Oyster Bay grants Jews larger eruv

The Young Israel of Plainview congregation has grown, and so must its eruv, Oyster Bay Town officials agreed.

The town board on Tuesday granted synagogue leaders an expansion of an existing eruv that stretches across Plainview, Hicksville, Old Bethpage and Syosset.

The eruv -- a symbolic enclosure that allows Orthodox Jews to carry keys, push strollers and perform other tasks prohibited outside the home on the Sabbath -- will measure nearly 8 miles across, said Rabbi Elie Weissman of Young Israel.

The area is defined by attaching markers to utility poles to create a visual boundary. Weissman said it measured six miles across when it was established years ago.

"The expanding eruv is a symbol of our expanding congregation," he said.

Young Israel started with 12 families 40 years ago and now has 200 member families, he said.

Tuesday's expansion was the fourth time in seven years that the synagogue has needed to come to the town for a proclamation resetting the eruv borders, Weissman said.

"If every organization conducted themselves like Young Israel, with their culture, their values and their traditions, I think Oyster Bay would be an even better place," Supervisor John Venditto said.

The newly expanded eruv includes the home of third-grader Jordyn Weinick, whose father previously wore a special belt to hang his keys on rather than carrying them.

"This eruv will allow me and my family to carry things we will use on Shabbos -- like books, food and my father's tallis bag -- to the synagogue," Jordyn, 8, said in a speech Tuesday thanking town officials.