An eruv. I had no idea.

quote:

It's hard to imagine that anything literally hanging from utility poles across Manhattan could be considered "hidden," but throughout the borough, about 18 miles of translucent wire stretches around the skyline, and most people have likely never noticed. It's called an eruv (plural eruvin), and its existence is thanks to the Jewish Sabbath.

https://getpocket.com/explore/...obably-never-noticed

Cool article and GIS map of the location of eruvim in the US

There's one in PDX. I have no idea where it is, but most likely (I think) near me (maybe, guessing based on a fair number of orthodox Jews in the Hillsdale area by me).

[Edit: I was right! ]

Kindof seems like cheating???

I don’t know what to think about this. Religion makes people do weird things. They really ought to just adapt to the changing times, and not pretend they are still doing what their religion tells them they are supposed to be doing.

quote:

Originally posted by jodi:
I don’t know what to think about this. Religion makes people do weird things.

I was aware of the one surrounding the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh because the company I worked for had to make provisions during a highway project we were doing to preserve the integrity of the eruv encircling that neighborhood.

(I'm a little surprised by Jodi's and P*D's reaction to some other group's religious practices. )

Big Al

I think it’s ok to question the things other people do in this world. And even think that those things don’t make sense in the grand scheme of things. (I’m not saying they shouldn’t be allowed to put up the wires).

And just to clarify, I am not religious. So it’s all weird to me.

Weird
Religions are weird

Next?

I’ve seen the wire and have been aware of it for decades.


Also, I agree with Jodi.

People in particular seem fond of honoring the letter of their god’s law while flagrantly violating the spirit.

Another example is orthodox married women covering their hair out of modesty, but they do it by using elegant flowing wigs made from hair often much younger and fuller than their own (at least once they age).

And don’t get me started on banks in Muslim countries pretending they don’t have interest.

I agree as well. I find it odd that my stove, for example, has a Sabbath mode, designed to let you program it to turn on and off at a certain time the following day, so that you can cook something without actually technically having to operate the stove on the Sabbath. Either you are allowed to use electronic things on the Sabbath or you aren't. Programming them to turn on in advance so you don't have to actually "operate" them on the Sabbath seems like a pretty big loophole, no?

I also find it hard to believe that if there is a God (and I personally am not sure that there is), that with all of the things going on in this world right now....you know....war, flooding, people dying of cancer....the biggest thing he has to concern himself with is whether or not some Jewish person touches their clock radio or pushes their baby stroller outside their house on a Saturday. I mean, whatever floats your boat, I guess, but I don't get it.

quote:

I find it odd that my stove, for example, has a Sabbath mode, designed to let you program it to turn on and off at a certain time the following day, so that you can cook something without actually technically having to operate the stove on the Sabbath. Either you are allowed to use electronic things on the Sabbath or you aren't. Programming them to turn on in advance so you don't have to actually "operate" them on the Sabbath seems like a pretty big loophole, no?

now THAT is weird.

quote:

Originally posted by piqué:

quote:

I find it odd that my stove, for example, has a Sabbath mode, designed to let you program it to turn on and off at a certain time the following day, so that you can cook something without actually technically having to operate the stove on the Sabbath. Either you are allowed to use electronic things on the Sabbath or you aren't. Programming them to turn on in advance so you don't have to actually "operate" them on the Sabbath seems like a pretty big loophole, no?

now THAT is weird.

It’s the same issue with dimmer switches, I believe. If you turn the lights on before the Sabbath but turned them down, turning up the dimmer switch isn’t forbidden. That seems like a rationalization.

yes, all religion is weird.

i don't remember the first time i sat through a communion ceremony at a friend's church. but how can there be anything weirder than the wine-and-wafer thing? Symbolically eating the flesh and blood of your savior?

quote:

Originally posted by piqué:
yes, all religion is weird.

i don't remember the first time i sat through a communion ceremony at a friend's church. but how can there be anything weirder than the wine-and-wafer thing? Symbolically eating the flesh and blood of your savior?

Tran·sub·stan·ti·a·tion
/ˌtran(t)səbˌstan(t)SHēˈāSHən/
noun

1.
(especially in the Roman Catholic Church) the conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements into the body and blood of Christ at consecration, only the appearances of bread and wine still remaining.