Boston Eruv FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Greater Boston Eruv Corporation
Celebrating 32 years of community service (1993-2025)

Over the years, many requests for information about the Eruv, how it was designed, how the permits were obtained, how the construction was accomplished, etc. have been made. It seems appropriate that answers to these and similar questions be placed here on the Eruv Internet site for all to share.

There have been individuals from around the United States who have heard of the Boston Eruv and want to build an Eruv in their own community. This is great, and I hope that the answers to the questions assist the reader in learning about Eruv and how to establish a Community Eruv.

Finally, remember that the answers to these questions reflect the Boston experience. The general themes should be applicable wherever you live; however, the specific implementation requires a local rabbinic consultant and adjustments to the approach as well.

The Questions

	How did you determine the borders?
	The critical element is to make sure that the borders are "defensible." That is, the borders should be composed of materials and constructions that are durable and stand little chance of damage over time. There are three types of borders we looked for in the design of the Eruv. These borders were chosen to balance the locations of the border with the population to be served. At some point, one may have to choose a practical border while still excluding a specific, small part of the community (which we later added to, such as additional homes or neighborhoods). In our case, we were able to add small adjunct sections to the Eruv at the time or just after the construction of the main Eruv. In other cases, small pockets of people living several blocks from any reasonable border remained outside the border. This issue was also raised in relation to the "inner borders." Any large noninhabitable area within the confines of the main Eruv must be excluded from the Eruv domain. Such types of areas include cemeteries, golf courses (if no one lives on the property for most of the year), and ponds or lakes (greater than 11,250 square feet with no Halachic mechitza/border existing around them - using a conversion factor of 18 inches for an amah over an area of 5,000 square amot). To construct a small Mechitza around these areas, several instances involved the removal of residential areas. Such cutaways of residential areas were minimized to the extent possible.
	What do you look for in outlining the borders?
	The major border of the Boston Eruv relies on the following typologies: Existing chain link fencing Existing utility poles (telephone/power/cable) Existing underground-fed concrete light poles Walls of existing buildings Slopes of earthern walls (as long as the slope is more than 22.5 degrees in the vertical direction)
	What materials do you use when gaps exist in the existing border?
	Depending upon the size of the gap, many types of solid materials are typically used. The critical consideration is that (1) the material used must reach up from the ground (or at least within about 10 inches of the ground) to at least 42 inches or more from the ground, and (2) the material should not have gaps within it which are greater than about 3-4 inches (e.g. netting with large holes in the netting or a ranch-style fence with more than 10.5 inches between the horizontal rails). In some cases, standard metal fencing can be used; in others, a short section of plywood or other appropriately sized lumber can be used. Still, in other cases, a short gap in an earthen-based Mechitzah can be closed off by filling in the gap with earth. Sometimes, the gap is most easily closed by placing a series of short poles in the ground, each within 10 inches of the next and at least 42 inches high, between each end of the gap. Alternatively, a Tzurat HaPesach (THP) can be built across the gap. This THP can be constructed (if the gap is only several feet and out of the public thoroughfare) using a pair of Lechis and twine or with a segment of half-inch conduit bent into an upside "U" and placed across the gap.
	Who did you need to get permissions from?
	You need to get permission from every organization or entity whose property you plan to use as part of the border of your Eruv. Now, if a fence is located along the rear of a building or a parkway and you are not modifying it in any way and the land is part of the city or state, we subsume the permission needed to "use" the fencing for the Eruv under the permission or "reshut" that is required to be obtained from the city, state, province, etc. If you are planning on placing any material (string, lechi, post, fence extension, board, dirt) on anyone else's property for the purposes of your Eruv, then you need their permission. This permission can be oral or written but it must be obtained. Some examples of organizations from whom we had to obtain permission: Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Verizon Communications (at the time, it was New England Telephone, then Bell Atlantic) Department of Conservation and Recreation (at the time, it was the Massachusetts District Commission, the Parks people) National Grid (then the Boston Edison Company) City of Boston Public Works Authority and City Counsel Town of Brookline Department of Public Works and Town Counsel City of Newton Department of Public Works and City Counsel City of Boston - Office of the Mayor Town of Brookline - Office of the Select Board City of Newton - Office of the Mayor State of Massachusetts - Office of the Governor (then Governor William Weld)
	How did you go about getting these permissions?
	You need to contact an individual in the area who handles permits and licenses. It is beneficial to try to reach someone reasonably technical (e.g., a town planning engineer) so that they can grasp the general idea of what you are asking for. You also need to contact the Legal Counsel for the organization, as they will be responsible for writing the legal permit that you and they will sign. There may be a fee for completing this permit phase. Generally, we were not charged since we established the Eruv Corporation as a public-funded, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Plan of having a cogent, well-written document that describes the following: What is an Eruv? Why do we need one? Who does it benefit? Who maintains it? Does it get in anyone's way once it is up? Who is liable if someone gets hurt because of it falling in any location along its route? Who is insured and at what level for the liability for the Eruv, if it causes damages to someone? Where has an Eruv been put up before, and who can be contacted about it?
	Who else "signed off" on the eruv?
	After all legal contracts with all the utilities, agencies, organizations, and all are completed, the "reshut" (permission) to lease the land located within the Eruv for a pretty long time (we used 99 years) must be secured. We created a certificate-sized document attesting to the fact that for the transfer of 1 silver dollar between the Greater Boston Eruv Corporation and each of the entities with whom we needed to create the lease, that the area within the Eruv would belong to the GBEC for only the purpose of carrying on Shabbat and Yom Tov that falls on Shabbat and Yom Kippur. This document and the silver dollar attached to its face (all within a nice frame) were ceremoniously handed to the representative of the relevant organization (e.g., a governor or mayor), and a "kinyan" was thus established. That is, the certificate was placed in the hand of the receiving individual, and they raised it up out of our hand signifying that they were taking ownership of the certificate and were agreeing to the terms written within the certificate.
	How much did the Eruv cost to build?
	Of course, each Eruv has its own specific cost; our initial cost was about $70,000 (in 1992 dollars), including all materials and labor. We needed many 24-foot-long 3-inch-diameter, galvanized steel pipes to construct our "tzurot ha-pesach" along the Massachusetts Turnpike and the MBTA train track (e.g., the Longwood Station area). This also required a significant amount of excavation as well as substantial amounts of concrete. In some cases, the pipes needed to be made of large pipe sections for the lower portion, providing stability, with somewhat smaller diameter sections welded to the top of the lower sections. This required special clamp sections and welding costs. Affixing the pipes to the concrete walls along the turnpike overpasses required that we fashion and build large metal clamps, which, together with Hilti-style bolts, were used to secure the pipes in their intended position. Lechi attachments were made to over 800 poles. Several lechis, slightly overlapping each other end-over-end as they snaked up the side of a pole, were required to reach from the ground to just under the relevant cable. The affixing of the lechi to the wooden utility pole required specialty nail fasteners every 3 to 4 feet. These "J" hooks were procured from electrical supply houses. Rental of bucket truck equipment for completing the aerial work was also a significant portion of the installation cost.
	What are the maintenance costs?
	The yearly operating budget varied between 1993 and 1999, ranging from a low of $20,000 to a high of $30,000 (not adjusted for inflation). Over time and with the expansion of the Eruv, the budget for annual expenses has increased. Both in 2024 and 2025, for example, the annual operating budget of the Eruv is approximately $75,000. The primary expenses we see during the year can be generally broken into the following categories (in roughly descending cost amount): Eruv inspector salary Weekly maintenance (including a retainer fee) Bucket truck rental (our contractor now owns a bucket truck so this cost is embedded in the weekly maintenance cost) Liability Insurance Workmen's Compensation Insurance Federal withholding taxes (Form 941) Fundraising Postage Photocopying Stationery Repair materials Phone VoiceMail account Internet domain Website hosting Below is a chart showing the funds raised by year between 1995 and 2025.
	How much money did you raise?
	This is a fair question. We tried to raise the money in advance of the first year that would cover two things: Construction costs (about $70,000) The first year of maintenance costs (estimated at $18,000) We did not raise the $88,000. We raised several thousand dollars less. As a result, sometime in the autumn of 1993, we ran out of money and had to start fundraising for the end of 1993 and all of 1994 immediately. After a few years, we balanced things out and now launch our fundraising campaign between late November and early December and try to raise all the funds for the succeeding year by March of the following year. We often collect most of the money by March and then have to send out reminders over the next three months (extending until June) to all those who have not responded and who we know still live in the community. Obtaining names and addresses for individuals who move into the community, so that we can approach them to solicit their contributions, is a continuing challenge. Over the years, we have transitioned away from paper envelope mailing to email and social media postings to notify supporters of our annual campaign. Between 1993 and 2006, all fundraising was handled through paper mailings of solicitation letters. Starting in 2007, we began requesting email addresses from contributors and synagogues to enable them to be contacted solely by email. The annual savings in mailing expense were approximately $1,000 to $1,500. Between 2007 and 2025, our online contribution rate increased from 12% to 86%. Currently, many contributors use our online giving platform, which supports PayPal, Venmo, Credit Cards, and "Digital Wallet", or donate using Donor Advised Funds and Stock Donation platforms. We also utilize Constant Contact to engage with our contributor base.
	How did you raise the money?
	A committee was formed to approach several individuals who could make substantial donations (>$5,000). The committee members were also successful at finding people who would donate $500 or $1,000. Others were asked to donate $250 to cover both the cost of construction and the first year's expenses. Some of the fundraising was done over the phone, some by home visits, the majority by letter. All donors at all levels were listed in the Eruv Manual that was produced and distributed to all contributors in December 1992.
	How did you select a construction company?
	Several individuals within the community who were involved in real estate development were asked to make recommendations. Other contracting companies that were cold-called were reluctant to bid on the project, as building an Eruv was not something they had done previously. After several rounds of working with contracting firms suggested by community members, we discovered an Orthodox Jewish electrical contractor from a neighboring community who was willing to take on the project.
	What did the construction company charge you?
	The project cost was in the range of $65,000 (in 1992 dollars).
	How long did construction take?
	Approximately 3 months.
	What are your typical annual operating expenses?
	The operating expense for the Eruv has increased between 1993 and 2025 due to a variety of factors. Of course, inflation has continued to affect our budget each year. In addition, we have increased employee salaries at certain junctures over the decades, maintenance work has become more expensive, and the replenishment of materials costs more. Our current expense budget ranges between $72,000 and $75,000, primarily depending on the quantity and complexity of repairs required during the fiscal year.
	Who inspects the Eruv?
	We have used a trained team of three individuals, two of whom work on any particular week. We have used both men and women on our inspection team over the years. One inspector drives a vehicle while the second, primary inspector is the passenger. The inspection requires a full day of work. On a regular week, the inspection is performed on Thursday, and the report of required repairs is sent to the contractor via text during the day as issues are discovered. A review meeting is held every Thursday in the late afternoon to discuss the issues found, ensuring a shared understanding of the situation. The inspectors are paid a part-time salary for their work. The standard IRS reimbursement rate is paid to the vehicle driver quarterly based on the number of miles driven for each inspection completed.
	How often is it inspected, what about bad weather or holidays which occur during the week preceding Shabbat?
	The outer border of the Eruv is inspected weekly. The inner borders around cemeteries and lakes/marshes/swamps are inspected at least once/month. The rationale for the monthly inspection is that the inner borders only need to be kosher for a majority of the year (i.e., more than six months of weekends). Thus, if we discover an issue during a monthly inspection of an inner border, we attempt to align that repair with other proximal repairs to reduce overall maintenance charges by the repair crew. If a Yom Tov occurs on Thursday or Friday of the week preceding Shabbat, the Eruv is inspected earlier in the week. For example, if Rosh Hashanah occurs on a Thursday and Friday, the Eruv is inspected on Tuesday, and the contractor completes the repairs on Wednesday. The assumption then is that the repaired Eruv is kosher for the ensuing three days. Our general guiding principle related to bad weather on Shabbat or just prior to Shabbat that could affect the kashrut of the Eruv has been to assume that the Eruv is kosher unless a critical event like a power outage or deep freeze or heavy snowfall has occurred over Friday evening that could have led to the invalidation of an Eruv twine or pole attachment. Over the decades, there has been little correlation between such weather events and the Eruv being found to have been damaged in the ensuing inspection the following week. However, our community norm is to err on the side of caution.
	How are people informed of the Eruv status?
	Phone status line - 781-446-9797 (service provided by Intelliverse) Website - home page of bostoneruv.org (this website - hosted by Ionos) Email - send to a Google group called boston-eruv (handwritten each week and sent out by the Eruv President) WhatsApp - sent to a group called Boston-Eruv (handwritten each week and sent out by the Eruv President) Last updated: May 27, 2025 (Omer 44 5785)

The Questions

Design

Permits

Fundraising

Construction

Maintenance