Chester, NY – Menorah Candle Accident Destroys Rabbi’s House

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    Chester, NY – The home of Rabbi Nochum Laskin was destroyed by fire early Thursday morning. The cause was an oil candle in a menorah, according to fire investigators.

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    Firefighters were called to 22 Lincoln Road, in a 2 story development off Lakes Road and Wilson Road, just before 2 a.m. when they arrived, flames were already shooting through the roof.

    The rabbi was home with his wife, Beatrice, at the time. He tried to extinguish the fire and was treated for smoke inhalation.

    Chester firefighters transmited a 2nd alarm, and were assisted at the scene by firefighters from Monroe, Lakeside and Greenwood Lake, while Warwick and Goshen firefighters provided standby crews to cover the Chester firehouses.

    Laskin, the rabbi at Ahavas Torah in Monroe, was once principal of the now-closed Hebrew Day School of Orange County in Middletown.

    Neighbors said the couple is staying with family in New Jersey.


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    28 Comments
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    Why?
    Why?
    15 years ago

    Why are people careless during Holidays? Do they think rules of nature don’t apply during these times? Why are people not responsible? Fires can hurt people not related to you (neighbors etc).. One has to be extremely careful and think about others when doing ‘Mitzvahs’. It is amazing that people are zealous and foolish regarding ‘a Kosher Esrog’, Best Teffilin, Mehadrin this and Mehadrin that (can you say Cholov Yishmoel?)…But when it comes to daily items and special ones, especially when it comes to others the selfish ‘holier than thou’ attitude kicks in, and everyone is trivial – every man for himself. Shame on those that act in this animalistic way!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Another ‘holy’ fire, eh?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    do anyone knows if this rabbi laskin is the chaplin of the correction in upstate ?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Omein! Whatever happened to the מצות עשה מדאורייתא to be melamed zchus?!?!

    bp
    bp
    15 years ago

    Reply to #2 :
    According to your own comments, you are very selfish and act very animilistic with such irresponsible commentary.
    Have you not heard of an accident ?
    How about “Havei Dun Es Kol Hoodom Lekaaf Zechus”?
    Why judge somebody without knowing how it happened?
    Maybe he was careful and for some strange reason the candle flipped and fell off the silver foil onto something and caught fire quickly?
    SHAME ON YOU

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Yes, he is the chaplain upstate. Apparently they lit the candles after returning from a wedding and went to sleep.Not very smartyou should wait up the half hour to be yotzeh and then blow them out. Can’t understand why people just can’t get this through their heads. B”H no one was killed

    yes he is the chaplain upstate
    yes he is the chaplain upstate
    15 years ago

    and he’s a 1 man kiruv machine & his sons & sons-inlaw r marbitzay tora. Nebach Nebach Nebach

    Chuck
    Chuck
    15 years ago

    I’ve known Rav Laskin all my life, and he’s a shayner yid with a beautiful family. An accident is an accident, and no matter how careful you are, it’s still an accident. Instead of criticizing, how about we call his shul and find out what he needs?

    robroy560
    robroy560
    15 years ago

    How many times will this happen? Every year we learn of terrible situations like this.

    Please be careful. Once I light, I don’t leave the room – unless someone else is watching. We also keep the windows shut and drapes far away.

    Many of the candles today are cheap ones may in China. I cannot begin to tell you how many “dud” ones I have had from the China garbage.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Thank G-d nobody was seriously injured while trying to put out the fire. May their insurance cover the damage and build for them a beautiful new home.

    chakira
    chakira
    15 years ago

    This is such sad and terrible news. Rabbi Laskin is a tremendous תלמיד חכם and a wonderful person. If there is any way to help him rebuild I hope VIN publicizes it.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    nebech what a loss but at least everyone was saved

    aviva
    aviva
    15 years ago

    i think what ever happens is for the best & Hashem has His own ways to run this world but of course i not saying it was good what happen and also i would never go to sleep with my candles burning
    have a happy chanukah 🙂