Homestead Hebrew Congregation donated its Judaica, yahrzeit plaques, and Torahs to Beth Shalom, a Conservative synagogue in Squirrel Hill.  They turned their fourth-floor gym into the Homestead Hebrew Chapel, where they installed the aron kodesh removed from the synagogue, hung the plaques, and used the Torahs for youth services held there.  Not even four years after the Homestead shul closed, tragedy struck in the form a fire that caught the attention of all of Pittsburgh, not just its Jewish community.  דער מענטש טראַכט און גאָט לאַכט — Man plans, and G-d laughs, indeed.  After these events, the Torahs were buried in December 1996.

Articles included:

• “Fire at Beth Shalom,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 9, 1996
• “Members use crowbar to open ark,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 9
• “Interfaith aid,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 10
• “Hugs and tears as fire rages,” The Jewish Chronicle, October 10
• “Out of the ashes, valor,” The Jewish Chronicle, October 10
• “From the ashes came some miracles,” The Jewish Chronicle, October 17
• “Homestead history up in smoke,” The Jewish Chronicle, October 17
• Letters to the editor, The Jewish Chronicle, October 24 & 31

Fire at Beth Shalom

By Jim McKinnon
Post-Gazette Staff Writer

As the fire alarm blared through Beth Shalom Congregation’s synagogue, office manager Jill Rook sought out the maintenance man to question why afternoon preschool classes were being interrupted by a fire drill.

“I told [him] that it was not a good time for a drill. He said that it wasn’t a drill,” Rook said. “So we just walked the kids out and they all had smiles. They thought we were just going for a walk.”

Alerted by the alarm, about 100 staff members and students attending preschool classes at Beth Shalom in Squirrel Hill marches to safety outdoors after fire broke out there at 2:15 p.m. yesterday.

But two firefighters were injured while battling the six-alarm blaze, which heavily damaged the top two floors of the congregation’s five-story community building.

The fire is also believed to have destroyed two irreplaceable religious texts that had been stored on one of the upper floos.

Firefighter Alfred Glaze, 41, suffered second-degree burns to his arms, neck, and shoulders when smoldering embers fell on him. Glaze was in serious condition last night in the burn unit at Mercy Hospital.

Fire Capt. Robert Shuster suffered from hypertension at the scene and was taken to St. Francis Medical Center. He was in good condition last night, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The fire was discovered about 2:15 p.m. by the head of maintenance at the Beth Shalom complex at Shady Avenue and Beacon Street.

About 70 firefighters and 30 other emergency workers, including police and paramedics, worked through the afternoon. Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms assisted with what city fire officials termed a routine investigation.

The cause had not been determined, but Pittsburgh Fire Chief Charlie Dickinson said the fire did not appear to be suspicious.

The main sanctuary building sustained damage from smoke and water. But that building, which dominates the corner of Beacon and Shady and stretches a block to Bartlett Street, was structurally unaffected, said Amir Pilch, director of the synagogue.

The synagogue’s Halpern Center for Education — a two-story structure at the west end of the complex — also was not seriously damaged.

It was the five-story Rose Hyman Kaufmann Community Building that took the brunt of the damage. That building, which is more than 70 years old, is between the education center and the sanctuary.

Dickinson said the maintenance man noticed the fire in the kitchen on the fourth floor next to the gymnasium. Office and a lounge for a youth group also were housed on that floor, between the gym and the kitchen.

Dickinson said the fire quickly spread to the fifth floor, which housed meeting rooms. As the fire raged, the the fourth and fifth floors and the building’s roof collapsed into the third floor, where, minutes before the fire, preschool classes were being held.

None of those children, all between 2 and 5 years old, were injured. Nor were any of about a dozen staff members who had been with them inside.

But parents and relatives, expecting a routine dismissal of classes, were shaken to find firefighters and fire engines surrounding the Beth Shalom complex.

“it was trying for the arriving parents,” Rook said.

Sarah Firestone, 15, who tutors third- and fourth-graders in Hebrew at the community center, said she was on her way to meet friends in the class when she saw all the fire equipment.

“I was scared that they were hurt,” Firestone said. “My dad caught me when I was walking up the street. He thought that I was inside.”

Rabbi Chuck Diamond, the congregation’s education and youth rabbi, said two Torahs used for youth group prayer were lost in the fire. Those Torahs had been stored in an ark that had been housed in the community building.

Diamond said no preschool or after-school Hebrew classes would be held through Sunday. Pilch said arrangements were being made to hold those classes at other locations.

The congregation’s telephone number has been forwarded to the office of New Light Congregation on Beechwood Boulevard, which will serve as “our base of operations the immediate future,” Diamond said.

He said he would not be sure until at least later today whether Beth Shalom’s main sanctuary would be useable for services Friday and Saturday.

 ***

Members use crowbar to open ark

By Timothy McNulty
Post-Gazette Staff Writer

People rushed to the Beth Shalom Congregation yesterday afternoon to save what was sacred to them.

“I was driving up Shady, all I see are police cars, and I think the worst,” said Marcia Greenwald, whose 3-year-old daughter was one of the preschoolers evacuated from the burning building.

Preschool teachers and children were gathering at a house a few doors up from the 79-year-old main building, eating pretzels and drinking apple juice.

“When I got up here, they had everything under control,” Greenwald said. “The children were playing in the back.”

Moshe Taube stood among the fire hoses strung along Beacon Street, ashes from the fire that destroyed the top two floors of the synagogue’s community building falling on his shoulders.

“Half of my life has been contained in this synagogue,” said Taube, the synagogue’s cantor for 32 years and a Holocaust survivor saved by Oskar Schindler.

“In my office, I have irreplaceable music, irreplaceable objects for sacred music.”

At one point, more than a dozen men rushed into the main sanctuary of the synagogue to save 14 Torahs, the sacred texts of Judaism, from damage. Because the building’s electricity had been cut off, they couldn’t open the automatic doors of the marble-encased ark in which the Torahs were stored and had to turn back.

“We went down the main aisle. I couldn’t see anything — I was choking,” said Richard Linder of Squirrel Hill.

Allan Friedman, 16, went to a firetruck and took a crowbar. He and some others went back into the sanctuary and pried the doors open.

“Mommy, did they get the Torahs?” said Morgan Blumenfeld, 5, as her mother, Sheryl, held her. Just after her question, the men emerged from the building carrying them. “They got the Torahs!” her mother shouted.

The men wrapped the Torahs in shawls and took them to three nearby houses.

With Allderdice High School out of session for parent-teacher conferences, Aryeh Selekman, 15, and Dena Stein, 16, went to the synagogue’s youth center to send out some mail.

They were near the old Homestead Hebrew Congregation space, moved into an upper floor of Beth Shalom two years ago. The area would later bear near-told damage. The two left 15 minutes before the fire started.

“I was walking down the street and I saw the smoke, and I was like, it couldn’t be,” Selekman said.

The youth group used the Homestead space and Torahs for services. Last weekend, they had celebrated Simchat Torah, a holiday dedicated to giving thanks for the sacred manuscripts. The two Torahs from Homestead Congregation were the only manuscripts lost in the fire, Rabbi Stephen Steindel said.

“Everything we base our religion on, the rules we follow, the prayers we say, comes from the Torah,” said Michael Linden, 16, vice president of the youth group. “We don’t pray to it, we pray for it. It’s so special to have one.”

The fire started in a part of the building between the school wing and the main worship space. It was discovered as preschool was being dismissed. The teachers told the approximately 100 children that they were having a fire drill, and they walked out quietly.

“It was pretty scary, but you don’t think about that until you’re out of the building,” said Nancy Weitzman, who teaches toddlers. “It was calm, but now it’s kind of hitting [the families], because their relatives are coming up to them”

“Nobody was hurt, that’s the most important thing,” said Jay Stein of Squirrel Hill, Dena’s father. “The kids will go back to school, they’ll bring somebody in to rebuild…in eight months, you’ll never now it happened.”

Last night, synagogue leaders were trying to determine where preschool classes would meet. Daily services, Steindel said, will be held for the time being at the New Light Congregation on Beechwood Boulevard.

Steindel said he hoped to have the sanctuary open by Saturday, when Brett Kotler, 13, has his bar mitzvah. Lois Kotler, Brett’s mother, said she had scolded her son earlier in the day.

“I said, ‘You get up to synagogue, and you get your practice,'” Kotler said. “Then he said, ‘But Mom, there’s a fire.'”

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Interfaith aid

By Gary Rotstein
Post-Gazette Staff Writer

There were no deaths from the million-dollar fire that damaged part of the 73-year-old original building of Beth Shalom Synagogue on Tuesday, but there will be one burial.

That would be for the remnants of the two Torah scrolls lost in the fire that stunned many members of Squirrel Hill’s Jewish community.

Judaism treats the handwritten scrolls as sacred objects, and space will be made at Beth Shalom’s cemetery in Shaler for whatever is found of them in the burned building. A memorial service will accompany the burial.

Part of one burned Torah was collected yesterday. A rescue party of congregants safely removed at least 20 other Torahs during the fire from other sections of Beth Shalom that weren’t ablaze, and those were taken to nearby home of congregants for safekeeping.

“Anything with God’s name in it, we look to respect and treat with dignity,” and a Torah is the most notable example of that, said Rabbi Chuck Diamond, head of the congregation’s youth and education programs.

Diamond and other officials from the region’s largest Conservative Jewish congregation had little rest Tuesday night and yesterday.

Even while fire units had to return to Beacon Street and Shady Avenue twice yesterday to douse flare-ups of debris from the fire, Beth Shalom’s leaders were in temporary headquarters to begin dealing with details of rebuilding the heavily damaged community center and administrative office section of the synagogue.

They also had to arrange less serious restoration of the large sanctuary, which had smoke damage, and of the water-damaged classroom section; find alternate space for offices, worship, pre-school and after-school classes; and handle all of the related communications necessary with insurance and city fire officials as well as the 1,200 families in the congregation itself.

But there were plenty of offers of help.

“I didn’t have to look–everyone came to me,” said Amir Pilch, Beth Shalom executive director, referring to offers of space and support that came in from many local synagogue as well as non-Jewish institutions.

Beth Shalom has accepted offers of offices and daily worship space at the nearby New Light Congregation on Beechwood Boulevard at Forbes Avenue. The Tree of Life Congregation has donated its sanctuary on Wilkins Avenue for Saturday Sabbath services.

The Beth Shalom sanctuary may be ready for reuse within a week, but Pilch said the 150 students in an after-school Hebrew program will need to use space provided by the Jewish Education Institute at the former St. Philomena Church for at least 60 to 90 days. The Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday classes were canceled for this week, but they will resume Tuesday in the institute’s classrooms.

The 135 children in the preschool program also will be housed elsewhere for the next several months. A decision on that location was expected today.

The Beth Shalom officials said they expected fire damage to exceed $1 million, which will include rebuilding the gymnasium, youth lounge and other facilities destroyed on the upper floors of the five-story Rose Hyman Kaufmann Community Building. Pilch said the construction would take at least six to eight months, and that insurance would cover the full costs.

Pilch said the most unfortunate loss in the fire was the possessions of the former Homestead Hebrew Congregation, which went out of existence two years ago. Beth Shalom designated space to keep that congregation’s memories alive on an upper floor of the community building, and it was that congregation’s Torahs that were destroyed.

City fire officials said they had not determined the cause of the blaze, which they believed began on the fourth floor. A small kitchen is connected to the gymnasium there, and although no cooking or activity was taking place at the time of the fire Tuesday afternoon, the kitchen area was the likely origin of the fire, Deputy Fire Chief Pete Micheli said.

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Hugs and tears as fire rages

By ERIK ROSEN, Staff Writer

At 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon, passersby, congregants, and news reporters watched as dozens of firefighters tackled a devastating fire at Congregation Beth Shalom. Flames leapt from the roof of the Rose Hyman Kaufmann Community Building and black smoke billowed from the windows, as firefighters worked to contained the six-alarm blaze.

Despite the thick mist of water, smoke and ash that settled over all, most stayed to watch, holding hands, hugging and comforting each other. There were numerous offers to help, and when firefighters decided to allow some people in to save the synagogue’s Torah scrolls, no one hesitated to enter the hot and smoky sanctuary. The brass gates which protect the scrolls in the Main Sanctuary, were locked, shut due to the loss of power. Once they were pried open with a crowbar, a human chain was formed, and the scrolls were moved to the neighboring houses for safekeeping. In all, 21 scrolls were saved, while two, used primarily for youth services, were lost.

ATF officials were on site, but the fire was not considered suspicious. While it will be at least a few days before anything is known for certain, firefighters suspect the fire began in the fourth floor kitchen of the Community Building, just at the back of the gym. The alarm went off at approximately 2:15 p.m., after a mother, who was picked up her pre-school child, smelled smoke, and a maintenance man simultaneously discovered the fire.

Damage estimates of $1-1.5 million have been reported, but according to synagogue officials, it will be impossible to know until insurance representatives and contractors arrive on the scene. It is also unclear whether the community building can be saved. Structural damage was very serious, with the fourth and fifth floor roofs collapsing onto the third floor.

Cantor Moshe Taube and Rabbi Chuck Diamond watched from across Beacon Street as the fire repeatedly flared up.

“I am devastated,” said Cantor Taube, with tears in his eyes. “I have been here for 32 years…” he trailed off.

“It is a hard thing to watch,” Rabbi Diamond said, “but thank God no one was hurt.”

Perhaps one of the most poignant observations came from Lisa Steindel, wife of Rabbi Stephen Steindel. “I was standing here thinking how lucky we are. When Jews watched their synagogues burn, their next thought was where we were going to run to next. Now, no one is running.”

When the fire started, over 130 people were in the building, including 100 pre-school students. All were evacuated safely, with some of the children smiling and laughing, unaware that the evacuation was anything more than an afternoon walk. Two firefighters, however, were injured, including one seriously.

As the evening wore on, it became evident that there was significantly more damage than many had first anticipated. In addition to the gym, the teen lounge was lost, as were a number of administrative offices and priceless fixtures from the old Homestead Hebrew Congregation, which was moved to the Community Building two years ago.

“The recently completed, and much beloved project, has been used by our teenagers for the last two years,” said Rabbi Steindel sadly, observing that it was likely nothing survived from the old shul.

“The service from the city was exemplary,” said Rabbi Steindel. “The offers of help, and calls of concern of our neighbors of all faiths have been wonderful. With a lot of help, especially from our teenagers, we were able to move records, administrative items, and prayer books.

“Julian (Ebling, congregation president), has been a tower of strength,” he added. “he has been on the phone, at the site, and in meetings all day,” making arrangements to ensure synagogue activities continue with a minimum of disruption.

“It had been a tremendous day,” said Amir Pilch, executive director, at the end of a “very exhausting day. However, I am confident we will rebuild.”

About a dozen congregation members joined firefighters and police in guarding the building overnight to ensure no one attempted to enter the site.

“We’re making sure no one goes in there because there is a possibility of the roof collapsing,” said Ira Frank, who was patrolling the area in a Beth Shalom T-shirt. “There is a heavy air-conditioner on the roof, on a twisted beam, and there is a danger it will collapse. The pre-school was really destroyed for the most part.”

Frank confirmed that there was only some water and smoke damage to the main building. “Other than that, nothing,” he said.

“There was one a plaque left (from the Homestead Shul), but all of the Torah Scrolls (in the Main Sanctuary) were saved,” he added, gratefully.

According to Barbara Olenick, Sisterhood president, Shabbat services are scheduled to be held at 8:45 a.am. in the Main Sanctuary of the Tree of Life Congregation, 5898 Wilkins Ae. The Kotler Bar Mitzva will be held during services, and two rooms have been allocated for Kiddie Minyan and Kiddie Minyan Plus, led by the regular staff. The morning and evening minyans will be held at New Light Congregation, 1700 Beechwood Blvd. In addition, Beth Shalom’s telephone number has been forwarded to temporary offices at New Light.

“I do know that we lost everything in the Sisterhood office,” including an irreplaceable wimpel created for Beth Shalom’s Wimpel Project, she said.

“We have canceled our Monday membership party,” Olenick added, “and we have a hundred women standing by to do whatever it takes to get us back on our feet. If we have to wash every chair, toy, and block from the pre-school, we’ll do it.”

***

Editorial
Out of the ashes, valor

Nearly 18 hours after fire raged through Congregation Beth Shalom, causing about $1 million in damage, the smell of smoke still hung in the air, an acrid reminder of one of Squirrel Hill’s saddest moments in recent history.

The grand old Squirrel Hill landmark sustained major fire damage, and The Chronicle join the Congregation in mourning their loss — material, physical and spiritual.

It was a frightening sight, to see flames shooting towards the sky, endangering not only property, but lives as well.

“It reminds me of Kristallnacht,” one caller sobbed into the telephone, reporting the tragedy to the The Chronicle. “Only this time,” he continued, “the police and firefighters are putting the blaze out.”

Congregants wept — as did the entire Jewish community. But in their moment of tragedy, Beth Shalom saw some of the community’s finest moments, of banding together in a time of sadness: Torah scrolls were rescued by volunteers from Yeshiva, by onlookers and by Congregants, boys and men who braved the smoke and the unknown putting their own lives in peril to rescue our sacred texts.

Pre-schoolers were calmly herded down the street to the home of another Squirrel Hill resident, who opened her home to the children and their families, for emotional reunions.

Area synagogues and Jewish organizations opened their hearts — and doors — to Beth Shalom, offering school space and a place for prayer, for when tragedy strikes on congregation, it touches us all.

Just an hour or two after the blaze was finally subdued, Beth Shalom members, young and old, gathered outside their “spiritual home” to say evening prayers — a sign that life continues, despite the sadness, and that Beth Shalom will remain strong and will rebuild. The entire Jewish community will be watching, joining in their prayers.

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From the ashes came some miracles

By Joel Roteman, Executive Editor

From the time the Beth Shalom fire was detected about 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, until shortly after 4 p.m., there was a serious consideration by fire officials to abandon fire fighting and let the fire burn itself out, in order to save lives of the firemen.

Was it luck that prevented the total destruction of the landmark synagogue and kept the approximately 130 persons inside from harm, The Chronicle asked Amir Pilch, executive director of Beth Shalom.

“No luck. It was spiritual,” Pilch replied quickly. “A lot of God was involved. God saved the children (about 100 were inside) and God saved the main sanctuary.”

From what could have easily been a far greater tragedy, a lot of good things came into play for Beth Shalom, Pilch noted.

“It took us just 55 seconds to get all of the children out and safely away from the building. It took just 90 seconds for the police to arrive and the fire trucks just four minutes from the time I called in the alarm.”

Nearly miraculous was the immediate response from the community.

“Our parents responded and helped evacuate the kids. The Orthodox community pitched in right away and my Beth Shalom staff was–and is–incredible. They reach me at 10 or 11 p.m. and we work on administrative details until after midnight every night.”

There were a lot of “incredibles” during the Chronicle interview with Pilch–partly because of the hectic pace his life assumed since the fire, partly because of fatigue, and partly because of a high fever–but mostly because of the community response to the synagogue’s hour of need.

The fire had smoldered for some time before the smell of smoke became detectable, mainly because of the 8 1/2 inch plaster, pebble and chicken wire walls and ceiling in the structure.

“That probably saved us,” he said.

Despite the thick walls, at about 4 p.m. last Tuesday, Assistance Chief of Fire Prevention Peter Micheli conferred with Pilch. Six alarms had been sounded and 90 firemen were doing their utmost to gain control over the conflagration, but the fire still had the upper hand. If the fire wasn’t soon under control, Micheli said, they might have to let it burn itself out to save firemen’s lives.

“Captain Micheli’s men said, ‘let us save the building.’ And they did.” It was that close.

A flood of memories moved Pilch: “The incredible work of the fire captain, the overall community response, the work of Councilman Bob O’Connor, our congregation past presidents using brooms to sweep water out of the main sanctuary, Rabbi Chuck (Diamond) holding services for the children out on the sidewalk with the adults joining in, the executive directors like Joel Goldstein of Tree of Life, Phyllis Weinkle of Temple Sinai, and Jeff Herzog of Rodef Shalom by my side right away, offering their help.

“I am honored to be part of this community.”

Contractor Dominic Riccuiti, who installed B.S.’s elevator to help make the building handicapped accessible, heard of the fire while driving his truck on the Parkway. He exited at Squirrel Hill and rushed over to see if he could help — a response repeated in other ways by many other people.

Pilch also had high praise for the six federal Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Agents who showed up to investigate–a routine required since the rash of church fires this year all over the country.

“These six guys were super individuals who helped me through the trauma. They urged me into the gym area which was hardest hit, where the Homestead Hebrew Congregation Torah Ark and scrolls were kept. The agent in command gave me his hard hat and made me wear it.

“The fire debris was 8 feet high in places. The Homestead Art had replaced the original Beth Shalom Ark o the wall. We had dismantled and stored our original ark. All that was left on the wall was the outline of the Beth Shalom ark (a different shape and size than the Homestead one).

“I explained to the ATF guys that we Jews considered a Torah a living thing and because of that we had to find some remnant to give a dignified burial. We must find some pieces, I told them.”

The ATF leader–sans hard hat–began tossing burnt wooden beams around, searching almost feverishly for Torah remnants.

“As he sifted through the rubble, lifted up wispy shreds of Torah. The sunlight shone from the destroyed ceiling through the transparent Hebrew script–and I cried.”

Pilch now has a half box of Torah scroll remnants. “We will plan a burial event in conjunction with our Homestead family. Homestead Hebrew was like an embryo to us, like the rebirth of a synagogue.”

All of the yahrzeit plaques from the Homestead synagogue were in the part of the building that suffered near completed damage. Many of the plaques were melted.

“Ed Balis, who does our bronze plaques, will redo all of the destroyed plaques as a donation.”

Pilch surveyed the damage, as best he could.

The gym, fourth and fifth floors, where the fire probably started, is totally burned out. On the third floor, 35% of the pre-school area was destroyed. The gym was a multi-purpose room for both prayers for youth groups and for sports. The roof must be replaced, as two of the six steel support beams have buckled.

“We are also not sure of the structural integrity of the brick walls. It will take 4-6 weeks to put a roof on then we will be able to use our main ballroom and maybe even our sanctuary.”

Pilch also reported extensive smoke damage in the main sanctuary. Chairs, carpeting, ceiling will be replaced and there will be repainting.

“All of the structural damage was in the Rose Hyman Kaufman building. The Halpern Educational Wing had smoke and water damage. But we hope to have the school back up and operating in 90-120 days.”

He added that the “Helfant Chapel is under water. Mrs. Ethel Helfant Feldman called me at 6 a.m. last Wednesday morning to offer help.”

Two security policemen are on duty every night at the facility until further notice, Pilch remarked.

The outpouring of help has been overwhelming. New Light Congregation has provided administrative headquarters for Beth Shalom, Tree of Life and the Jewish Community Center have supplied space for services and several other synagogues offered as well. Preschool will be at Rodef Shalom next Tuesday.

Giant Eagle is providing lunches for free for the small army of workers who are all over the scorched building. Non-Jews have made donations and made other offers of help. Rabbis Gibson, Staitman, Berkun and Pliner (of Hillel Academy) have offered assistance, as has Hillel’s president Barry Faigen.

“Danny Bendis of Schorin Co., Burt Gusky of Washington Office Furniture and Sandy Zaremberg of AMSCO Bionics moved our office equipment to New Light.” Hebrew School classes are being held at the JEI.

Pilch had special praise for a great number of people, including his officers and past presidents and school parents such as David Ryave for their assistance.

Past president Arnold H. Lazarus is in charge of New Light operations; Milton Eisner and Yale Rosenstein are in charge of the move to JEI; Harriet Kruman is in charge of the pre-school move to Rodef Shalom and honorary president George Stern is in charge of insurance negotiations and is co-chairing the emergency funding committee. Vice president Barry Palkovitz is chairing the building fund restoration committee along with Allen Zytnick.

Others cited for helping hands are Board officers Steve Hecht; Alan Kopolow; and Judy Kornblith and and Shelley Scher. He also noted the help of Beth Shalom President Julian Elbling and Past President Norton Freedel, as well as Rabbi Chuck.

Pilch and spiritual leader Rabbi Stephen Steindel have worked very closely, particularly since the trauma of the fire.

“An important part of a successful synagogue is the partnership between the executive director and the rabbi. Rabbi Steindel is the greatest I have worked with in my career.”

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Homestead history up in smoke

By IRIS M. SAMSON, Assistant Editor and Joel Roteman, Executive Editor

Last Tuesday afternoon’s tragic fire at Congregation Beth Shalom in Squirrel Hill resulted in extensive damage.

While the structural damage is immense, the Congregation — and the Jewish community — suffered an immeasurable loss when artifacts and Judaica from the Homestead Hebrew Congregation went up in smoke.

Beth Shalom had been home to Homestead’s five Torahs, silver crowns and mantles, bimah, lectern, prayers, memorial plaques, and other Judaica for several years. The Homestead Chapel, or Homestead Room, as it was affectionately known to its former congregation, was used daily by Congregation Beth Shalom’s active United Synagogue Youth members, for services, meetings and more.

In just a few short hours — though firefighters tried in vain to contain the blaze — Homestead’s material history was destroyed.

*

In 1993 the Homestead Hebrew Congregation closed its doors forever, after 99 years of service to the Jewish community. An aging congregation and migration of members to Squirrel Hill and beyond led to the traditional synagogue’s demise.

Home to a strong and committed group of Jews, however, the remaining members and their descendants were determined to preserve the congregation’s history. According to former member Florence Hiedovitz, “We documented everything, all our treasures, for the Jewish Archives.”

A photographer, Lockwood Hoehl, was hired to take detailed pictures of every aspect of the synagogue just before the doors closed, and members painstakingly went through thousands of documents to preserve Homestead’s past.

President of the Congregation at that time, Robert Katz, approached Congregation Beth Shalom in January of 1993. They said they’d “make a home for our Congregation on the building’s fourth floor. They told us their youth would use our Torahs and Judaica for the holidays, weekly services — they’d do all their davening (praying) there.”

“A lot of Homesteaders joined Beth Shalom, and we felt it was a natural progression to send our Judaica there,” adds Ellen Burechson Siegel of the Congregation’s decision to donate Homestead’s five Torahs, two Purim Megillot, Aron Kodesh (ark) and Judaica to the Squirrel Hill synagogue.

Siegel was intimately involved with Homestead: her grandfather, Benjamin Seiavitch, was one of Homestead Hebrew Congregation’s founders, and, as she explains, “I was a member there until I married. My sister was in the first official Bat Mitzva class. Our family were members until the synagogue closed.”

When Beth Shalom agreed to take over “continuation of the Homestead shul,” as Siegel explains, “it was comforting to know it would continue on as a living institution. We knew our Torahs would be used, and that Homestead would continue living, in perpetuity.”

It was so thrilling to us,” adds Hiedovitz, “that Beth Shalom’s young people used our Torahs and Judaica. This was a welcome new home for them. We were so happy our things were being loved. And we donated it to Beth Shalom as a remembrance of our community.”

Ironically, just this past summer former Homestead members held a reunion in the Homestead Chapel, feting the Jacobson and Friedlander families. “It was held in July in honor of my father’s 80th birthday,” explains Siegel.

“It was our one and only Homestead affair. Amir (Pilch, Beth Shalom executive director) gave a history of the shul and the Jacobson and Friedlander families donated a lectern cover to be used by the teenagers — it was velvet, inscribed from the family, and we haven’t finished paying for it yet,” she continues, sadly.

“It was wonderful that the young teens of the synagogue were very committed to” the Homestead Chapel. “They weren’t there just on yom tovim — they were there weekly, 25 to 40 kids,” Siegel adds. “We really felt that our religion and heritage was living on through them.”

Siegel, who is executive director of Hadassah, sat in her Murray Avenue office and watched the flames last week. “When we heard it was in the gym (next to the Homestead Chapel) we just didn’t want to believe it. But I’m happy to hear that some of the memorial plaques have survived, as had some Torahs.

“And thank G-d there was no life lost. Things can be restored.”

Iris Nahemow was walking on Murray Avenue Tuesday a week ago when she saw the smoke. She asked another pedestrian where the fire was and she heard, “Beth Shalom.” She then learned that the portion of the synagogue which provided a home for the artifacts of the Homestead Hebrew Congregation was at the center of the blaze.

“The Homestead shul was my synagogue growing up,” Nahemow, former executive director of the Jewish National Fund here told The Chronicle. “I felt particularly close to that synagogue.”

Her daughter Debbie was married there May 15, 1987, the last marriage conducted at the synagogue.

“It was their first wedding in nearly 30 years and the congregants even painted the outside for the event. Then, they had to do an exhaustive search for the chuppa (wedding canopy).”

When the Homestead synagogue’s religious articles were transferred to Beth Shalom, Nahemow’s family had one of the Homestead Torah scrolls rededicated in honor of her father, Morris Stein.

“I am not sure if the scroll with my father’s name on it was one of the two that burned. Most of the former Homestead people were proud of the way Beth Shalom used the materials from our old synagogue,” particularly the Torahs for the youth services.

While she grieves for the loss that hit Beth Shalom and Homestead Hebrew, Nahemow notes, “The most important thing is that not one child even got a scratch in the fire. I also feel great about the community response. There was a real feeling of common cause.”

As for the destroyed remnants of the Homestead synagogue, Nahemow says, “There is a sense similar to Thornton Wilder’s ‘Our Town’, the memories of all the people I knew growing up and where I later taught Sunday School are there.”

Florence Hiedovitz thinks it is time for healing. “Anyone who has been a part of the Homestead community would hope that it (the chapel) could be reconstructed. Based on the Hoehl photographs, I think we could restore the ark. I think it would be very healing.

“It’s very sad,” she says. “There’s such a sense of loss. But first and foremost, we were pleased that there was no loss of life.”

“The loss feels very bad,” concludes Robert Katz. “It’s like losing a part of the family. But it could have been much worse.”

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Letters written to The Chronicle

Our special place

To The Editor:

Two weeks ago I received devastating news – over the phone. Two weeks ago I saw a horrible sight – over the internet. Two weeks ago I got the complete details of a tragedy in my home – by a newspaper article. Two weeks ago I was in Pittsburgh – but only in spirit. Two weeks ago I found out about the terrible fire at Beth Shalom. I was stunned. What could I do? What could I say?

I, along with many of my peers, can say without any doubt that Beth Shalom is like another home to me. I spent countless hours within many of the areas that have suffered the most damage because of the fire. USY meetings, open lounges, elections, programs, Purim Carnivals, Kadima (both as a member and later as an advisor), teaching music, learning how to lead parts of the service, Havdala services, Israeli dancing, crying, laughing, sleeping and the list of memories could go on and on.

It was wonderful when USY got a place of its own to have Shabbat morning services – the Homestead Shul. It wasn’t just a new place; it was a special place. The Homestead Shul’s rich history shone before us each Shabbat not only making our services more beautiful, but also more meaningful. We knew how lucky we were when we could open our own ark and when we could walk up to a bima to read Torah or have an aliya. And we also knew how lucky we were to have our 4th floor. How can it all be gone?

The helpless feeling being so far away from Pittsburgh that many college students and I share has been very difficult to cope with. There was no place I wanted to be more when I found out about the fire than with everyone else in Pittsburgh.

I heard someone say, “Well, Beth Shalom will rebuild.” That statement was like a punch to my heart. The Homestead Shul can never be rebuilt. The Torahs that so many of us held and kissed and read from can never be replaced. The names on the youth lounge walls added to the ruach of the 4th floor and can never be rewritten.

In the long run, Beth Shalom will be rebuilt. There will be newer, and maybe nicer facilities. There will still be ruach and new memories and a lot of life on the fourth floor, but there will always be a little something missing, especially on Shabbat mornings.

Ironically, there are things about the fire to be grateful for. First, everybody was evacuated safely. In addition, the collectiveness and strength of the community that stands out, even from my perspective in Wisconsin, is absolutely extraordinary. It is heartwarming to know that so many aspects of the community have pulled together to cooperate and collaborate after the tragedy. This is where the hope and the optimism come from.

I am comforted by the spirit of my community, by its solidity, its boldness, and its resilience. My memories also offer solace and I hold them very close. My love and my best wishes are with my Beth Shalom family. I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Aviva N. Selekman
Squirrel Hill, and Madison, WI

*

Our faith is intact

To The Editor:

Tuesday, October 8, I watched as Pittsburgh fireman poured water on and into my synagogue, Beth Shalom, extinguishing the last flames of a devastating fire. Many of us stood in tears, knowing that part of our history had gone up in smoke, but at the same time, thanking God that everyone, including about 100 children in our pre-school and day care center, were evacuated from the building safety. Fortuitously, all of the Torahs from the main sanctuary and chapel were rescued.

When I drove to the scene I witnessed dozens and dozens of people going in and out of the safe areas of the building; the Torahs were already out, and they were carrying out prayer books, ritual objects, office files, computers, etc. All of our staff people and many of our own members were helping, but in addition, members of Chasidic, Orthodox and Re-. form affiliation, as well as non-Jews were helping; many teen-aged kids, our own and from other congregations, came after school and pitched in.

We were contacted by every rabbi and synagogue administration in the city, as well as churches and non-Jewish organizations, offering help. Councilman Bob O’Connor spent several hours at the scene, working alongside the others, helping to carry out the objects. Later that afternoon and early evening our rabbis, Rabbi Steindel and Rabbi Diamond, held services on the sidewalk in front of the synagogue, providing comfort and counseling to all of us.

I do not speak for Beth Shalom in an official capacity, but I personally want the Pittsburgh Jewish community to be aware of the outpouring of help, offers for use of their buildings for services, office space, classrooms, etc. We’re alive and well, we will rebuild and repair, and our faith is intact.

Harriet N. Kruman
Past President, Congregation Beth Shalom Pittsburgh

*

Open arms

To The Editor:

It has been a week now since the traumatic fire at Congregation Beth Shalom, located in Squirrel Hill, occurred.

The loss of our facility, along with the tragic loss of our Homestead Hebrew Sanctuary and Torahs, left all of us in the congregation saddened and heartbroken.

The rabbis, cantor, staff and congregation of Beth Shalom are now picking up the pieces and putting them back in place with the assistance of so many generous organizations from within our community. New Light Congregation, Tree of Life Congregation, the Jewish Community Center, Community Day School and a multitude of other facilities opened their arms and took us in, giving us a feeling of comfort during our displacement.

This letter is to convey my family’s heartfelt thanks, not only to all of the organizations for their generosity, but also to the following:

The firefighters, who so valiantly risked their lives to continue fighting a five-alarm blaze so as to save our synagogue.

The children, adults and congregants from the Squirrel Hill area, who ran into the synagogue to save our Torahs, prayer-books and valuable documentation.

Councilman Bob O’Connor, who appeared on the scene immediately, and physically assisted the firefighters and congregants with the removal of items from within the structure and remained at the scene until the last embers were extinguished.

We cannot begin to show everyone involved our appreciation. We can only let the community know that you are treasures to us and we are indebted to you all.

Dr. Joel and Kerry Smooke
Pittsburgh

*

They saved our children

To The Editor:

I cannot begin to express my gratitude to Fern Moscov and the Beth Shalom Preschool teachers and staff for the way they handled the tragic fire.

Everyone was calm, professional, supportive and comforting. The children were happily playing in homes on Beacon Street. Some of the teachers were greeting parents at the sidewalk, calming them before they went inside to get their children.

It is obvious that the staff and children were well trained in fire drills and fire safety. And 1 truly believe that they saved our children’s lives.

I think I can speak for all the families when I extend our deepest thanks, love and gratitude.

Amy Jonas Mangurten
Pittsburgh

*

Mourning with Homesteaders

To The Editor

In response to last week’s article, “Homestead History Up in Smoke,” I, on behalf of the entire USY chapter, would like to extend my feelings of appreciation to the Homestead Hebrew Congregation members. They allowed us to daven in their beautiful synagogue, inside our synagogue, Beth Shalom.

For the past two years, Beth Shalom United Synagogue Youth has made the Homestead Synagogue its home. Every Shabbat and holiday, we have gathered in the unique sanctuary to conduct our teen services. Reading from the Homestead Torah scrolls, using the lectern cover donated this year and facing towards the magnificent Aron Kodesh – all were practices quite familiar to us.

We feel a connection with the people of the Homestead Hebrew Congregation that no fire can possibly destroy. We deeply mourn the loss of the two Torah scrolls and the entire bimah. We hope to salvage whatever was saved from the fire. The dedication of our new USY synagogue will be gratefully offered to the Homestead Hebrew Congregation.

Dena Stein

President, Beth Shalom USY