Cambridge Eruv

We believe Cambridge is very well suited to having an Eruv around the entire City.

Due to the small size of Cambridge (total population 110,000), the issues relating to the definition of Reshus Harabbim are somewhat reduced.

The city also benefits from some significant existing infrastructure that surrounds the City, namely, the A14, the M11, the railway line, and of course, a river.

We have commenced discussions with the Executive of the City Council, and the City Council planning department, and the Greater Cambridge Partnership, on the basis of a Draft Proposal prepared by our Board.

We are in the process of arranging for a rabbinical survey of the various possibilities for the Eruv boundary, at which point we will be able to conduct a more detailed analysis with the City planning department, and other relevant owners of street furniture, such as the electricity company, and the Highways Authority.

The Eruv will be of great use to the elderly, the infirm and families with children on Shabbat, and greatly enhance the sociability within the City of Cambridge.

Once the rabbinical survey is complete, the Board will be opening discussions with the Student Society, and also the local Welfare Committee to co-opt a Student and a retired person on to the Eruv committee, as the Board believes that the Eruv will be of great utility and benefit to Jewish students, who live in a concentrated part of central Cambridge, and to those elderly who live in older terraced housing or in sheltered housing or care homes.

Cambridge is a global centre of hi-tech and the Eruv will attract further Jewish owned high-tech firms to locate in Cambridge.

Once the Eruv is established it will be under the regular supervision of our Communal Rav.

Useful Links

West Cambridge Master Plan

The North-West Cambridge Site