The UK’s largest eruv is to become operational affording thousands of Manchester Shabbat observant Jews life-changing facilities.

The 13-mile halachic perimeter, under the Manchester Beth Din, will be operational from January 11. It is slightly larger than any London eruv and covers Salford, Prestwich and Crumpsall, the major centres of Manchester Jewry.

Manchester’s largest Jewish care home and welfare centre at Heathlands Village, the King David schools complex and Maccabi community centre are included, potentially opening communal venues for Shabbat activities.

The 10-year project is the UK’s technically most complex, cutting across three boroughs, and was completed last week. It required 10 days to be inspected by internationally renowned eruv experts from Jerusalem.

Eruv committee chair Shimmy Lopian said the eruv will be a life-changer “making Shabbat more lively for families able to be more involved in shuls and go to the park, while disabled people can go out in wheelchairs”.
Manchester’s first eruv, covering the Whitefield community, went live last month.