Creating an inclusive campus community

The OU-JLIC Eruv project at UMass Hillel is made possible by the generosity of the following families: 

Jeffrey and Beth Adler

Anonymous

Ruth Fagen and Jeffrey Bocarsly

Hilary Dalin

Sharon and Steven Nachman

Joyce and Jeremy Wertheimer 

UMass Hillel and OU-JLIC at UMass are thrilled to be building an Eruv at UMass! After many years of planning, our Eruv is finally coming to fruition and will cast a 22-mile perimeter around the greater UMass campus, including the football field and extending into parts of Hadley. We are excited that UMass Amherst will soon be even more welcoming to observant Jewish students that call UMass their home-away-from-home. 

Building an Eruv is costly and requires permits and approvals from town and city authorities, licensing fees from utility companies, material costs, plus ongoing maintenance. We must raise $20,000 to begin the project this summer and are so close to our goal! Every gift makes an impact and helps support the Eruv and the OU-JLIC program at UMass. 

What is an Eruv? An Eruv allows those who observe the laws of the Sabbath to carry objects such as books, keys, food, and even push strollers without hesitation. Often times, students who require an Eruv are required to live near Hillel or Chabad to ensure they can comfortably join these communities over the Sabbath. In our experience, observant prospective students inquire about an Eruv at UMass to gauge whether the campus is a viable option for them to continue their religious observance while attending college. In the absence of an Eruv, students are often limited in their Jewish practice on campus. Many will simply choose a different University that has this structure already in place.