A two-alarm fire yesterday completely destroyed the interior of Congregation Tifereth Israel, a four-story brick synagogue in the Williamsburg section that was built 100 years ago next week. The blaze, which apparently originated near an oil burner in the basement, also caused the roof to collapse. Eighty firemen battled the flames for two hours with 15 pieces of apparatus. Although the synagogue is located in a largely Orthodox area that has been the scene in recent years of racial tensions, a Fire Department spokesman said arson was not suspected. The fire was reported by a neighbor shortly after the Orthodox congregants had concluded morning services and locked the doors behind them. They no longer have a permanent rabbi, as they have dwindled in numbers to 150-175 from 1,200-1,400 a decade ago. Meyer Haopel, president of the synagogue for more than 20 years, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that 40 or 50 sacred scrolls had been destroyed in the blaze and had been buried in accordance with Jewish law. He said a dollar value could not be placed on the lost artifacts, but that to rebuild the synagogue might require $1 million. The congregation bought the building about 55 years ago after moving from Manhattan’s East Side.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
