Historic New Jersey synagogue destroyed in massive fire as rabbi, family ‘luckily’ escape
By Richard Pollina
A historic New Jersey synagogue was engulfed by a four-alarm fire early Friday morning as a rabbi and his family of six “luckily” escaped the inferno.
The fire broke out just before 3 a.m. at the Congregation Beth El in a residential neighborhood in Rutherford, WABC reported.
When firefighters arrived, the building was already engulfed in flames, and parts of the building had started to collapse.
The remains of Congregation Beth El synagogue after a fire.
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A historic New Jersey synagogue was engulfed by a four-alarm fire early Friday morning.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
A rabbi speaks with a police officer in front of a fire-damaged synagogue.
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The synagogue was burned to the ground.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Multiple fire battalions from surrounding towns responded to the call and were seen climbing ladders to pour water on the remaining structure to control the flames as smoke billowed into the sky.
The structure was a total loss within an hour, said Rutherford Police Chief John R. Russo.
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He also said the rabbi of the synagogue and his family of six “luckily” made it out alive.
There were no reports of anyone injured in the blaze.
A large fire completely destroys Congregation Beth El synagogue in Rutherford, New Jersey Friday morning.
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A large fire completely destroyed the Congregation Beth El synagogue in Rutherford, New Jersey, on Friday morning.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
A large fire completely destroys Congregation Beth El synagogue in Rutherford, New Jersey, United States, on August 8, 2025.
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Firefighters battle the blaze with onlookers watching.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Multiple fire battalions from surrounding towns responded to the call and were seen climbing ladders to pour water on the remaining structure to control the flames as smoke billowed into the sky.
8
Multiple fire battalions from surrounding towns responded to the call and were seen climbing ladders to pour water on the remaining structure to control the flames as smoke billowed into the sky.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Neighbor Frank Wilson told PIX11 News he was awakened by the chaos and saw the rabbi’s family fleeing the blaze.
“I saw the rabbi came to my house… he came with the family… and they came out just with their lives,” he said.
The cause of the fire remains unclear.
The remains of a fire-damaged building emitting smoke.
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The rabbi of the synagogue and his family of six “luckily” made it out alive, officials said.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
Firefighters battling a large fire engulfing a building.
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The structure was a total loss within an hour, according to reports.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
The structure was a total loss within an hour
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There have been no reports of injuries from the blaze.
Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
The Post has reached out to the Rutherford Police Department for comment.
The synagogue has been an integral part of the community for more than 100 years.
It was the target of a firebombing in 2012, WABC reported.
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