity, and a long-established tradition of indulging in nit-picking and argumentation.”
The guy is a psycho, and more importantly, doesn’t know a thing about Judaism. He did a crazy amount of research on Jewish concepts and ideas, and knows the ‘names’ of many of them, but actually understands almost zilch.
I have in my night table a copy of the Kings James Bible which I lifted from a Hilton. After parusing it I have finally realized why in our yeshoth there an almost a complete blackout of the NAVI or Prophets from the curriculums. Now this is only my opinion and I dare not repeat to anyone in the shul which I frequent. Just between us guys. The final chapters of “Divrey Haymim” and the beginning of Matthew are almost seamless! ( and I am not referring to stockings) What say YOU?
I highly doubt you have ever read either the last chapter of divrei hayomim OR the first chapter of Matthew
Right, especially since most Christian (Protestant) Bibles don’t end the Tanakh with Divrey Hayamim, but with Malachi.
I say you’re pathetic. Stop evangelizing you @sshole.
You’re a really bad faker. You obviously have zero knowledge of what “Yeshoth” are about, or what they do or don’t learn.
I say go get a ball of yarn and keep off the internet.
Lol your a quack! who care if it is seamless. Between us guys Revelations and the three little pigs is also seamless, asit is with another imaginary book I wrote.ince you accept Revaltions you must accept my seamless sequel as well
People, keep in mind you’re talking to someone who’s coming from none other than Alan Dundes, a psycho folklore Professor who thinks Judaism revolves around the “fear of feces”.
I am the owner of thefivetowns.com. watch my response. ENJOY!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6yB_auHjRI THIS IS MY RESPONSE!!