9:00PM EST: [VIDEO & PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] The FDNY is currently battling a large fire in a Manhattan synagogue. The fire is in the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue, on East 85th Street near Park Avenue. The FDNY reports that there is fire throughout the 3-story structure, and has called a 4th alarm. They have removed all fire personnel from the building due to the heavy fire conditions, and instead moved to what is referred to as an “exterior attack”.
Flames could be seen shooting out of the top of the synagogue on East 85th Street at 8:30 p.m.
According to WABC, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun had been having work done on it’s sanctuary. Members had been worshiping across the street since May.
As of this posting, there are no injuries to report.
Numerous Hatzolah Ambulances, FDNY EMS, NYPD, and OEM are on scene.
Wikipedia: Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun (KJ or CKJ) is a Modern Orthodox synagogue, located on East 85th Street on the Upper East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan. The synagogue was founded in 1872. The synagogue is closely affiliated with the Ramaz School which shares a building with the lower school and is across the street from the middle school.
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(Dov Gordon – YWN)
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3 Responses
If work is being done on the building, let us pray that B’H’ all of the Torah scrolls and seforim had already been moved across the street where they are now worshipping.
no injuries???
what about that firefighter on a stretcher???
All the torahs, siddurim and sepharim were removed when they started renovations.
It’s so sad. This was such a magnificent shul (albeit that I don’t subscribe to the hashkafa).