Andrew Dismore

Dear Editor,

I write in support of the proposal for an eruv in Camden. It would make a huge difference to the lives of Orthodox Jewish residents in Hampstead, West Hampstead and Belsize Park, yet would be of no detriment to anyone else.

I well recall some of the initial controversy concerning the first eruv in Barnet 15 years or so ago, when I was one of the MPs whose constituency was to  be in part included. I supported the eruv then and also the subsequent eruv proposals elsewhere in my former constituency. Once it was installed, you could not really see what all the fuss had been about. Eruvs are by design very discreet, and if you didn’t actually know it was there, you would be hard pressed to spot one. I would suggest anyone who doubts this should visit the parts of Barnet included in an eruv, and see how difficult it is to identify any of the boundary marks.

We live in a multicultural, multi faith society which enriches us all, so we make allowances for each other all the time as a consequence. The eruv will enable so many people to do things, big and small, their faith presently forbids to them to do on the Sabbath, as has been well explained in your columns over the last few weeks. For the wider community, it will make no difference at all.

Yours sincerely,

 

Andrew Dismore

London assembly candidate for Barnet and Camden