Nine Burned Sifrei Torah Buried in New Brunswick

Members of the historic New Jersey synagogue Congregation Poale Zedek in New Brunswick, NJ, along with Jews from all around the region, gathered yesterday to bury nine Torah scrolls and hundreds of books that were destroyed in a fire – along with the synagogue itself.

From VIN News:

An Oct. 23 fire destroyed the synagogue that opened in 1923 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. About 100 families belong to the Orthodox Ashkenazic synagogue.

Jewish law says that the objects must be buried if they are no longer in acceptable condition. The Torahs were placed in ceramic pots and then buried.

One Torah was saved in the fire.

No one was injured in the fire that officials say appeared to be accidental.

“After almost 115 years of enriching many lives, today has been the most tragic day in the history of Congregation Poile Zedek.  But our sadness serves as a source of strength. May G-d guide us and enlighten us as to the future of the Congregation,” said Reuven Dorfman, Executive Director of the Synagogue.

“With the help of the Almighty and the assistance of the Jewish Community, we will rebuild Congregation Poile Zedek and bring it to greater and higher levels of holiness,” stated the Congregation’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Abraham Mykoff.

The Rabbi rushed into the burning building on October 23rd and was able to save one of the Torahs.

The building was on the National and State Registers of Historic Sites since 1995, but Congregation Poile Zedek, which means “Doers of Righteousness”, dates back to the early 1900s. In its early years, most of its congregants were emigrants from Russia and other Eastern European countries. Today the Congregation is home to many Jews from the former Soviet Republics.

Photos by JDN