To The Editor:
We were zoche last year to see the construction of a
new eruv in Meiron. A sign near R' Shimon Bar Yochai's
grave shows the map of the eruv. In addition, the sign
attests that the eruv is kosher also according to the
Rambam's opinion, but is not yet an eruv mehudar.
On Shabbos parshas Eikev, however, one of the
prominent talmidei chachomim of Yerushalayim inspected
the eruv in Meiron. He commented that although what
was done is surely a valuable contribution to shemiras
Shabbos, it is not yet complete. The Chazon Ish (Orach
Chaim, omissions, 156) rules, "It is fitting to be
machmir that non-decorative plants nullify the
hekef lediroh and areas not in use have the din
of a karpaf that was not hukaf lediroh."
Since those plants are within the eruv's area and the
area also contains enormous unused places -- such as the left
side of the road descending in the direction of the Ulpana
school -- it is still not mutar to carry on Shabbos
within the eruv.
May the precious avreichim, with the help of
benevolent Jews, finish the meleches hakodesh so that
those meticulous in Shabbos observance will delight in using
it.
A.S.
