Friendship Grill, Damaged In Las Olas Chabad Arson, To Reopen Today
The arson at Chabad of Las Olas just can’t keep the friendship down. After closure due to extensive damage from the fire, the much loved Friendship Grill will reopen today, bringing with it the smiles and love that come along.
“The Friendship Grill, home base to our Life Skills & Job Training program for adults with disabilities in our community, is re-opening after the arson attack,” was the message posted to the Chabad of Las Olas Facebook account. “Please come show your support!”
As previously reported in JewishMiami.info, arson struck the Chabad Jewish Center in Las Olas, Florida in April after a transient man torched a vehicle outside the Chabad Center and damaged the building shabbos morning.
Home of Friendship Circle Life Skills Program, the building also houses a Shul run by Rabbi Chaim and Chaya Mushka Slavaticki, and is home to a holocaust Sefer Torah.
According to reports, Fort Lauderdale Police responded to the center Shabbos morning for a vehicle that caused damage to the building, when they arrived they found that the vehicle in question was the Rabbi’s wife’s minivan, which had been intentionally set on fire.
Video surveillance of the incident shows Scott Hannaford, who was later arrested and charged with arson, as he lit the van on fire where it was parked behind the building. Hannaford also attempted to do the same to the building but initially failed. Later, the fire from the van spread to the building and severely damaged the building’s kitchen. Smoke from the fire also permeated the entire building.
Join the Friendship grill at their Grand Reopening today, May 7th, at 12:00pm.
