Brooklyn, NY – The leadership of the Satmar community, gathered this afternoon at the Satmar Congregation Headquarters at 150 Rodney Street in Williamsburg to express their gratitude on behalf of the thousands of members of the Satmar sect to the valiant firefighters who rescued three Torah scrolls from a burning synagogue in the pre-dawn hours this past Sunday morning.
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Being honored at today’s gathering are Brooklyn Fire Chief James Leonard, Battalion Chief James Yakimovich, who personally braved the flames of the burning synagogue to rescue the holy Torah scrolls, and other FDNY members who risked their own lives to save the synagogue’s precious Torah scrolls.
“These brave men deserve special recognition for endangering their own lives in order to rescue the holiest of holies, the Torah scrolls from the raging inferno,” R’ Saul Perelstein, Vice President of the Satmar Congregation.
Over one hundred firefighters from the Brooklyn area responded to the two alarm blaze which broke out at approximately 4:30 AM at the Congregation Satmar Shul on South 8th Street in Williamsburg. Many volunteers from both Hatzalah and Shomrim assisted the FDNY, evacuating residents who lived both adjacent to and immediately above the burning synagogue. All residents were safely removed from the scene as were three extremely valuable and sacred Torah scrolls that were rescued from the blaze by the FDNY. Each scroll, which is valued at approximately $40,000, is handwritten by a specially trained scribe, a process which takes an entire year to complete. Hundreds of religious articles including documents and phylacteries were destroyed by the fire, with damages estimated to be over $100,000.
The Congregation Satmar Synagogue was completely destroyed in the horrific fire and it is expected to relocate their prayer services to the main Satmar synagogue, located at 152 Rodney Street.
satmar knows there business…..we learn from Moisha Rabeinu what it means
hakoras hatove , it;s very a importen lesson in life
hashem yeshmorainu
it’s a true kiddush hashem showing that yidden have the midah of hakoras hatov. although the fire fighters are doing the job they’re being paid for, there are still situations they can avoid going into if they feel uncomfortable.
by showing them appreciation, they’ll be encouraged to beyond the letter of the law and do their best to save lives and valuables.
Is yakimovich jewish? Either way I think they have some big rewards waiting for them after 120
Brave Fire Fighters save Torah scrolls. What does NYPD have to do with this? Why NYPD Cpt Mike Kemper got the plaque? (You see Mike on the upper picture standing next to Fred Kreoizman.)
Very nice, maybe next time they will honor the YIDDEN soldiers who protect them, their wives and children in Eretz Yisroel.
I’m not from NYC but the article seems to suggest that there are two Satmar shuls right next to one another so that those who davened at the shul where the fire occurred can simply relocate to the “main shul”. Is it close enough to be able to walk within t’chum shabbos.
Never underestimate the determination of FDNY to get to and safely remove sacred religious articles when there is a fire. The FDNY memebers respect the religious value (not just in $) of these items to the members of the communities where the fire may be. The gratitude shown by the Satmar community is very appropriate.