ABSTRACT
The eruv-translated from Hebrew as “mixture”—refers to the joining of residents and domains within a limited area. Eruvin (plural) are physio-psychological enclosures used by halachic-observing1 Jews, by making this space semi-private, to enable them to “carry” in the public domain on their Sabbath without violating their precept of prohibited Sabbath “work” from the Fourth Commandment. “Carrying” on the Sabbath includes the picking up of any material object-such as house keys, a book, or even a child-and transporting it across the threshold of the public-private domain boundary. If a family had a young child, a parent-most often the mother-had to remain home and could not attend synagogue services or other activities outside the house on the Sabbath.
