A ceremony was held on Wednesday April 17th at the Misaskim Headquarters in Brooklyn to honor the New York Fire Department’s brave work during a fire at the home and synagogue of Rabbi Chanoch Ashkenazi earlier this month. Chaim Deutsch, Democrat City Council candidate for the 48th district, attended the event to pay tribute to NY’s bravest.

The fire, which happened on April 4th, destroyed the synagogue located on East 27th Street between Avenue J and K, just before 10:00 AM that morning. Though the building was virtually destroyed, several Torah Scrolls were saved by the FDNY.

After fighting off heavy flames and intense heat, the firefighters entered the smoldering building to extinguish the fire. Miraculously the fire fighters saved the synagogue’s four torahs that were recovered unscathed.

“A couple of minutes into the operation, we found out where the torahs were. The guys went in there, and we did remove them safely,” Chief Matthew Nelson of the FDNY told ABC News shortly after the fire.

The synagogue was home to the community’s orthodox Jews for nearly 40 years. Losing the building has dealt an emotional blow to the community, but they are immensely grateful for the work of the fire department.

Chaim Deutsch said, “The FDNY risk their lives each and every day for all New Yorker’s and I praise them for the courageous work they do on our behalf. We must continue to advocate and fight the administration against any future fire house closures.”

Attached photograph, pictured left to right: Chaim Deutsch and Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano.

(YWN Desk – NYC)