Leeds is set to be the second city in the north of England to house an eruv following a successful fundraising drive by the local community.
Over the weekend, nearly 900 donors chipped in a total of £156,000 to help fund the construction of an eruv, an idea which has been in the works for more than ten years.
Including donations made prior, the Leeds Jewish Community has now raised more than £180,000 for the project, enough for construction to finally begin.
While the majority of donors have come from within the community, contributions were also made from London, Liverpool, Manchester, the US, Canada, Israel and Europe.
A charitable foundation, The Leeds Eruv, has been formed to manage and maintain the project, and planning permission for construction has already been attained from Leeds City Council.
Trustees at the foundation believe the eruv will be a “game changer” for the city and hope it will entice Jewish families across the UK to consider Leeds as a place to live.
Leeds Eruv Chairman Jonathan Straight, who has been spearheading the project since its inception 12 years ago, told the JC: “The eruv will be a game changer for us. I think it makes us a viable destination for Orthodox families.
“We’ve had people who are very committed leave the Leeds community because there hasn’t been an eruv. People have gone over to Manchester because it’s easier for them to have their young kids where they can push them on a push chair.
“Now, I very much hope that the eruv will attract people to come to our community.”
While a date for the eruv’s completion is yet to be confirmed, Mr Straight is hopeful that it will be ready by at least the end of the year.
Mr Straight added: “We have all the other elements in place – a school, a bakery, synagogues, a mikvah, a butcher.
“The eruv is the last piece of the jigsaw – it’s the piece that tells the world we’re on the map, we have a community that matters, come and join us.
“It’s not all about London and Manchester, Leeds is a great place to live as well.”
Donations to The Leeds Eruv charitable foundation can be made here.
