The Eruv Down the Marina Beach

The Los Angeles marina peninsula from space. The peninsula is bordered by the pier on the north (with the little white dot on the end), the marina channel/breakwater on the south, and one remaining remnant of the old Venice lagoons (the skinny greenish channel behind the first row of beach houses). The orthodox Pacific Jewish Center is going to string a 200 pound monofilament fishing line down the peninsula on 20 foot galvanized poles in order to enclose the marina as an eruv. This will allow orthodox Jews on the Sabbath to do in public what they normally can only do in the privacy of their homes. The residents of the marina are incredulous that anyone would dare to string 200 pound monofilament fishing line right in front of their second store picture windows. They say it is outrageous for the Pacific Jewish Center to impose their medieval religious superstitions on the outside community. The rabbi responds that the law is on his side.

There is also an issue concerning the Least Tern, an endangered species that nests in the lagoon. Opponents of the eruv say the terns will kill themselves on the fishing line. The Coastal Commission, usually a zealot with regard to everything coastal, has given the Pacific Jewish Center a pass on the birdstrike issue. Eruv opponents claim the fix is in.