West Orange Eruv

by Rabbi Dani Rockoff

When our community first looked into building an Eruv in the early 80's, at the advice of Rav Moshe Feinstein ZT"L, we turned to Rabbi Shimon Eider of Lakewood, NJ, a renowned expert in many areas of practical halacha.

Rabbi Marcus and Rabbi Eider worked very closely to facilitate the building of the eruv that has served our area for the last twenty five years. On September 8, 2007, the second day of Succot, Rabbi Eider passed away after a long illness. Rabbi Eider had come to inspect our Eruv a number of times over the years, and he was here as recently as this past June.

Checking the Eruv with Rabbi Eider was always an exciting experience. He required a convertible so that he could properly see the areas of the Eruv that needed inspection. (See picture below of our Eruv checking team in the Amster-mobile!) Aside from his expertise in areas of Eruvin, Rabbi Eider wrote a number of books on practical halakha, such as Kitzur Hilchos Shabbos, Eiruvin, Tefillin, and Kitzur Hilchos Chanukah (which you may want to check out as Chanuka Approaches), among several others.

His books have enjoyed great popularity in the last several decades, and they are included in the AABJD library as well. They are known to be comprehensive, clear, and accessible to readers of all levels.

Interpersonally as well, Rabbi Eider was very approachable, always available to answer questions to anyone who would call him, on matters great and small. He possessed a great breadth of knowledge, and he was able to elucidate and share it with others of all levels of understanding.

Rabbi Eider graduated from Yeshiva University's BTA high school in Brooklyn, and he then attended Yeshiva College, where he graduated in 1960 with a degree in psychology.

He received his semikha from Rav Moshe Feinstein ZT'L, and he continued his studies in Lakewood under the guidance of Rav Aharon Kotler ZT"L, where he then became a longtime resident and mainstay of the yeshiva community.

We in West Orange have been fortunate to have had Rabbi Eider's guidance throughout the years, and we, along with the entire Jewish community, mourn his passing. Yehi Zichro Baruch

* The Eruv was last checked on Fri, January 27, 2012 by Rabbi Bleicher