No Doubt, Adherence To Torah Law, and of course,
Adherence To Civil Law, As Well 

By Ralph B. Kostant
Legal Counsel to the Valley Eruv Society

From its beginnings in 1983, the organizers of The Valley Eruv Society made sure that the North Hollywood/Valley Village/Sherman Oaks Eruv (click here) would comply with the strictures of civil law as well as halacha.  I assumed the pro bono responsibilities as legal counsel to The Valley Eruv Society around 1990, and I continue to represent The Valley Eruv Society on a pro bono basis.

On October 18, 1983, The Valley Eruv Society filed its Articles of Incorporation with the California Secretary of State, as a non-profit public benefit corporation, organized for charitable purposes.  On June 14, 1985, The Valley Eruv Society filed Restated Articles of Incorporation, changing the nature of the non-profit corporation to a religious corporation, devoted exclusively for religious purposes, under the California Nonprofit Religious Corporation Law.

The Valley Eruv Society also qualified in March 1985 for an United States Internal Revenue Service determination recognizing it as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes, under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).  This means that donations to The Valley Eruv Society are fully tax deductible.

There is an entirely different dimension of civil law compliance required of The Valley Eruv Society that even has halachic ramifications.  In order to construct a valid eruv in or around a city, one must obtain authorization of the eruv from the civil governing agencies with jurisdiction over the area and the eruv.  For The Valley Eruv Society, that meant dealing with the California State Department of Transportation (because our eruv utilizes the freeway rights of way); as well as the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works (with jurisdiction over streets), the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, including the issuance of all legally required permits.  Through the efforts of Yisroel Larry Blumenstein, who has been the primary liaison with public officials and agencies, the Valley Eruv Society has always enjoyed the necessary support from all appropriate agencies which include and are not limited to our City Council Members, the Mayor’s Office, County Supervisor’s offices, and our State legislators.

Approximately 1991, based on public safety concerns of the city of Los Angeles, the Valley Eruv Society re-routed the original northern boundary of the eruv, so that its boundaries are now enclosed by the 101, 405, 118, 5 and 170 freeways.  Please click here to see the map of the full eruv.  The Valley Eruv Society, due to wear and weather of the eruv lines, and at the City’s request, currently is in the process of replacing all of the lines connecting eruv poles at freeway on and off ramps with a different color line, also for safety reasons.  This will give the eruv stronger filament lines.

In the case of the Valley Eruv, adhering to the halachic concept of dina d’malchuta dina (“the law of the kingdom is the law”) does not present any conflict of Torah and civil law.  We must and we do strictly comply with the dictates of both halacha and civil law.