State police officials, completing their probe of a fire that destroyed Beth El Temple, causing damage totaling $1, 000, 000, declared today they found no evidence of arson. In the conflagration, the sanctuary and auditorium were destroyed, and seven Holy Scrolls were lost. Police probers said the fire was apparently caused by careless smokers. A drive to raise funds for rebuilding the temple is now under way.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
