The Valley Eruv Project is a collaborative effort of five Scottsdale and Phoenix congregations that designed, permitted , constructed, and now maintain an Eruv for the direct benefit of the Jewish community residing between the Eruv’s boundaries, SR-51 to the west, Loop 101 to the east, the Central Arizona Project Canal to the north, and the Arizona Canal to the south. It serves large portions of Scottsdale and Phoenix, and encompasses all of Paradise Valley. (See the Detailed Map)
What is an Eruv?
An Eruv is a physical perimeter that completely surrounds a designated area, allowing carrying outdoors on Shabbos. Eruvin have been constructed in communities for thousands of years, and serve to enhance the celebration of Shabbos through shared communal experiences, particularly benefiting Jewish women and young children as well as the elderly and disabled. Through a large Eruv, young families may, within the parameters of Jewish law, push children in strollers and bring needed supplies to synagogue and friends’ homes. A large Eruv also allows families of varied observance levels and denominations to attend one another’s life-cycle celebrations, such as bar and bat mitzvahs, even if the walking distance necessitates carrying keys, water, and medications or pushing wheelchairs and strollers.
Who Benefits from the Eruv?
The Eruv benefits all families and relatives of families for whom halachic observance of Shabbos is a matter of personal conscience. It benefits countless visitors and future residents, as well as local families who host visitors for their life-cycle events celebrated on Shabbos. In our generation, there is almost no Jewish family that does not have Shabbos observant relatives and friends, invited to share in their Simchas.
The Valley Eruv Project is a partnership of Ahavas Torah: the Scottsdale Torah Center, Chabad of Phoenix, Chabad of Scottsdale, Congregation Beth Tefillah, and Young Israel of Scottsdale.
The Rav Hamachshir is Rabbi Avrohom Teichman, Rav of Agudath Israel of Los Angeles and Rabbinic Administrator of Kehilla Kosher. It is locally supervised by Rabbi Ariel Shoshan, Rav of Ahavas Torah, in partnership with Rabbis Pinchas Allouche, Yossi Levertov, and Zalman Levertov.