Stolen 300-pound menorah recovered in West Roxbury
Brookline police are investigating the theft of a 300-pound menorah stolen from Temple Emeth yesterday after it was found in West Roxbury.
Shortly after 6 a.m. yesterday, Boston police discovered the 6-foot-tall menorah, which has been on display at the Brookline temple since at least 1948, in West Roxbury at Church and Weld streets. The menorah, ripped from its place at the temple’s entrance, was returned. Police began searching for fingerprints and clues.
Rabbi Alan Turetz was shocked that the menorah — symbolic of the Jewish faith — was missing. He got a call from the temple’s executive director early yesterday about the theft.
“I was distressed by it,” Turetz said. “It was well into hundreds of pounds. Extremely heavy.”
Turetz said the statue, which is on display yearround, represents the light of the Jewish people. A second menorah is also on display at the temple’s entrance.
“It is emblematic of the temple. The menorah is biblical, emblematic of the Jewish people ... This temple represents the highest priorities native to the Jewish tradition — the practice, belief and desire to spread light to all good people. It is so desperately what we need in 2018.”
Brookline police say the statue may have been targeted by scrap metal thieves, but they aren’t ruling it out as a hate crime.
Turetz said he hopes that’s not the case.
“It was removed in a way to preserve the integrity for other purposes other than expressing hatred,” Turetz said.
Turetz said the temple would repair the hefty landmark.
“Our desire is definitely to repair and replace it,” Turetz said. “I’m an optimist. I do believe it will be repaired.”