Despite Fire, Chabad Hosts Successful Sedarim in Forshan, China

by CrownHeights.info

The Chabad Center in Foshan, China, lead by Rabbi Gadi and Avigayil Louzoun, was prepared for a large crowd this Pesach, with a complete shul, Sedarim prepared, and 120 guests expected. What they weren’t prepared for was a disaster, one that struck Sunday morning before Yom Tov.

“Early Sunday morning we received a phone call that the Chabad House was on fire,” Rabbi Louzoun wrote on Facebook. “The moments when we ran towards the Chabad House will probably be etched forever in our memories.”

Video from the fire shows as the building’s fire suppression sprinklers worked, drenching an upper floor of the Chabad center and spilling like a waterfall into the lower level.

The fire, and the ensuing damage, was a disaster, but with a miracle built in.

“However, the feeling of admiration and gratitude that the Torah books, the Holy Ark and the additional Holy Books remained intact and without damage filled our hearts with a warm feeling that our place is safe,” Louzoun said.

Not to let a small disaster ruin a Yom Tov, the Louzoun’s threw themselves back into their preparations, renting a beautiful location to host their Yom Tov services.

“We paid exorbitant amounts of money to use the place For the holiday and here you have a luxurious holiday table, an exquisite gourmet menu and four days of sheer unceasing pleasure,” they said.

The Yom Tov was a smashing success.