The increasing popularity of Kiryat Yovel, a neighbourhood in Jersualem, with strictly Orthodox families has not pleased all of its residents. Some secular opponents have even resorted to sabotage by regularly vandalising the local eruv. A chemistry professor was actually caught red-handed the other week trying to saw down a pole.
Closer to home, reports have been circulating of another eruv under assault, in very different circumstances. Some folk in Stamford Hill want to follow the example of North-West London and set up an eruv there, which would allow them, for instance, to take young children in buggies out to the park on Shabbat.
The rabbinic authorities have so far come out flatly against the installation of any such device. But some rebel eruvites apparently established a mini-eruv in the Clapton Common area not so long ago - which proved short-lived. Since the erection was unauthorised, the poles were quicky removed, although by whom no one is prepared to say.
The local council said it knew nothing about the rogue eruv - and inquiries among local residents have so far elicited the Manuel response, "I know nothing."