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By: Fern Sidman
A devastating four-alarm fire tore through a historic New Jersey synagogue early Friday morning, reducing the more than century-old structure to rubble and forcing the rabbi and his family of six to flee for their lives, The New York Post reported on Friday.
The blaze ignited shortly before 3 a.m. at Congregation Beth El, located in a quiet residential section of Rutherford, according to a report on WABC. By the time firefighters arrived, The New York Post report noted, flames had already engulfed much of the building, and sections of the structure were beginning to collapse under the intensity of the fire.
Multiple fire battalions from surrounding Bergen County towns converged on the scene in a desperate bid to contain the inferno. Ladder companies were deployed to pour streams of water onto the remaining sections of the synagogue as thick plumes of smoke rose into the pre-dawn sky. Despite the coordinated effort, The New York Post reported that the blaze consumed the building so rapidly that it was declared a total loss within an hour.
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Rutherford Police Chief John R. Russo told reporters that the rabbi and his family — six in total — were inside the synagogue’s residential quarters when the fire erupted. “Luckily, they made it out alive,” Russo said, emphasizing the perilous nature of their escape. There were no reports of injuries among either the family or the responding emergency personnel.
Neighbor Frank Wilson told PIX11 News, in remarks later cited by The New York Post, that he was jolted awake by the commotion outside his home. When he looked out, he saw the rabbi leading his family to safety. “I saw the rabbi came to my house … he came with the family … and they came out just with their lives,” Wilson recalled, describing the harrowing scene.
The rabbi and his family reportedly arrived at Wilson’s home with no belongings, forced to abandon everything in their rush to escape the flames. The New York Post report noted that local officials have not yet confirmed whether the family will be able to recover any personal effects from the site, given the extent of the damage.
Congregation Beth El has stood as a fixture of Jewish life in Rutherford for over 100 years, serving generations of worshippers and hosting countless religious ceremonies, community events, and educational programs. Its destruction marks a significant cultural and spiritual loss for the borough.
While the building itself is gone, The New York Post reported that community leaders and congregants are already beginning discussions about how to move forward. Plans for temporary worship spaces and support for the displaced rabbinical family are expected to take shape in the coming days.
As of Friday afternoon, authorities had not determined the cause of the blaze. Fire investigators and local law enforcement are working to secure the site and begin a thorough examination of the remains.
Rutherford police have requested that anyone with information about the fire’s origin contact their department. The New York Post report confirmed that it had reached out to the Rutherford Police Department for additional comment, though no formal update had been provided.
The loss of Congregation Beth El has prompted an outpouring of sympathy from across Bergen County and beyond. Neighbors and local residents have expressed both relief that no lives were lost and sorrow over the destruction of a building that has been part of the town’s cultural fabric for generations.
According to the information provided in The New York Post report, several nearby synagogues have already extended offers of assistance, including space for Shabbat services and ongoing community programs, while members of the broader interfaith community have pledged support.
The fire that consumed Congregation Beth El has not only destroyed a physical structure but also left a deep emotional impact on the residents of Rutherford, who now face the challenge of preserving their heritage while helping the rabbi and his family recover from a night of sudden loss and narrow survival.