June 26, 2026 Categories: News Briefs / On Campus / Education / Religion / Judaism
Princeton U. to Get 'Plastic' Eruv
Princeton University will install an eruv next week, allowing several dozen observant Jewish students to carry on Shabbat.
Jewish law prohibits carrying anything, even a baby carriage, unless there is technical boundary that transforms a public area into a private one.
Central Jersey.com reported:
The school said it was approached by Jewish students and others about having something that is in place in communities that are home to peer institutions of the university as well as in hundreds of towns nationwide where observant Jews live.A former Orthodox rabbi at the Center for Jewish Life, David Wolkenfeld investigated putting up an eruv five years ago but was told there was no feasible way to construct it. Princeton director of community and regional affairs Kristin S. Appelget explained that plastic tubing known as lechies would be installed this week on 60 utility poles, according to the website that either PSE&G or Verizon own., according to the website, Both companies gave permission to use their poles, something that other companies do not always allow. Below, an Allentown, Pennsylvania rabbis explains the eruv that uses utility poles.
