By COLlive reporter
A devastating fire early Friday morning completely destroyed the building of Chabad of the Meadowlands – Congregation Beth El – in Rutherford, New Jersey.
The building also served as the home of Shluchim Rabbi Yitzchok and Bina Lerman, who have long welcomed guests with warmth and hospitality.
“Thank G-d, in what can only be described as a true miracle, the Lerman family—six members in total—escaped just in time before flames consumed the entire structure,” their website stated.
Tragically, they lost everything in the blaze: their home, personal belongings, and the very heart of their community activities.
The fire broke out around 2:45 a.m. at the Montross Avenue property. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they were met with heavy fire and further challenged by live electrical wires down in front of the building.
The three-story structure appeared to collapse within an hour, and firefighters remained on-site battling hotspots. Three surrounding structures were also affected.
“There were six members in the structure. They were able to get out, but the structure is a complete loss,” said Rutherford Police Chief John R. Russo. No civilian injuries were reported, though some firefighters may have received treatment at the scene.
The building housed Congregation Beth El and served as the headquarters for Chabad of South Bergen County and the Meadowlands. The congregation has deep roots, dating back to 1919, and moved to this location in 1953.
This synagogue was previously targeted in a firebombing incident in January 2012. A 19-year-old man from Lodi was later arrested and charged for throwing Molotov cocktails into the rabbi’s second-floor bedroom, as well as attacking another synagogue in Paramus the week prior.
Although the cause of Friday’s fire is still under investigation, officials emphasized there is currently no indication that it was suspicious or related to the 2012 attack.
“It’s a very old home. It’s wood,” said Rutherford Mayor Frank Nunziato. “This is just a very old home that may just have burned down.”
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Saw this as I was going to bed and was so worried! BH
did they manage to save them bh they were ok
Please post link to the campaign
https://www.charidy.com /meadowlandsfire
You should have a beatiful 5 star Chabad house with Womans Mikvah, childrens faciltiy’s, Shul and it should be a beautiful shul!!
Can u send a donation page or go fund me
https://jewishrutherford.org
Please contribute at the link above.
He was my teacher in Morristown, I would love to donate can we get links for a Charidy or Cashapp?
https://jewishrutherford.org
Our friends and neighbors, the Lermans, have suffered a devastating fire that engulfed their Chabad house which is also their home. Please contribute at the link above.
https://www.charidy.com/meadowlandsfire
https://www.charidy.com/meadowlandsfire
https://www.charidy.com/meadowlandsfire
His clear explanation and reassuring words are helpful.
So many fires and attacks in so many locations all over the world now. Just because it was a wooden structure doesn’t mean it just had to burn down eventually. Old wooden buildings were very well made and extremely durable. I don’t think it should just be brushed off as inevitable occurrence. That’s pure nonsense.
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Just this building burns down in a fire so aggressive it consumes the entire structure in around one minute. And it’s because of ‘old wood’. Riiiight. Thankfully the family escaped.
It should be throughly looked into!