Police in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey have just arrested a suspect for vandalizing the local Eruv. The suspect was caught in the act by an off-duty officer heading home from work on Friday afternoon.
This incident comes amidst an ongoing dispute between the town of Upper Saddle River and neighboring towns Mahwah and Montvale, all of whom have issued orders for the removal of the 26 mile Eruv that spans their jurisdiction.
The Eruv was installed by a group from nearby Monsey, New York. The South Monsey Eruv Fund says they received prior approval from the Orange & Rockland utility company to hang their PVC support beams on the company’s poles. The townships have contended that the Eruv’s design violates local ordinances regarding sign hanging.
On Wedneday, the Eruv received a temporary court order to repair several locations which were vandalized, despite the fast approaching township-ordered deadline for removal.
Local police are taking the reports of vandalism very seriously. Mahwah Chief of Police James Batelli said his department was considering the reports of vandalism on Wednesday to be bias related. Upper Saddle River Police Chief Patrick Rotella has instructed his department to be on the look out for possible hate, including vandalism on the streets and expressed in online forums.
A Facebook group called Mahwah Strong has more than 3000 members and was formed to act as ‘check and balance’ for Mahwah to enforce its ordinances.
Additionally, an online petition against the Eruv collected more than 1200 signatures before being shut down over hateful comments. “I don’t want these rude, nasty, dirty people who think they can do what they want in our nice town,” one of the comments reads.
Community leaders thank the local police and Chief Rotella for their assistance and zero tolerance for hate and bias while litigation on behalf of the Eruv is underway.
(Nat Golden – YWN)
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7 Responses
Can’t you put up an eruv without aggravating the neighbors? Do you own the streets? If people who have been living there for years don’t want to see pvc poles stuck on their telephone poles, for Heaven’s sake, try another way. It’s not anti-semitism on their part, it’s lack of mentchlichkeit on yours.
Nebach, they have to have pvc poles. Don’t you feel terrible for them?
They just dont want jews to move there.
No, sorry, if pvc poles bother you, it’s just too bad. You see, pvc strips are really not noticeable, and therefore, are really a smokescreen for your anti-Semitism. Oh, I forgot about the anti-Semitic hate that was spewed online and at the town meeting. Really now it has nothing to do with anti-Semitism? You could have fooled me!! You’re suggesting some mentchlichkeit? You’ve got to be kidding. Please go back to your pitiful hatful hole and leave us alone.
#1, Error (apropos name):
You’re 100% right! Those PVC poles must be the the most hideous objects on Earth! Why probably even more horrible than jack-o-lanterns and skeletons around halloween. And those utility poles they’re attached to must be so gorgeous!
So tell us how’s the weather on Mars this time of year?
I am no expert on eruvin which is an extremely complicated subject, but I do recall learning when I was young that when an eruv includes non-jews we need to ‘buy’ the right/get their agreement on the subject, which is usually done in the form of some deal with local government including a symbolic payment.
If I remember the above correctly doesn’t the mere fact that local government/non-jewish citizens object already invalidate the eruv regardless of it’s continued physical presence?
Keeper of the Keys:
To enact sechirus reshus they do not have to go to the local government, they can go to county or state officials.