Eruv Information

Brookline, Brighton, Newton
The Greater Boston Eruv Corporation is responsible for the eruv covering major parts of Brookline, Brighton, and Newton (including a portion of the Nonantum section of Newton).  Contact GBEC for more information, including its status for the upcoming Shabbat.
Web Site:     http://www.bostoneruv.org
Telephone:   781-446-9797

Cambridge, Somerville
The North Charles Community Eruv, Inc. is responsible for the eruv encompassing portions of Cambridge and Somerville.  Incorporated in 1992, the eruv was completed in September 2002.  See the web site for information on the eruv's boundaries and supporting membership, as well as the status for the upcoming Shabbat.
Web Site:     http://www.nceruv.org
Telephone:    1-857-389-3788

Malden
Under Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Rabinowitz’ direction, and under the auspices and support of the Greater Boston Eruv Corporation, an eruv immediately surrounding Congregation Beth Israel in Malden became functional in June 2005.  An expansion is now being planned.  A map of the area currently included in the eruv can be found on the web page below.
Web Site:    www.BethIsraelMalden.com/eruv
Telephone:  781-322-5686

Sharon
The Sharon Eruv is under the supervision of Rabbi Meir Sendor of the Young Israel of Sharon and encompasses all three orthodox shuls in Sharon, as well as other congregations.  For more information on the eruv, go to the web page; call the telephone line for eruv status for the upcoming Shabbat.
Web Site:     www.yisharon.org/eruv.htm
Telephone:   781-695-0505

What is an Eruv?

An eruv is a symbolic act that allows Jews to legally do on Sabbath and festivals activities that are otherwise forbidden by Jewish law. There are eruvim (plural for the Hebrew word "eruv") for three types of activities: cooking on a Jewish festival for the next day's Shabbat, walking long distances from one's own home town on Shabbat or festivals, and carrying objects between private and public domains on Shabbat. When the term eruv is used, it typically refers to this last category, although the exact Hebrew designation is eruv hatzerot (domain eruv). The eruv legally allows halachically observant Jews to carry such items as keys, handbags, and diaper bags on Shabbat, and to push baby carriages and wheelchairs.

The symbolic act required to establish an eruv hatzerot is the extending of a wire or nylon cord around the perimeter of a community. The wire must be supported by poles of a specified minimum height; other physical requirements may apply as well. The practice today is that the wires are connected to telephone or utility poles. Establishing an eruv is therefore a complicated process involving municipal legislative bodies, utility companies, and religious groups. Jewish law requires that each section of the eruv be checked before Shabbat to make sure the wire is intact.

In the Greater Boston area, there are four eruvim. The first eruv, completed in 1993 after 10 years of planning, encompasses large areas of Brookline, Brighton, and Newton. This eruv was expanded in December 2002 to include areas of South Newton and is one of the largest eruvim in the United States. A second eruv is located in a section of Newton called Nonantum. A third eruv serves the Jewish population of Sharon. The newest eruv, which began operating in September 2003, covers areas of Cambridge and Somerville