A. A Community Rav

1. Must take responsibility for the community Eruv in all circumstances.
2. Must train and supervise the weekly Eruv inspector to insure a valid Eruv.
3. Must know Hilchot Eruvin thoroughly.
4. Must know exactly how the Eruv works (especially the most challenging portions of an Eruv).
5. He should scrupulously inspect the Eruv at least once a year, in some situations on foot.
6. He must know that the Eruv inspector is worthy of the job (Netiruta D’dahava vs. Netiruta D’Kaspa) both in knowledge and Yirat Shamayim.

B. Styles of Eruvin – the advantages and disadvantages of each.

1. Park Slope – simple to maintain but expensive.
2. San Francisco – four Lechis did the trick. Square, Tachuv and much research to find the already existing Eruv (note the challenges with the Sechirat Reshut and tip of donning a baseball hat when wearing an Eruv).
3. Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Heinemann (and Rav Eider) and Rav Hershel Schachter – their different styles and requirements (both L’Kula and L’Chumra).
4. Flatlands – inexpensive but complex and labor intensive.
5. Oakland – Pi Tikrah, Chritzin etc.
6. Teaneck, West Orange, Scarsdale and Englewood – Highways passing above or below the Eruv.

C. Recommendations

1. 1. Simplicity – Whenever possible Lechis should extend entirely to the wire (avoids problems of alignment issues and it also helps you keep track of the Eruv).
2. Community education and awareness (Roslyn Heights story).
3. Eruv Ethics – permission (Rav Soloveitchik story).
4. Effectively relating to the broader community (not creating nuisances etc.).
5. Karpeif Management (Bnei Brak, Teaneck, Connecticut stories).
6. Accommodate Chumrot if possible (Flatlands and E. 36 Street story).

D. It’s an Hour Before Shabbat and the Eruv is “down” !!!!

1. Potential Kullot: Eye sight alignment, Gud Asik, tapered poles, stop sign Kula, change of direction tolerance etc.
2. Be prepared with Lechis (and a shovel in certain communities) and know Ten Tephachim and ten Amot measurements based on your foot and hip.
3. Know in advance the Eruv Posek’s stance regarding these matters.

E. The Politics (or Human Relationships) of Eruvin – Potential Challenges from:

1. Those outside the observant community.
2. Being politically savvy with government officials (similarity to dealing with Koresh and Daryavesh etc.in Sefer Ezra and Nechemiah.
3. Those Jews who do not want to want to rely on the Eruv.
4. Which Rav to choose (or which Chumrot to choose – note that Chumrot often involve extra cost both in terms of construction and inspection time).
5. Call the Eruv down once a year (or maybe not).