From the Liveblog of
Friday, August 8, 2025
Fire destroys New Jersey synagogue; mayor says arson not suspected
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleA fire destroyed the Congregation Beth El synagogue in Rutherford, New Jersey, early Friday morning, US media reports.
Rutherford Mayor Frank Nunziato states that there are no indications that the blaze was intentionally set.
The community’s rabbi, Yitzhok Lerman, along with his family, were asleep in the synagogue’s apartment but managed to flee before the building collapsed, the rabbi tells The New York Times.
“We saw orange flames outside our window so we quickly grabbed our children and ran out,” he says. “I turned around to save our Torah scrolls, but the flames had already engulfed the entire building. It was that quick.”
The rabbi adds that Friday’s evening service was canceled, but its Saturday morning service will be held in tents on the property at 10 a.m.
BREAKING: Large fire completely destroys Congregation Beth El synagogue in Rutherford, New Jersey, on Friday, August 8, 2025. Early Friday morning a large fire destroyed the congregation at 185 Montross Avenue in Rutherford, New Jersey. Firefighters are battling the blaze with… pic.twitter.com/x9SkGaYp7k
— Kyle Mazza (@KyleMazzaWUNF) August 8, 2025
The Times of Israel Community.