Public beaches no place for eruvs
Re “Making Sabbath a day at the beach,” Oct. 25
Orthodox Jews believe it’s wrong to push strollers on Saturdays. But many don’t want to live by their own rules, so they create eruv -- rule-free areas that are marked by wire. They can build all the eruvs they want on their own private property, but they have no right to litter public property with miles of wires that endanger birds and ruin views.
The right to practice one’s religion is limited when it negatively affects other people and the environment. Not only should the California Coastal Commission reject the request to build eruvs on public beaches, but eruvs in Hollywood and elsewhere should be removed.
MATTHEW J. BARRY
Issaquah, Wash.
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