Neville Chaim Berlin,
“By definition, you can only build an eruv where the issue of hotzaah would be d’rabbonon. If it’s a reshus harabim m’doraysa, it would be unfit according to everyone.”
Simply incorrect. Most poskim maintain that a tzuras hapesach would downgrade a reshus harrabbim a reshus hayachid me’d’Oraysa. Only me’d’rabbanim do we require delasos. Furthermore, according to the overwhelming majority of poskim, if the area is encompassed by mechitzos it is irrelevant if there is a reshus harabbim contained therein.
“So, the discussion comes down to what makes something a reshus harabim. There are far more than 2 opinions.”
Correct, there is the criterion of shishim ribo, mefulash umechavanim, and if the area is encompassed by mechitzos. One would have to object to all these criteria in order to prohibit an eruv.
“On the one extreme, there is the “reshusei harabim literally don’t exist” crowd as you can see here.”
So the Rishonim and Achronim who maintain that there is no reshus harabbim today are just a, “crowd?” Why don’t you admit that the argument that these Rishonim are not referring to today, is simply faulty (for multiple reasons). Those making this argument never thought through the inyan. As the Chacham Tzvi stated, if today the Chacahamim did away with reshus harabbim, so be it.
“On the other extreme, there are those that reject the 600K definition which would make every single city eruv pasul (I assume this is the “anti-eruv” crowd people keep alluding to). L’maaseh you just have to go by what your mesora/rav says on the issue, ”
We follow the Rama who it was accepted allowed the criterion of shishim ribo (contrary to the Bais Meir). Furthermore, all the Rishonim of Tzarfas and Ashkenaz accepted the fundament of shishim ribo. This is our mesorah. Additionally, the Mishkenos Yaakov’s/Mishnah Berurah’s list has been superseded, the overwhelming majority of Rishonim uphold the criterion of shishim ribo. Even Rav Moshe accepted the criterion lechatchila. Furthermore, those who do not accept the criterion of shishim ribo, can rely on mefulash umechavanim, and mechitzos, to allow an eruv. They can also rely on that a tzuras hapesach would allow me’d’Oraysa, and medrabbanan we would not require delasos, as we can rely on shishim ribo.
“and you should know that there are some extremely far-out, non-mainstream opinions being shared on this forum and elsewhere on the internet.”
No there is only am haaratzes. I would love to hear the extremely far-out, non-mainstream opinions being shared on this forum.