Man Accused Of Damaging Jewish Structure Has Ties To Local Temple

SHARON, MA — The Sharon man who allegedly damaged a Jewish structure known as the Eruv was once a member of the synagogue responsible for maintaining the line and has a Jewish mother who is a member of the temple, according to court documents.

Yerachmiel “Rocky” Taube, 28, was arraigned in Stoughton District Court Monday and pleaded not guilty to threatening to injure a church, defacement of property, disorderly conduct, and a civil rights violation. He was ordered held on $2,500 cash bail and was ordered to remain on GPS monitoring for the duration of the case with Young Israel of Sharon, the temple which maintains the line, as an exclusion zone. He was also ordered to stay away from the Eruv and the Massapoag Trail.

Young Israel of Sharon Rabbi Noah Cheses told Sharon Police in January that someone had been cutting sections of Eruv , which is a critical piece of infrastructure for the Orthodox Jewish community and defines the boundaries of their community, since September. By May, police learned that not only was someone cutting the line, they were taking off boards and breaking them, according to a police report.

On June 1, a camera was installed along the Massapoag Trail which took a photo every three seconds. A suspect was caught on camera a day later and an officer was able to identify the man as Taube, a former member of Young Israel of Sharon and the son of a current member. Footage from the camera allegedly showed Taube cutting the line.

While searching his home, police allegedly found clothing matching what Taube wore on camera. String found by officers matched that of the Eruv and was confirmed to be from the line by Cheses.

Following the arraignment, Cheses called the situation a difficult and delicate issue for the Jewish community of Sharon and was praying that Taube would be able to get better.

“We hope that he will be able to embrace the rehabilitation that he needs and will be able to heal from the anger he has, that he will be able to accept the support he deserves,” Cheses said to reporters outside the courthouse.

Taube is due back in court July 31.

Image Credit: Dan Libon