Building an Eruv If you need to construct an Eruv at your campsite, creating a pre-made

“Eruv Kit” will simplify the process. Though the laws of Eruv are complex,

the construction of this Scout Eruv is simple. The “kit” will consist of

premade poles, heavy duty twine and sometimes a drill with an auger. To

determine the number of poles and the amount of twine you will need,

you will have to decide how much of your campsite will be within the Eruv.

The premade poles, are placed 8-10 feet apart around your camp. These

poles can be stored with your unit gear for rapid construction – allocate 4-

8 hours over a scout meeting or two for preparing them.

The poles should be at least four feet long. Screw an eyelet into the top

of each pole. The bottom ends of the poles can be sharpened so they

can be pounded into the ground. For easier pounding, a hole can be

drilled into the bottom of each pole and a rebar can be attached.

Alternatively, a drill with an auger can be used to start the hole into the

ground.

Once the poles are securely placed in the ground, run heavy twine

through the eyelets. Tie the ends of the twine together with a clove hitch,

creating a fenced in area. Be certain that at least 40 inches of the pole is

above ground (more if the twine sags). Consult your religious authority

for details.

If your campsite has a gateway, the Eruv can go over it or include the

gateway, but angles of twine and methods of attaching them to the

gateway will require religious guidance. [Methods can include, a “double

pole” with two twines, a slow rise toward the gateway with a suitable

angle, or halachically “attaching” the Eruv poles to the gateway.]

The National Jewish Committee on Scouting Page 2

Make sure your Eruv encloses an area that is large enough to include

bathroom facilities, your sleeping area, your food preparation and eating

area and your campfire site. The Eruv will take 30-45 minutes for several

Scouts to construct and must be completed before sundown. Start the

Eruv at least 90 minutes before Shabbat in case you run into problems. It

is best to assign this task to the first people to arrive at the campsite.

Remember to test your Eruv at home or at your unit meeting place before

trying to build it at a camp site. Once you have built the Eruv and used it

successfully you also have a readymade service project for a Jewish

chartered organization. Do demonstrations of the construction for your

Chartered Organization.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5680830&forum_id=2E#49209630)