The executive director of the Federation of Reconstructionist Congregations and Havurot said today that an arson attack had gutted the area in which the offices of the Federation were housed as well as the rest of the three story building in upper Manhattan.
Rabbi David Teutsch told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the fire marshall had informed him the fire was the result of an arson attempt. Teutsch said he believed the arson was not aimed at the Federation offices “though we can’t be sure.” He added that all the files and records of the agency had been destroyed The attack occurred Friday evening.
He said the Federation and the National Havurah Committee, which shared offices with the Federation, planned to continue with current activities. These include the annual Reconstructionist convention in June and the Huvurah summer institute in July and in August.
The two agencies are launching “an intensive effort” to obtain funds for relocation of their offices. Meanwhile, he said, the Federation can be reached at the Society for the Advancement of Judaism on Wes 86th Street in Manhattan.
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.
