On the smoldering ashes of his shul and home, Rabbi Yitzchok Lerman is rebuilding from the ground up
Four cars were destroyed in the shul driveway. One of the rabbi’s cars survived, but the key was destroyed. His extensive seforim collection was no more. The megillah, the succah, all the kids’ school supplies and uniforms that had just been purchased… the list keeps growing. Items that are taken for granted, until they are gone.
Nevertheless, Rabbi Lerman’s first priority was to rebuild the minyan, to strengthen the community, and to make it clear to all members that they would prevail.
“I told the police that we would have a minyan on Shabbos right in front of the churban,” he said.
The town set up a tent, a Passaic-based gemach sent tables and chairs, the Chevra Kaddisha lent siddurim, and Clifton loaned a sefer Torah. On Shabbos morning, 70 people turned out for the minyan. Surrounded by reporters from the New York Times and other outlets, Rabbi Lerman spoke, tearfully, to his still shell-shocked flock.
And then the herring showed up. Rugelach, cupcakes, and fruit platters followed, and soon a full was kiddush set up. During the festivities, firefighters stopped by with the somber news that the remains of two sifrei Torah —damaged beyond repair — had been found. The community would have to come together sometime soon for a levayah.
The rabbi plans to rebuild the shul, to replace it with a modern, utilitarian building. Plans are in the works for a temporary sanctuary at nearby Felician University, and he will need to find a long-term solution for his family. At this point, it is impossible to know how much of the extensive cost will have to be covered by donations; insurance claims will take months to process. Certainly, not all the supplies and equipment will be covered. A Charidy fundraising page has been set up for the Meadowlands fire.
For now, the community and family are in the spotlight. Rabbi Lerman’s phone is buzzing constantly with offers to help, and he is filled with gratitude — for life, for health, and for the wonderfully supportive community. But all too soon, the communal focus will shift to the next story (b’ezras Hashem, it will be a simchah).
And then the hard, painstaking labor of rebuilding will begin.
(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1074)
