14 square kilometers of the city of Zurich are to become a Sabbath zone – kath.ch
Carrying objects or using a wheelchair on Saturdays – Jews are not allowed to do this outside their own four walls. In Zurich, a Sabbath zone should now allow more freedom.
The Jewish communities in the city of Zurich would like to create a continuous, large Sabbath zone for certain activities that are otherwise forbidden under Jewish law. A symbolic fence covering an area of around 14 square kilometers is to be erected for the alleged eruv in the districts of Wiedikon, Enge and Wollishofen. The building permit applications will follow in the next few weeks.
Tighten nylon cords
An eruv is a symbolically closed zone in public that allows Jews to carry objects outside or use prams on the Sabbath day of rest. Such a fence is often symbolized by the stretching of a nylon cord, as Cédric Bollag, leader of the project, told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The project is supported by all of the city’s Jewish communities and managed by the Jewish community, Bollag said. In Zurich, there has been a “mini-Eruv” in the area of Freigutstrasse and Justicesgasse not far from Selnau train station since 1993. Upon completion of the project, the new eruv will have a circumference of approximately 18 kilometers. In terms of area, it will cover a good 16 percent of Zurich’s urban area.
Other projects in other cities
Bollag was unable to say how long the approval process would take. If the permits are in place, the repair will take about two months. Eruv projects are also planned in other Swiss cities, for example in Basel. Internationally, there are such areas in London, Vienna or Amsterdam, for example.
The Jewish day of rest, the Sabbath, lasts from sunset on Friday until dusk on the following Saturday. No work should be done during this time. Strictly speaking, operating electrical devices or carrying objects are prohibited. (sda)
© Catholic Media Center, 04/29/2022
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