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Hundreds Gather for Prayer Service Outside Fire-Damaged Synagogue

By DNAinfo Staff on July 12, 2011 5:16pm  | Updated on July 12, 2011 9:45pm

By Olivia Scheck and Ben Fractenberg

DNAinfo Staff

MANHATTAN — Over 100 Congregants from Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue, the historic Upper East Side temple ravaged by fire on Monday night, gathered beside the burned-out building on East 85th Street for a prayer service Tuesday evening.

“A calamity, a disaster, is when bricks a mortar are lost, but bricks a mortar can be replaced, and buildings can be rebuilt, and schools can be reopen,” said Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, speaking to a somber crowd in front of the temple about 5:30 p.m. “And that’s what we are thinking about today even as we thought about last night.”

Rabbi Lookstein, who followed his father and grandfather as head of the temple, gave some reason to be optimistic, saying the Department of Building’s “first look at it suggested we may be able to save it.”

Rabbi Haskel Lookstein of the Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue on East 85th Street, July 12, 2011.
Rabbi Haskel Lookstein of the Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue on East 85th Street, July 12, 2011.
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DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg

“Even if it had to come down we would rebuild here,” he added.

The 110-year-old synagogue had been closed for construction since May 2, 2011. There was no one inside when the blaze broke out and all of the temple’s religious artifacts, including Torahs, had already been removed for the renovations.

Five emergency workers sustained minor injuries battling the fire, and the FDNY remained at the scene Tuesday afternoon to monitor the aftermath.

The Ramaz Lower School, which sits next door to the synagogue and is affiliated with it, is investigating the extent of damage from the nearby flames, according to a letter from the school administration that was posted on its website.

Congregants talked about the synagogue’s importance in the community.

"The synagogue has been for 110 years one of the focal points for modern Orthodox Judaism on the Upper East Side," said Jason Sugarman, 21, who has belonged to the congregation his entire life. 

Sugarman said that more than a place to worship the congregation provides social and educational programs the neighborhood depends on. 

"It's been a part of my life forever," said Upper East Side resident Irene Kofman, 65. "I wanted to cry [when I heard about the fire]. I couldn't sleep all night." 

The Department of Buildings said Tuesday that the synagogue and the adjoining buildings were structurally sound, according to a spokesman.

It was not immediately clear whether the building’s standpipe and sprinkler system played a role in the fire.

The building had been issued a work permit Monday to do facade work, according to the Department of Building's website.

The building had put in a permit request to modify their sprinkler system and their standpipe last week, according to the Buildings Department records.

Speaking Monday night, Lookstein said he had “complete faith” that the 1,200-member congregation would “rebuild what has been lost.”

And less than 24-hours later, the synagogue had already received an outpouring of support for the project, according to Kenneth Rochlin, director of institutional advancement for the congregation and a community member for 43 years.

“Many people have already dropped off checks, others have called and emailed offering their support,” Rochlin wrote in an email.

“At this time our priority is to help our community deal with the immediate emotional impact of the fire and to coordinate worship services for the High Holy Days and to determine how we will address the start of the school year,” he continued.

Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun had not yet determined whether the construction company that was overseeing the renovations, Pung San Construction Corp., would be involved with the rebuilding, according to Rochlin.

Services will continue to be held inside Ramaz (where they had been held during the construction) through Sept. 15, while an alternate space is arranged, Rochlin added.