Siegel, Joshua. Eiruv ve-Hotza’ah [on the permissibility of erecting an Eiruv in Manhattan]

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

Ze’ev Wolf Hirschprung / Isaac Rachlin and Partners

New York

1907

FIRST EDITION. With map on p. 2 depicting the island of Manhattan from New York Bay at South Ferry, bound in the West by the Hudson River, in the East by the East River and Harlem River, in the North by the Canal, while cut down the middle by the Third Avenue “El.”

Goldman 1136

Permits the transportation of personal objects in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York on the Sabbath. This pamphlet engendered great controversy as to whether the proposed Eiruv, utilizing the rivers and the “El” as boundaries, was valid or not. Consequently, the author included responsa of a number of European decisors supporting his position (viz. R. Shalom Mordecai Hakohen of Brezan, Aryeh Leibush Halevi Hurwitz of Stanislav, and Moses Nahum Jerusalimski of Kielce). The pamphlet was published in two stages: Pages 1-26 were published first and sent to various rabbis for their concurring or dissenting opinions. Once responses were received, pages 27-54 were published containing the supporting responses. * ACCOMPANIED BY: Bernstein, Judah David. Kuntres Hilchetha Rabtha Le’Shabatha [forbidding transporting objects in Manhattan on the Sabbath]. FIRST EDITION. ff. 33, (1). Light stains. Printed wrappers, chipped. 8vo. [Goldman, 1145]. New York, M. Rotwein, 1910. A refutation of Joshua Siegel’s Eiruv ve-Hotza’ah. Bernstein’s Halachic opinion prohibits carrying on the Sabbath day in Manhattan. Pointed as problematic in this regard, Bernstein notes the many bridges and tunnels running to the outer boroughs and to New Jersey. He also discusses thoroughfares such as Delancey Street which cut across the city and Central Park, where thousands of people congregate. Of interest, an appendix contains a responsa prohibiting the use of electricity on the Festivals.