May 19 - Shabbat Behar-Bechukotai - Mvorchim Sivan - To Be Checked...
The Greater Boston Eruv Corporation is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Greater Boston Eruv, one of the largest Eruvim in the United States. We cover major parts of Brookline, Newton, and Brighton. An initial extension of the Eruv to Nonantum (See the map!) was followed by expansion into most of South Newton. During Sukkot 5766, we completed a third extension to the Eruv that includes a significant portion of Boston University. In 5771, we added another small section in Newton. Send comments or questions this way!
Fundraising for our 2012 campaign (our 19th year) is nearly complete; have you responded yet! If you didn't hear from us in 2012, please contact us!
Our fund-raising request letter is available online. (Requires Adobe Reader, do you need it?: Get it here).
Need our physical street mailing address? Use the Contact Link to the left...
By the way, you can always use our secure Paypal link to make your contribution to the Eruv!
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Rabbi Moshe Heinemann (r) and Dr. Jesse Hefter surveying a portion of the proposed Eruv in the late 1980s
Eruv Chatzerot - April 3, 2012
NEWS!
On Wednesday, May 9th, the Maimonides School sixth grade culminated its Eruv unit with a discussion about the Halachot and history of the Boston Eruv, led by one of its founders, Dr. Jesse Hefter. This unit was undertaken in conjunction with the recent "Shabbat HaEleph," the 1,000th Shabbat since the Eruv was founded. During the discussion, Dr. Hefter made use of a scale model of the Boston Eruv, constructed by Mrs. Miriam Spear, together with a group of Maimonides students. After the fascinating presentation, Dr. Hefter led the sixth graders on an off-campus walking tour to see parts of the Eruv firsthand. It was an enjoyable learning experience for everyone involved. (from Maimonides School Middle School Matters)
May 4-5, 2012 - Eruv 1000 festivities continue at the Maimonides Kehillah.
Younger-grade children assembled on Erev Shabbat to build a large Eruv map (it was showcased during Kiddush Shabbat morning). See the Eruv model.
Rabbi Jaffe presented a Dvar Torah on 'Eruvin and Urban Highways' after Kabbalat Shabbat
Dr. Hefter presented a talk after Shabbat morning Kiddush entitled "Trails and Trials - Building the Boston Eruv (1984-1993)"
Kehillah members gathered for a "Walk the Eruv Border" Shabbat afternoon at which time we followed about 1 mile of the border. For nearly all the participants, this was the very first time in their lives where they actually saw how an Eruv is built and what its elements actually look like.
March 31, 2012 - Shabbat Hagadol 5772 was the 1000th Shabbat since the Boston Eruv was placed into operation. The event was marked at the Young Israel of Brookline where Dr. Hefter, President of the Eruv, shared personal reflections with the Kehillah of his involvement in the Eruv over the years integrated with Divrei Torah related to Pesach. Here is a great article from the Jewish Advocate newspaper that highlighted this special anniversary.
March 2012 - A new Eruv in England! - see the links page.
November 2011 - Rabbi Heinemann visits Marblehead/Swampscott to review proposed Eruv; the plan looks good.
September 2011 - Final review of plan for Marblehead/Swampscott Eruv Design.
January 2011 - Working with a team in Marblehead/Swampscott on the initial stages of an Eruv design.
November 2010
Newton MA: Completed expansion of Eruv in the Langley Road area to include more homes and to simplify weekly inspection. Please see the "MAP" page for more details.
Newton, MA: Completion of 2 new Tzurot Ha-Pesach on Erev Shabbat VaYishlach. We are using special lechiim and overhead line to accommodate the request of the hotel. Looks cool.
New Bedford, MA: The announcement of the impending closing of the Agudas Achim synagogue has stopped the Eruv project at this time.
September 2010 - Newton, MA: Successful meeting held with representatives of the company that operates the Crowne Plaza. We now have a plan for re-installing our extension to the Eruv that will enable people staying in the hotel for Shabbat to carry from the hotel to Newton (the southern side of the hotel).
May 2010 - Boston MA - Rabbi Zalmen Leff of the Boston Academy of Talmudic Research requested a tour of the Eruv in order to provide a key practical link between the topics of Eruvin that the Kollel students are studying and an actual urban Eruv. See some pictures! We were able to review about 25% of the border - more to come...
May 2010 - New Bedford, MA - Met with Rabbi Barry Hartman, Mayor Scott Lang, and city officials to move the plan ahead for submitting an application for a Permit to erect an Eruv.
Camp Ramah - Palmer, MA
June 2009 - GBEC consults and assists in completion of new Eruv. Phase II (the A-side of camp completed 6/12/09) - Read an article about the project.
June 2009 - GBEC consults and assists in construction of new Eruv for Camp Ramah, Palmer, MA. Phase I (the B-side of camp completed 6/5/09)
April 2009 - GBEC erects temporary Eruv at Camp Ramah - New England (Palmer, MA) for a Maimonides High School Shabbaton. (The Camp's Summer Eruv is quite large and not yet ready for this season.)
On Wednesday, May 9th, the Maimonides School sixth grade culminated its Eruv unit with a discussion about the Halachot and history of the Boston Eruv, led by one of its founders, Dr. Jesse Hefter. This unit was undertaken in conjunction with the recent "Shabbat HaEleph," the 1,000th Shabbat since the Eruv was founded. During the discussion, Dr. Hefter made use of a scale model of the Boston Eruv, constructed by Mrs. Miriam Spear, together with a group of Maimonides students. After the fascinating presentation, Dr. Hefter led the sixth graders on an off-campus walking tour to see parts of the Eruv firsthand. It was an enjoyable learning experience for everyone involved. (from Maimonides School Middle School Matters)
March 31, 2012 - Shabbat Hagadol 5772 was the 1000th Shabbat since the Boston Eruv was placed into operation. The event was marked at the Young Israel of Brookline where Dr. Hefter, President of the Eruv, shared personal reflections with the Kehillah of his involvement in the Eruv over the years integrated with Divrei Torah related to Pesach. Here is a great article from the Jewish Advocate newspaper that highlighted this special anniversary.