Message from the President: Our 2025 fundraising campaign ended May 31. You can still donate online (Credit Card, PayPal, Venmo, Donor Advised Funds, Check, ApplePay, GooglePay) using the GiveButter button below:
Our Mission: We operate and maintain the Greater Boston Eruv, one of the largest Eruvim in the world. The Eruv allows people within its borders to carry objects with them on the Shabbat, an activity that would otherwise be proscribed by Jewish law.
Our Scope: The Greater Boston Eruv covers major parts of Brookline, Newton, and Brighton. An initial extension of the Eruv to include 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 the Newton area. We also manage the Malden, MA (extended in December 2014) and the Brandeis University Eruv (which was extended into Waltham during the Fall of 2015). Beginning in 2014, we began two simultaneous projects, one to extend the Eruv into more of South Brookline and, for the first time, into West Roxbury, and a new Eruv on the North Shore (Marblehead, Salem, Swampscott). Our new South Brookline/West Roxbury extension was ready for service as of Erev Yom Kippur 5777. Our Swampscott Eruv (Phase 1) went online in the Fall of 2016.
To subscribe to our Weekly Eruv Status mail list, please send us an email.
April 17, 2024 - Dr. Jesse Hefter and Rabbi Meilich Horowitz perform the Eruv Chatzeros for the upcoming year just prior to Pesach.
Rabbi Moshe Heinemann (r) and Dr. Jesse Hefter surveying a portion of the proposed Eruv in the late 1980s
Fundraising for our 2025 campaign (our 32nd year) is over.
If you have not heard from us recently, please contact us as soon as possible.
We need everyone's participation! And remember... the Eruv is not a free service.
Our 2025 fund raising letter is available. (Requires Adobe Reader, do you need it?: Get it here).
Need our physical street mailing address? Use the Contact Link to the left...
If you have a Donor Advised Fund, you can contribute to the Eruv using the form below or through GiveButter (Icon above):
NEWS!
October 5, 2025 - Natick Eruv Project
Rabbi Levi Fogelman, the leader of Chabad of Natick, asked if there was a way to erect an Eruv around the Chabad campus, particularly so that congregants could carry on the premises when outside the shul and playground areas. A significant portion of the property is surrounded by an existing metal fence, but there were parts that were open. The Greater Boston Eruv Corporation volunteered to help build three Tzurot HaPesach that would close the existing gaps. One trip to Home Depot was required to collect all the needed parts, and the work was completed over several hours.
September, 2025 - Eruv Audit of the Brandeis Eruv
Several visits were made to Waltham, MA (home of Brandeis University) to perform an annual audit of the overall campus Eruv, which also extends into a section of the surrounding city of Waltham. Rabbi Joel Finkelstein (current OU-JLIC) and Rabbi Seth Winberg (Campus Jewish Support) accompanied Boston Eruv President, Dr. Jesse Hefter, to review every attachment and installation. Several issues were identified and rectified. The students who perform the weekly inspections were briefed on the specific changes made, so they know exactly what to inspect and how it should look.
April 8, 2025 - Eruv Chatzerot for the Boston Eruv
It was a pleasure to meet with students at the Minyan at Brandeis together with Rabbi Ariel Cohen to perform an Eruv Chatzerot for the upcoming year. Dr. Hefter provided a context for the ceremony pointing out that, in addition to requiring that the mechitzot that form the local Eruv are in acceptable status, it is also required that some food be placed in a common area that is accessible to anyone who might need it for the Shabbat. This requirement represents a physical aspect of the ceremony.
April 4, 2025 - Eruv Chatzerot at Brandeis University
It was a pleasure to meet with students at the Minyan at Brandeis together with Rabbi Ariel Cohen to perform an Eruv Chatzerot for the upcoming year. Dr. Hefter provided a context for the ceremony pointing out that, in addition to requiring that the mechitzot that form the local Eruv are in acceptable status, it is also required that some food be placed in a common area that is accessible to anyone who might need it for the Shabbat. This requirement represents a physical aspect of the ceremony.
February 8, 2025 - Community Update
Dr. Jesse Hefter, President of the Greater Boston Eruv Corporation has been asked by the leadership of the Maimonides Kehillah to provide an update to the community about the Eruv. On Shabbat Beshalach/Shirah, following the Kiddush Shabbat morning, Dr. Hefter will speak on "Banding bandits and tattered twines: Weekly inspection of our Community Eruv". He will discuss some of the recent challenges the inspection team has encountered during their weekly inspections and provide some highlights about the OU Eruv Conference that he attended in the Fall of 2024.
You can see a PDF of the presentation at the following link.
January 5, 2025 - Natick Eruv Project
Under the direction of Rabbi Levi Fogelman of the Natick Chabad House and a group of interested baalei batim, we met in the field to review a preliminary border design for an Eruv in the Natick/Framingham area. The precise borders are still being worked out and we have established a prioritized list of action items. During the inspection of the area, we came upon a Revolutionary War-era burying ground that will need a mechitza to demarcate it from the proposed Eruv area; a design for such an internal border will have to be initiated. We hope to make more progress over the coming weeks.
Repairs: The Eruv is repaired by Dan Strom of Strom Electric. Follow the link to reach a reliable, friendly, and competent electrician!
Tree Services: We have been fortunate to work with the good folks at BrightView Tree Care Services when a hard-to-reach twine crossing (usually with tree branches in the way) needs to be rebuilt. If you ever need tree care services, please consider reaching out to them at www.brightview.com.
To subscribe to our Weekly Eruv Status mail list, please send us 
October 5, 2025 - Natick Eruv Project
