Earlier this year, two Kuntresim titled Laleches Bidrachav Betikun Eiruvin, were published by Rabbi Shmuel Zajac, a well-known Maggid Shiur at Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim of Morristown, NJ, explaining the complex topic of eruvin. Rabbi Zajac has now released a third Kuntres under the same title.
In addition to his role as a Maggid Shiur, Rabbi Zajac is also a prolific writer. He has authored two authoritative seforim on the Halachic opinions of the Alter Rebbe and has also published many Torah articles in various venues.
In the new Kuntres, Rabbi Zajac doubles down on his position that according to the opinion of the Lubavitcher Rebbes an Eruv cannot be erected in Brooklyn or any other city which has a population of over 600,000 people plus. Many cities in the USA and abroad have 600,000. For example: Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Boston, Paris, London, Buenos Aires, S. Paulo etc.
Rabbi Zajac also strongly refutes all argumentations that were raised to counter his position laid out in his previous Kuntresim. He points out, that in his opinion, the position of our Rebbes on this topic is not merely a hiddur or the best way to do the Mitzvah, rather it is a Halachic imperative min hadin.
The Kuntres does not cast aspersions on other frum communities, who follow the directive of their expert Poskim on this subject. Rather it explores the view of our Rebbes, so that Chabad Chassidim who follow their rulings, halacha lemaaseh, should be aware of their rulings on this complex matter.
See below articles from Harav Kalmanson shlita and Harav Avishid Shlita
https://www.chabaderuv.com/%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9F%20%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%A7%D7%A0%D7%AA%20%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%91%20%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D%20%D7%92%D7%93%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%AA%20-%20%D7%90%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%93/
https://www.chabaderuv.com/%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9F%20%D7%A9%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9D%20%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%95%D7%90%20%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%9D%20-%20%D7%A7%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%9F/
This booklet is a detailed response to those articles….
A new Eruv since was installed around Brooklyn http://www.brooklyneruv.com
This video addresses some of the points of R’ Zajac.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOo5Oi6GkZY&t
Wouldn’t it be nice if instead of putting efforts into discrediting a community eruv, we would find a way to be mezakah other Yidden?
I.e. Find a way to promote that the eruv is Kosher. That does not mean everyone has to hold of it or use it, but for the growing segment of the community that does need and use it, let it be there as a support for them.
according to almost all chabad Rabbonim that are baki in Eruvin including the 16 Rabbonim that signed the Kol kore, the Crown Heights Eruv and other city Eruvin are kosher min hamehardrin and its mitzva to use it!
Thank you for sharing this! We need more people who are willing to take a stand and help educate those who do not know better.
I’m sorry to say many of those who signed the Kol koray are far from being boki in eruvin, most not even ra-bonim and others took them months to explain their position…
There is a mitzvah הוכח תוכיח, I guess we should go away with that one (yes obviously it has to be done in the right way etc etc but educating people abou serious halachic problems is part of it…).
Anyway people should know both sides so they can make an educated decision…
People CANNOT make their own decisions, however knowledgeable they are. They must follow the Psak of a Rav – Moreh Horaah!
If your a chosid,
And the rebbe said that there cannot be a erev in Brooklyn,
Why even think of the reason?
No erev. If you Act like a Chussid NO from the rebbe is no without thinking about it!
The Rebbe said clearly to Menashe Klein that you could make a eruv in Brooklyn it’s printed in his sefer משנה הלכות
See from הרב מנשה קליין זצ”ל
https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1880&st=&pgnum=181
It DOESN’T say that the Rebbe told him to make an eiruv.
The most he is quoting a שמועה. Which no one knows it’s source (maybe he is getting mixed up with the letters on the קונטרים on עירובין?)
הרב מנשה קליין זצ”ל had many meetings with the Rebbe, and the Rebbe on multiple occasions like in Manhattan and in the Yechidus with רבנים הראשים לישראל and in מאמרים said כמו שפוסק אדמו”ר הזקן שאין רשות הרבים בזמן הזה.
להלכה it’s as clear as day that we don’t have a רשות הרבים.
Reb Zajac can try to keep on twisting and remanufacturing the words of the Rabbeim and think that most people won’t bother reading what he writes.