A century-old synagogue in Rutherford, NJ, is gone after a fast-moving fire, leaving the community heartbroken but determined to rebuild.
In the still darkness of early Friday morning, tragedy struck Rutherford, New Jersey, as a ferocious four-alarm blaze consumed the historic Congregation Beth El Chabad, erasing more than a century of Jewish heritage in mere minutes.
At approximately 2:45 a.m., flames erupted on the building’s south side, quickly engulfing the structure. Inside, Rabbi Yitzchok Lerman, his wife, and their four children were sleeping in an apartment above the sanctuary. Woken by the orange glare of fire outside their window, the family grabbed their children and raced for safety.
“I turned around to save our Torah scrolls, but the flames had already swallowed the entire building. It was that quick,” Rabbi Lerman told The New York Times.
By the time firefighters arrived, the synagogue — founded in 1919 — was already beyond saving. Rutherford Police Chief John Russo confirmed the structure was a “complete loss.” The rabbi has pledged to work with firefighters to search for remnants of the sacred Torah scrolls, which will be buried in accordance with Jewish tradition.
The loss is especially bitter for the congregation, which had survived a 2012 Molotov cocktail attack that injured the rabbi then living on site. The perpetrator was later convicted in 2016.
While the initial investigation found no criminal intent, the devastation has left an emotional scar. “Congregation Beth El has been a pillar of the Rutherford community for decades,” said Russo. “Our hearts go out to them.”
Rabbi Lerman has launched a crowdfunding campaign to rally support for rebuilding the spiritual home that has stood for generations.
