A raging fire swept through a shul in Florida, leaving the building uninhabitable just days before the Yomim Norarim. The Chabad of Greater Orlando in Maitland was engulfed in flames around 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 22, prompting a response from more than 30 emergency units, the Seminole County Fire Department told McClatchy News. When firefighters arrived, they were greeted by “a column of smoke” billowing from the roof, officials said.
Rabbi Sholom Dubov of Chabad of Greater Orlando shared with McClatchy News that the shul’s security guard was the first to spot the smoke and immediately alerted authorities. “The entire roof had smoke coming out of different parts,” Rabbi Dubov explained. “It really went through the building really quickly.” Thankfully, no one was harmed, according to the fire department. Rabbi Dubov mentioned that the shul typically holds a Shacharis minyan concluding at 10 a.m., followed by a children’s program that starts in the early afternoon. The fire broke out between these events, leaving the building empty at the time.
Despite the extensive destruction, six Sifrei Torah were miraculously preserved, including one almost 200 years old that survived the Holocaust, according to Rabbi Dubov. He explained that the shul had recently acquired the Holocaust Torah as a donation, but it was being kept in his office because it was too large to fit in the aron kodesh. When firefighters entered the building, they found the other five Sifrei Torah in the main sanctuary unharmed as well.
Rabbi Dubov recounted the fire chief’s words: “I’m not a believing man. I’m not Jewish. I’m not a believer. But I saw a miracle.” Many expressed their gratitude on social media, with several commenting on the Seminole County Fire Department’s Sept. 22 Facebook post. One person wrote, “Thank you all for respecting the importance of this place to our Jewish community, and the Torah scrolls were saved.”
Rabbi Dubov indicated that the fire was caused by an electrical issue in the Yahrzeit board. Each name on the board has a light bulb that illuminates around the anniversary of their passing. Currently, 200 out of 300 names on the board are filled, Dubov shared. “They said it wasn’t faulty, so it wasn’t like something you could have prevented,” he added. The fire department has stated that the exact cause is still under investigation.
With Rosh Hashanah approaching on Oct. 2, Rabbi Dubov and other community leaders are working to find a solution for celebrating the Yomim Tovim. “That’s the biggest challenge right now,” Rabbi Dubov said. “We don’t have access to the building, we don’t have access to the books, we don’t have access to a location.” The Rabbi also mentioned that the fire destroyed the supplies intended for holiday meals that would have served over 300 people.
In a Facebook post, Chabad leaders wrote, “We are still processing everything and hope to update everyone on our immediate plans for services, classes, programs, and our Hebrew school very soon.” The post also announced that a fundraiser had been launched to support the rebuilding efforts. Rabbi Dubov expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support, saying, “We’re really grateful for the outpouring of support from the community. Jewish and non-Jewish people have rallied around and really encouraged us to continue.”
{Matzav.com}