HaRav Shmuel Fuerst
Rabbinic Counsel
Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, Rav of Agudas Yisrael of Peterson Park, Chicago, IL, has served as Dayan of Agudath Israel of Illinois for over 40 years.
As Senior Advisor for the Midwest Council of Agudas Yisrael and head of the Midwest Bais Horaah, he deals with halachic inquiries from around the world.
Rabbi Fuerst is a talmid of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”’l, having received semicha from Rav Moshe on all four sections of Shulchan Aruch.
In his vast experience, Rabbi Fuerst has recognized the frequency of undetected issues in city eruvin, and advocates the need for regular, professional inspections.
Rabbi Shlomo Francis
Rabbinic Director
Rabbi Francis learned in Beth Medrash Govoha, Brisk and Philadelphia Yeshivos. He then spent years as a highly-regarded member of the Chicago Community Kollel where he studied eruvin in depth.
Rabbi Francis co-authored the groundbreaking sefer “The Laws of an Eruv” with Rabbi Yonason Glenner, amassing a collection of photos and 3D images depicting hundreds of eruv scenarios and questions. Presenting these shailos to leading poskim in America and Eretz Yisroel they gained many psakim which had never yet been published.
Rabbi Francis gained much practical experience working alongside CivilTech, a leading transportation engineering firm which devoted its expertise to developing many state-of-the-art Chicagoland eruvin.
Rabbi Francis’s unique visual shiurim and legendary eruv checks are in high demand. Rabbi Francis can anticipate the challenges a particular eruv is likely to face over time, pointing out poles that are under stress, wires that are liable to be moved, and fences that are not properly sealed.
Rabbonim often join Rabbi Francis on his eruv checks to receive shimush in the intricacies of city eruvin.
Rabbi Yonoson Glenner
Rabbinic Director
Rabbi Glenner studied at the Chicago Community Kollel for over fifteen years as a close talmid and chavrusah of the Rosh Kollel, Rav David Zucker shlit”a.
SInce co-authoring the sefer “The Laws of an Eruv” with Rabbi Shlomo Francis, Rabbi Glenner continues to devote much energy to eruvin halacha l’maaseh, answering eruvin shailos from across the country.
Rabbi Glenner’s unique shiur on the topic of reshus harabim is well received by talmidei chachamim and baalei batim alike.
Rabbi Glenner is known for his detailed and meticulous eruv checks. With eye-opening regularity, he turns up critical details that others might overlook. Whether a switched wire, a hidden section of teluyah, the ramifications of a particular landform or an inconsistency of applied logic between eruv components. It has been said that it’s hard to declare an eruv unquestionably kosher until Rabbi Glenner has confirmed it!
Rabbi Glenner believes that community eruvin should be built to municipal construction standards, with a life expectancy of 30-50 years. The common standard of city eruv construction often falls far short of this, requiring repair on an almost weekly basis, while compromising shmiras Shabbos along the way.
Rabbi Moshe Russell
Director
Rabbi Russell comes to us after studying for twelve years in Eretz Yisroel, first at Yeshivas Heichal Hatorah under the leadership of Rabbi Tzvi Kushelevsky and then as a Kollel member for ten years at Yeshivas Mir Yerushalaim under the leadership of Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel Zatz’al. While learning in Mir Rabbi Russell received Semicha from Rabbi Meir Bronsdorfer Za’tzal . Rabbi Russell then accepted a position at Congregation Gemilas Chesed White Oak PA as the Education director, and shortly after assumed the Shul’s Rabbinic position as well.
While serving as the Rav, Rabbi Russell was able to gain shimush necessary for his role as the Director at Eruv Network, as checking and fixing the community Eruv was an important part of his Rabbinic duties.
Rabbi Russell’s goal for Eruv Network is to standardize Eruvin across the county as much as possible, and to encourage transparency, clarity and accountability for all Eruvin. Rabbi Russell is passionate about enhancing and strengthening Shmiras Shabbos in every community across the United States.
R’ Daniel Wechsler
Community Liason
R’ Daniel Wechsler is a visionary in Torah advancement who has spearheaded many initiatives on behalf of the legendary Madison Torah Projects program.
R’ Wechsler has worked tirelessly with many communities who were motivated to improved their eruv, but were unsure how to proceed.
Many of The Eruv Network’s advancements and accomplishments have been the fruit of R’ Daniel’s labor. His efforts, together with the Madison Torah Projects team, have immeasurably enhanced shmiras Shabbos throughout the country.
Our Partners
Rabbi Mordechai Paretzky
Eruv Construction
Rabbi Paretzky’s partnership with The Eruv Network was founded on a mutual passion for promoting shmiras Shabbos. Rabbi Paretzky is a highly-regarded eruv professional who will not rest until his cities are properly equipped for Shabbos.
Devoting most of his time to eruv construction, Rabbi Paretzky has partnered with The Eruv Network on dozens of projects. He is also supremely qualified in eruv checking and planning.
With years of experience in the field, Rabbi Paretzky is a wellspring of halachic information, including the opinions of poskim regarding virtually every possible scenario.
Rabbi Baruch Gore
Eruv Construction
Driven by his fierce devotion to shmiras Shabbos, Rabbi Gore devotes much of his time to eruv construction. He has served in various roles, including checking, repairing, and planning numerous community eruvin.
Rabbi Gore’s development of new resources for eruv maintenance and mapping has been integral to the success of The Eruv Network.
Examining eruvin throughout North America, Rabbi Gore enjoys analyzing the differences in their physical structure and layout.
Rabbi Gore has worked with The Eruv Network for many years as our East Coast emissary.