Town to Jewish group: Your boundary is out of bounds

MAHWAH -- Township officials have ordered a Jewish community to take down their religious boundary because it violates the town's zoning regulations, NorthJersey.com reported.

The boundary, known as an eruv, is comprised of white PVC piping that is attached to utility poles. The town's engineer, Mike Kelly, reportedly wrote in a letter to the group that the boundary was considered a sign.

Signs are not allowed on trees, rocks or utility poles, according to the report.

In Jewish tradition, an eruv designates areas that allow households to partake in activities that are typically forbidden in public on the Sabbath.

There are 22 places in the state, including Tenafly and Paramus, that have an eruv, according to the report.

In Tenafly, the township went to court over its ban of the eruv. Eventually, the town relented and agreed to let the religious group expand, according to the report.

Mahwah reportedly ordered the eruv to be removed by August 4.

Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.

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