November 6, 2009 2:00 p.m.
We are pleased to announce that our eruv checkers were able to certify the Valley Eruv had no issues this week and was completely Kosher and Functional for this Shabbos. We would like to thank our two excellent eruv inspectors, the board of directors and all those who have donated to the Valley Eruv recently.  Please consider a minimum of two $36.00 donations per year, one at Pesach and one at Rosh HaShanah. That way our Valley Eruv will continue to be viable.

October 30, 2009 3:34 p.m.
The Valley Eruv is FUNCTIONAL and KOSHER for this Shabbos.  The Valley Eruv had been checked in preparation for the week, then with the winds on Tuesday and Wednesday every party of the Valley Eruv needed to be thoroughly rechecked. This was a major undertaking. Though all the monofilament lines were in order, branches and debris were on the lines and until they were removed the Valley Eruv could not be deemed KOSHER and FUNCTIONAL.

October 23, 2009 2:00 p.m.
The professional Valley Eruv repair crews informed us that there was a vehicle accident which took down the Valley Eruv lines Friday morning, 10/16.  In addition to bringing down our Valley Eruv, this accident pulled out all the existing monofilament lines at that location. The problem was exacerbated as there were absolutely no lines to re-attach last Friday. There was truly no way to have predicted or prevented this first time ever situation. I wish to remind everyone that the Valley Eruv has only been down once on Shabbos in its 21 years.

October 16, 2009
The Valley Eruv has suffered two breaks on the Valley Eruv monofilament lines this Friday, Erev Shabbos.  As of 3:30p.m, it looks nearly impossible to fix the Valley Eruv in time for Shabbos. It is very important to know that every effort is being made to repair the breaks and at the same time inform the community that the Valley Eruv is not functional.  We are working on both situations.  In the event that the Valley Eruv is repaired prior to candle lighting, we will post it to the web site.  At this time we do not believe we will be able to fix the broken lines – but we are truly putting in mammoth efforts to accomplish the repairs.

August 28, 2009
On Friday, August 28th, members of the Valley Eruv Society support team replaced a huge gap in the Eruv line. Rabbi Eidlitz, our Rav HaMachshir and Mr. Steve Darrison are in the picture assisting. Both Tzali Wachsman and Yitzchak Feiglin were also there assisting. This was truly an amazing chesid, otherwise the Valley Eruv would not have been FUNCTIONAL for this past Shabbos. We have a great deal of work to complete so that the Valley Eruv will be kosher for the coming weeks. Now is the time for all families and community members to financial support the Valley Eruv. Please click on donations and send in your generous donations today. Sincerest thanks, Yisroel Blumenstein, President, Valley Eruv Society and the entire Valley Eruv Board of Directors.

Photos courtesy of Yitzchok Feiglin

Our Valley Eruv supporters fixing the huge area of downed lines prior to Shabbos on Friday, August 28th . Rabbi Eidlitz to check the line reconstructions, Steve Darrision, Tzali Wachsman, and Yitzy Feiglin assisting, climbing and working with the cherry picker lift. And, the additional workers who helped with the repairs.

July 1, 2009
Did you know that there was a major technical problem with our community Eruv being kosher last week?  What would have done if it wasn’t functional last Shabbos?  We need your support.  Thank G-d it all worked out.  It takes a lot of work from many people who volunteer the time.  We have many people to thank:  the Eruv checkers, like Hillel Striks; community members such as Aaron Striks, Tzali Wachsman, Steve Darrison, Eli Trainer, and especially to Rabbi Eidlitz and Reb David Striks.  Of course, the Valley Eruv board of directors works tirelessly on an ongoing basis to make sure that the Eruv is maintained at all levels.  And thank you to those who have sent in a donation to support our Valley Eruv.   If you haven’t yet sent in your check, please remember to write that donation check and send it in today!  The Valley Eruv needs your tzedakah contribution. 

July 5, 2007
Over the past few weeks the Valley Eruv has suffered from a number of issues which would render it possul (invalid) for use on Shabbos. Each week there are specially trained Valley Eruv checkers who take the time to review the entire length of the Valley Eruv to insure it's integrity for community use on Shabbos. There are decisions which need to be made each week. Is the "question" about the eruv a small issue and not sufficient to possul the eruv, or is there a problem which is serious and must be repaired prior to anyone carrying within the boundaries of the Valley Eruv? This will require numerous people involved including the Rav HaMachshir, Rabbi Eidlitz.

Over both of the last two weeks, we had two separate items which possuled the eruv, and a few other items which needed attention but did not invalidate the eruv. The cost of these prior two weeks of repair is in excess of $2,500.

It is not a whim that the Valley Eruv Board and our Rav HaMachshir request that anyone carrying must check that the Valley Eruv is functional prior to each Shabbos. It is relatively simple to do this. You can check the Valley Eruv web site at www.ValleyEruv.org, or you can call the Valley Eruv Info-line at (818) 763-4395. If you have questions for the Valley Eruv, please email them to us. You can also donate via the web site or send your donations to: Valley Eruv Society, P. O. Box 4201, Valley Village, CA 91617. Your financial support is both necessary and greatly appreciated.

May 4, 2007
A few of the Valley Eruv supporters have asked what happens to check the Eruv weekly and what happens when it has been down. I guess the best way to inform is to simply share what happened last week. On April 20, 2007, our Valley Eruv was down in one spot. We still had a problem in a second location which needed to be rectified. What do we do when the ERUV is down? How do we know how to state that the Valley Eruv is functional?

The Valley Eruv is checked at least one time each week before Shabbat. Last week, on Thursday, April 19th, two of the Valley Eruv Volunteer checking crew reviewed every bit of the Eruv, weekly. When they checked the Eruv, they found a portion of our Eruv line which was down near Victory Boulevard west of the 170 Freeway. We immediately called the licensed company which is permitted to restring portions of our Valley Eruv. They started the repairs around 8:00 a.m., Friday morning. Since there were 4 other locations to double check, too, we received a call to let us know that the Eruv was completely fixed and re-strung around 1:20 p.m.

Now it gets turned back over to us. The Valley Eruv Volunteer checkers who originally found the problems where recalled and asked to recheck the portions which they reported down. This took until about 3:10 p.m. The whole time we are all in contact with one another. About 3:10 the Valley Eruv was checked, rechecked and certified "FUNCTIONAL" for that Shabbat.

Thanks for asking, we will try to keep you updated when there are problems with our Valley Eruv. A good Shabbos, Shabbat Shalom.