Does anybody live in an eruv?

[namechange655]

How religiously observant/sociable do you have to be to fit in? What is the ratio of J:NJ in yours? Or alternatively, have you moved out of one and if so, why?
Thanks

Good luck OP.

Sorry don't want to derail the thread, and I'm not talking about anyone specific, but the whole passive aggressive attitude and 'woke' posters accusing the OP of anti-semitism/troping/being goady even AFTER she gave the background is very grating. It almost comes across as some sort of saviour/rescue complex. I'm Muslim and that other thread annoyed the hell out of me, especially as the OP specifically asked for Muslim replies (it was on the religion/spirituality board) but of course many non Muslim posters had to swoop in and tell the OP what to do and make all sorts of accusations.
Surely you either answer a question "yes I live in an eruv, what do you want to know" or you just don't comment and report the thread if there are concerns? But the PA, sarcastic and accusative posts are not in any way helpful.

Hope you get sorted @namechange655 and the dc settle well.

Hang on hang on. It's not 'woke' to call out something that you think might be trying to draw out antisemitism.

Jewish posters on this thread were perfectly entitled to question some aspects of the early posts. Most Jewish people understand that an eruv has no bearing on social integration. It creates a suggestion that Jews create borders from the outside world. There were several questionable posts that it generated - one poster saying that they were offended by Jews delineating their territory and one saying that observant Jews were 'cheating' in some way by benefiting from an eruv. Neither particularly pleasant.

It also didn't help that the OP suggested her husband would be recognised in some way for being Jewish.

I'm afraid if you have experienced antisemitism then you might pick up on cues that other posters might not spot.

I didn't accuse the poster of being a troll and I have no idea about the other thread you are referring to but honestly these posts sit on the public domain, they can be searchable for years, even decades so you can't blame people (there were many) trying to point out that some of the suggestions could conceivably be generating antisemitism support even if that was completely unintentional.

Thanks a lot! I have reviewed the thread and I do think that LondonMummers' posts were overly defensive and rude. She should have directly confronted the posters who made specific criticisms, they were nothing to do with me. It wasn't a lot of posters doing it as she implies mainly her and one other who later said that she didn't even observe the dietary laws so probably completely oblivious of the issues.

Finchley Road could be good.

JW3 has lots going on. They have a nursery, NCT, playgroup, Tzofim, cinema, lots of classes, talks and events, Hebrew lessons etc

I would say most people at the events tend to be a little more secular than you. Or not even Jewish at all.

Thanks. Is there anywhere else with a similar vibe to Finchley Road? I like St john's Wood but it is a bit more expensive!

What do you mean by a "similar vibe" to Finchley Road? Do you mean a similar amount of Jewishness? 😂I guess Golders Green, West Hampstead, East Finchley, Hampstead, Hampstead Garden Suburb, South Hampstead, Barnet, Hendon, St Johns Wood, Edgware, Stanmore, and on the edges of London, Bushey, Elstree are all places off the top of my head with quite large Jewish communities. All very different though.

I’m not sure Finchley Road has a vibe!

Yes, I'm a bit confused by what kind of "vibe" Finchley Road has 😂It's long been associated with the Jewish community but it never felt especially Jewish to me before the arrival of JW3, not like Golders Green or Stamford Hill. Although TBF, in my head, I still think of Golders Green of the past with Blooms, the Elite chocolate shop, Steimatsky bookstore, the kibbutz office and the kosher Chinese restaurant 😂I think only the Chinese restaurant remains.

Still, if OP wants to live somewhere with strong Jewish culture that is accepting of all flavours of Judaism, living next to JW3 is not a bad place to be. I can't say much for the rest of Finchley Road 😂JW3 is well worth a visit, @SomethingNastyInTheGenePool, if you live in London, whether you are Jewish or not. They have great events and an excellent restaurant (a bit like Ottolenghi). Don't be put off by the security and bag search at the gate. The sad reality of anti-semitism but I guess it doesn't feel very welcoming. I always feel like it might make people who aren't Jewish think it is a "closed"/private space just for the Jewish community.

I guess OP means more urban and central than places like Mill Hill. Or maybe she is thinking more of neighbouring West Hampstead.

Could someone please explain what an Eruv is? I'm genuinely interested to know.

I've just realised I live right on the inside of the boundary of one. There is a high Jewish population here. Not once in all my years here has anyone even mentioned the eruv let alone judged anyone moving in and out of it. My neighbours wouldn't even know if I was Jewish or not!

@TonysGaff Funnily enough, I went past JW3 only today.
I’m often tempted by events there, and things like the “beach” but somehow never quite make it! I definitely want to try the cafe - my parents were fans. Thank you for the extra nudge!
I tend to annoy/bore my poor DP with my Northwest London of Yesteryear reminiscences. Today’s was lamenting the closure of Cosmo on Finchley Road - truly a Jewish institution.

@Toddlerteaplease it's basically a wire boundary (they look a bit like telephone wires on poles) surrounding a neighbourhood. It symbolically makes public areas part of a private "domain". Like a giant garden fence. It's a way of getting round Jewish religious laws that don't allow you to do certain things on the sabbath eg push a pram or wheelchair, carry keys, use a walking stick etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eruv

"Finchley Road" is a bit vague. It's a long road that goes all the way to... Finchley!
Unless you mean near FR tube station.
St John's Wood us very American imo and is very near the Regent's Park Mosque

Definitely give it a visit, @SomethingNastyInTheGenePool ! It can be a bit lacking in atmosphere in the cafe/bar if there isn't an event or class going on though. Or, more accurately, lacking in customers 😂

Fun fact - my ex boyfriend used to live in the flats on top of where the Mercedes Benz garage used to be, before it was knocked down and became JW3. Unfortunately he crosses my mind whenever I go past JW3 so I’ve never paid attention to the centre itself!