Despite their synagogue being reduced to ashes, the members of Congregation Beth El in Rutherford, New Jersey, gathered for their regular Sabbath service on Saturday, expressing gratitude that no injuries occurred and committing themselves to rebuilding their place of worship.
Over 100 congregants prayed outdoors beneath large white tents erected near the blackened remains of the building, reflecting on both their loss and their survival. They carefully brushed soot from their seats as the noise of heavy machinery dismantling the ruins echoed nearby.
Rabbi Yitzchok Lerman addressed the assembly, lamenting the loss of seven Torah scrolls, which were completely destroyed. He expressed deep relief and gratitude for the safety of his family and himself.
The fire broke out in the early hours of Friday within this residential area of Rutherford, a community in Bergen County. Rabbi Lerman, along with his wife and four children, escaped without harm. Authorities are investigating the cause, though officials have indicated there is no evidence of foul play.
By the time firefighters arrived, the synagogue was fully engulfed in flames, with parts of the structure already beginning to collapse.
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