Aware Buildings Launches First-Ever Electronic Monitoring System for Manhattan Eruv

Two-Year Project Deploys 142 Wireless Sensors Across 25 Miles to Safeguard Tradition

NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aware Buildings, a leader in long-range wireless sensors for leak detection and building infrastructure, has completed a two-year project with Manhattan Eruv, Inc. to create the only known eruv electronic monitoring system in the world.

An eruv is a symbolic boundary that allows Orthodox Jews to carry items and perform certain activities on the Sabbath that would otherwise be restricted. It is created by linking existing walls and utility poles with connecting wires. The Manhattan Eruv, established 26 years ago, runs from Battery Park up to 145th Street, covering a 25-mile circumference. To complete the boundary, 142 connecting wire segments—spanning in aggregate over five miles—were installed.

For almost two decades, a single rabbinic eruv inspector from Monsey, NY, working with Rabbi Adam Mintz, the Eruv Administrator, personally drove in from Monsey, NY every Thursday morning at 5:30 AM to inspect the entire length of the eruv looking for wire breaks. It is a three-hour task that requires expertise not easily delegated. "When I learned that the rabbi inspecting the eruv every Thursday had not been able to get away to take a vacation for 18 years because of his inspection responsibilities, I knew technology could help," said Jerry Kestenbaum, CEO of Aware Buildings. "This system shows how modern sensors can support timeless traditions and make community life easier."

How It Works

The system uses 142 tilt sensors, each mounted to a wire and tethered to nearby lamp posts. Every hour, sensors transmit their orientation along X, Y and Z axes. If a line drops or shifts due to a break, the sensor's position changes by 90 degrees, triggering an alert.
Notifications are sent by text and email to eruv administrators and to Spectrum on Broadway, the contractor responsible for repairs.

"With electronic monitoring, we now have greater reliability and peace of mind, without the burden of constant manual checks," said Rabbi Mintz, who has overseen the Manhattan Eruv since its establishment. "The eruv is central to Jewish life in Manhattan, and this system ensures it will always be ready to serve the community."

17 solar-powered cellular hubs across Manhattan ensure reliable communication to all 142 wire sensors. Aware Buildings first tested off-the-shelf wireless options—including cellular sensors, Helium, and Amazon Sidewalk networks—but none proved reliable enough. The company instead built a custom wireless hub network paired with a waterproof sensor design.

For the repair team, the new system is equally transformative. "We've repaired the eruv for years," said Joe Morra, President of Spectrum on Broadway. "With real-time alerts, we can respond faster, reduce disruption and costs, and ensure the eruv stays intact."

Religious Significance

Community leaders have welcomed the technology as a responsible step forward. "This innovation strengthens, rather than replaces, halachic oversight," noted Rabbi Ezra Sarna, Director of Halacha Initiatives at OU and organizer of the City Eruv annual conference. "It ensures the eruv remains valid while responsibly using modern tools to safeguard tradition."

Future Directions

With more than 5,000 eruvim worldwide, many in dense cities, inspections are often time-consuming and rely on volunteers. Kestenbaum sees Manhattan as a model for others. "There are more than 5,000 eruvim worldwide, many in big cities where weekly checks are difficult," he said. "Manhattan is the first to adopt electronic monitoring, but it won't be the last."

About Aware Buildings

Aware Buildings is a New York–based technology company at the forefront of smart infrastructure and IoT innovation. Since 2018, the company has specialized in designing and deploying long-range wireless sensor systems that deliver real-time visibility into critical building functions. Its solutions include leak detection, water metering, energy monitoring, and custom sensing platforms for high-rise buildings, utilities, and community infrastructure.

With expertise in developing sensors that operate in challenging environments - ranging from waterproof housings to solar-powered gateways - Aware Buildings provides reliable monitoring where traditional systems fall short. By combining deep engineering experience with a commitment to practical outcomes, the company helps property owners, utilities, and communities protect assets, reduce risk, and improve operational efficiency.

Media Contact

Batya Kestenbaum
Director of Operations, Aware Buildings
212-433-4444 ext. 101
[email protected]
www.AwareBuildings.com

SOURCE Aware Buildings