By COLlive reporter
A fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the historic Asociacion Israelita Sefaradi Or Mizrah, an Orthodox synagogue in the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Shouts were heard at around 5 pm when many children were in class about a fire in the building. “There were many kids there and we succeeded in removing them all from the premises,” said Rabbi Mendy Mizrahi.
Police and firefighters rushed to the scene and were able to put out the fire. No person was hurt. “They started an investigation how the fire got started,” Rabbi Cohen told COLlive.com.
He said the fire burnt a social hall for young adults that was recently built on the first floor of the synagogue. “With Hashem’s help, the fire didn’t read the sanctuary where the Torahs are,” he said.
The Sephardic congregation is led by his father, Rabbi Shlomo Mizrahi, the Chabad Shliach and senior rabbi of the congregation for over 40 years. His sons Rabbi Mendy and Rabbi Avremi Cohen have since joined him to serve the large community.
Located in an area populated by many Jews, the synagogue has 3 minyanim a day, a study Kollel in the morning and evening, Bar Mitzvah classes and Tzivos Hashem youth programs.
This past month has been an eventful one at Or Mizrah with over 1,000 people joining davening on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. A day before the fire, some 500 people celebrated together Simchas Torah.
After hearing about the fire, community members showed up at the synagogue to offer their support.
“We are strong in our faith that everything that happens is for the good,” Rabbi Mendy said. “We will have to raise funds to renovate the hall and are certain that Hashem will bless us.”
Ahora Ciudad de la Paz y Monroe, corte total por incendio via @Cushing36756560 pic.twitter.com/4u0BcdpDP2
— Solo Tránsito↗ (@solotransito) October 23, 2019
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suddenly was all in fire