Church Meeting To Discuss Eruv Postponed Until Tensions Settle

By Kelly Carroll | 5 Comments

Rabbi Marc Schneier of the Hampton Synagogue was due to speak to the congregation of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Westhampton Beach on Sept. 7. That offer has since been postponed. Photos by Kelly Carroll

Westhampton Beach - An offer for Hamptons Synagogue Rabbi Marc Schneier to speak to the congregation of St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Sept. 7 regarding the designation of a religious eruv for the Village of Westhampton Beach has been postponed, according to St. Mark's Rector, Rev. Christopher David.

"The church vestry met while I was on vacation," said the reverend in an interview on Friday, "our offer has been postponed."

The rabbi was due to speak to the Episcopal congregation in order to explain the need for an eruv by the members of Hampton Synagogue, a topic that has caused considerable outcry among Westhampton Beach residents this summer. Rev. David, who had planned to have Schneier speak to his congregation, and only his congregation, after mass on Sept. 7, said he felt the public had gotten the impression that anyone could attend and he did not want the meeting to become what the Aug. 13 public information session had become.

"Given the heat of the meeting at the synagogue," he said, "the lay leadership felt our offer was misrepresented."

Public outcry over the matter came to a head Aug. 13, when Rabbi Schneier held an information session to discuss the eruv at his synagogue on Sunset Avenue. Not 30 minutes into the meeting, one-third of the assemblage stormed out, while many that stayed voiced their anger in acerbic comments. In an interview a day after the information session, Rabbi Schneier said that the meeting at St. Mark's was to be a calmer, more positive discussion, and that the members of the church would be welcoming to him.

"I am contacting the other clergy to see what we can do to calm this really unpleasant atmosphere," the reverend added.

At the Aug. 13 public information session, tempers flared. Many audience members left 30 minutes into the meeting.

Rabbi Schneier first applied for an eruv in the village back in the spring, under the stipulation that his congregation needed an area where they could walk to worship while pushing strollers and wheelchairs, or carrying children. For Orthodox Jews, the idea of labor is prohibited on the Sabbath, and only certain things can be done within the home. An eruv, according to Jewish religious law, is a designated area that is considered an extension of the home, and allows for this kind of labor to be done, making it easier for those that practice this form of Judaism to worship. The rabbi suggested designating the area with wooden two by fours attached to telephone poles. He later withdrew his application, saying he would like to spend the summer educating village residents on the importance of this designation.

Rabbi Schneier plans to resubmit his application for
an eruv in the fall. Rev. David will be looking for a way
to calm the tense atmosphere in the Village of
Westhampton Beach.

"I believe an eruv is a civil right," said Rabbi Schneier earlier this month. "We view this as our elemental right."

According to the rabbi, the concerns of village residents over the eruv stem from "the ugly head of anti-Semitism." However, Pastor Jack King of the Beach United Methodist Church in Westhampton Beach, who supports the eruv, suggested that residents are upset because the issue is not being handled democratically, but rather more like a fete accompli.

Rev. David said that his plan going forward is to have an on-going dialog about this subject, and along the way promote religious tolerance.

"Any constitutional expression has my support," he commented. "It doesn't have to be popular. It's more important to uphold the right of the unpopular."

The reverend did not yet have a new date for Rabbi Schneier to come to speak to his congregation, yet he said he is in talks with other religious leaders in the area.

"I told the rabbi I am no more in favor of an eruv than I would expect him to be of Christians wearing ashes on Ash Wednesday," said Rev. David. "And I said I am no more against an eruv than I would expect him to be against Christians wearing ashes on Ash Wednesday."

Comments

Marc from NYC says:
The public space in question is not in jeopardy in any form of being violated, after all the eiruv is invisible. The only issue at hand is the potential of certain people occupying space in the area. That is hate and racism.

Jeremy from uk says:
Dear Gary. Religion is why the world wants peace.

shecky from westhampton says:
It is sad that the Rabbi has decided to make a stand on this issue rather than looking to integrate and support the community at large. This appears to be a self serving move and clearly has his own political interests at heart, and not that of his constituents.

chris from Hamptons says:
It's sad to me that in modern times this is even an issue. None of our cities should have to cater to this nonsense. If a group believes that they need a fishing line to be allowed to go outside, push a button, or push a stroller then that is their problem. No group should have the right to surround public space with superstition.

gary from E H says:
Religion is why the world is at war. ENOUGH !