A fire broke out on leil Tisha B’Av at Khal Shaarei Torah in Los Angeles, causing major damage to the central portion of the bais medrash in front of the aron kodesh.
The blaze is believed to have been triggered by candles lit for Tisha B’Av that were located on the wooden steps leading to the aron kodesh.
The Shul’s Sifrei Torah, located in a safe within the aron kodesh, remained unscathed, b’chasdei Hashem.
The shul is located on North La Brea Avenue, between Oakwood and Beverly. Its mara d’asra is Rav Nechemia Langer.
Fire department personnel were contacted and quickly arrived at the shul, putting out the fire.
There were, thankfully, no injuries.
Due to the fire, davening today is being held on the shul’s simcha hall.
{Matzav.com}
How many such happenings need to happen from candles before people wake up and stop the practice??
Next time use the flashlight app
Why don’t they have a fire sprinkler system?
Unattended menoras, Shabbos licht in plastic cups, bedikas chometz with candles under couches, and now this…
In our generation, people aren’t used to providing light with candles, and don’t remember constant devastating fires, which used to level European shtetlach and great cities to the ground, every few years.
Candles are fine, but there needs to be a gabbai who makes sure that every flame is put out before leaving Shul. Our Shul, here in Brooklyn, only uses oil for the Amud during the week. Never on Shabbos or Yom Tov. It’s too risky.