Fire Destroys Historic New Jersey Synagogue

A raging fire destroyed an historic synagogue in New Jersey just hours before Friday services.

The Poile Zedek Synagogue on Neilson Street in New Brunswick caught fire around 4:30 p.m. and firefighters battled for two hours to bring it under control.  No injuries have been reported.

One person was inside the building at the time the fire was reported, but managed to leave safely and firefighters said the synagogue's Sefer Trorah was rescued frrom the building.

Footage from News Chopper 4 showed firefighters pouring water into the building from three areas but flames were still shooting out of the synagogue's roof and windows. But by 6 p.m. flames were no longer visible as firefighters kept dousing water on it.

Nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution.

According to its website, the Poile Zedek Synagogue was built in 1923 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.  The synagogue attracts worshipers from the Russian and Ukrainian communities in Middlesex County and surrounding communities, the site said. 

Contact Us