Built 1923 Opened 1923 Phone +1 732-545-6123 Added to NRHP 25 October 1995 | NRHP Reference # 95001189 Area 4,500 m² Architectural style Romanesque architecture | |
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Location 145 Neilson Street, New Brunswick, New Jersey Address 145 Neilson St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA Similar First Reformed Church, Henry Guest House, Simpson United Methodist, Buccleuch Mansion, Ephraim Fitz‑Randolph House | ||
Poile zedek synagogue fire new brunswick nj 10 23 2015
Poile Zedek Synagogue is a historic synagogue at 145 Neilson Street in New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States.
Contents
- Poile zedek synagogue fire new brunswick nj 10 23 2015
- Poile zedek synagogue engulfed in flames after fire breaks out in new brunswick new york s pix11
- 2008 cemetery vandalism
- 2015 fire
- References
The congregation was founded in 1901 by a group of merchants in downtown New Brunswick's Hiram Market district. Originally named the Independent Sick and Death Benefit Association of New Brunswick, the congregation moved to its current location in 1905 and at some point began using the name Poile Zedek ("Workers of Righteousness"). The cornerstone ceremony was held for a new building on August 19, 1923, and the building was completed in 1924. In 1995 the building was placed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.
On Friday afternoon, October 23, 2015, a massive fire broke out in the synagogue, gutting the building. The fire is believed to be accidental.
Poile zedek synagogue engulfed in flames after fire breaks out in new brunswick new york s pix11
2008 cemetery vandalism
In January 2008, almost 500 gravestones at Poile Zedek's cemetery (also used by Congregation Etz Ahaim, a Sephardic congregation founded by Jews from Salonica) were damaged in an incident of vandalism. Four local teenagers were charged and later sentenced to probation and community service in a juvenile court proceeding.
2015 fire
According to police, a large fire broke out on the first floor of the synagogue on October 23, 2015 at around 4:30 p.m., destroying all but the exterior of the building. One Sefer Torah was rescued by the rabbi before the roof collapsed. According to the congregation's rabbi, the external structure remains sound and the building may eventually be repaired. Religious documents and scripts damaged by the fire were later buried in the affiliated cemetery.