Observing Shabbat and Holidays at Binghamton University takes motivation and effort but all the services and infrastructure you need are in place.

Binghamton University has always gone out of its way to accommodate the religious needs of its students; click here for a wonderful example of this. Classes are not held on Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur or the first two days of Pesach.

Chabad has worked for years in close cooperation with the administration to ensure the following:

Classes and Exams conflicting with Holidays
Accessing dorm rooms on Shabbat
The Shalom Staiman Binghamton University Eruv

Classes and Exams conflicting with Holidays
Observant students should carefully review their each syllabus and notify their professors about any conflict with their religious needs in advance, preferably during the first week of classes. Students will not be penalized for skipping class on Holidays (e.g Sukkot, Sheminit Atzeret/Simchat Torah and the second days of Pesach) but they must be prepared to make up all of their work, quizzes and exams in timely fashion as per professor's instruction. For students attending classes on Holidays please make sure to tell the professor or TA if you will not use the clicker to sign in. Students can obtain a letter attesting to their observance from the Chabad office.

Accessing dorm rooms on Shabbat
Shabbat observant students can obtain a manual key to use on Shabbat and Holidays instead of the electronic key card to access their dorms. The RA will request a letter from Chabad for this purpose. These letters can be obtained by filling out this form.

The Shalom Staiman Binghamton University Eruv
The Shalom Staiman Eruv, erected by Chabad, with great assistance from the Binghamton University Administration, and in cooperation with the OU-JLIC, encircles Binghamton University including UP and Hayes Housing communities and the Marriot Residence Hotel. The Eruv was funded by the Staiman family in loving memory of their husband and father, Mr. Shalom Staiman. A grant was also received from the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton.

An Eruv needs to be inspected weekly to make sure it is fully operational. Sections of an Eruv can be impacted by the elements and may need to be reconstructed. Sign up here to receive a weekly SMS about the Eruv's status or check this page. Please check that the Eruv is operational each Friday before Shabbat on our facebook page.

If you would like to join the group of volunteers who will inspect the Eruv each week, click here.

For more information on what an Eruv is click here

Below is a map of the exact area covered by the Eruv, put together by Josh Seed '16,