TOMS RIVER-This past summer, Orthodox Jewish residents living in the North Dover section of Toms River were granted permission by JCP&L to install a public eruv network in the township. The township council and mayor did not balk at the request as has been done in neighboring Jackson Township and a Toms River eruv was legally built by Orthodox Jews living in the community.
Today, police confirmed they are investigating the damage and removal of an eruv section from the utility poles. The police department acknowledges that portions of the eruv constructed were damaged by an unknown assailant.
Unlike neighboring towns, Toms River’s governing body decided that the township would not impose a ban or attempt to legislate the network of poles and wires and deferred the issue to the utility company who owns the poles. According to township officials, JCP&L permitted the eruv’s.
Police said at this time they are reviewing whether this would be considered a bias crime or a simple criminal mischief vandalism to the plastic piping.
