Minnesota officials say fire has gutted a historic synagogue in downtown Duluth.
Firefighters responded to the fire at the Adas Israel Congregation about 2 a.m. Monday and finally knocked it down about four hours later. At daylight, spectators could see the charred remains of the synagogue with some structural walls still standing. Duluth Assistant Fire Chief Brent Consie said the building “is pretty much a total loss.”
There was no immediate word from fire officials on what started the blaze.
According to its website, the Adas Israel Congregation is an Orthodox/High Conservative Jewish congregation with a membership of 75 people.
Construction of the synagogue was completed in 1902.
The remnants of the overnight fire at the Adas Israel Congregation in downtown Duluth. Firefighters remain on scene as of 7:30 a.m. surrounding streeets are closed off to traffic. pic.twitter.com/QrjV6cqmRt
— Kevin Jacobsen (@KevinJacobsen) September 9, 2019
Crews are still on scene, neighbors have told me they started to smell smoke around 1am. The fire chiefs I spoke with say they don’t know much information at this time. pic.twitter.com/JmwqyuyG2s
— Emma Quinn (@emmaquinnCBS6) September 9, 2019
(AP)
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6 Responses
What’s a “high conservative” synagogue? Is it one that holds by the standards of the Conservative movement of the last century before they followed the Protestants and ordained women clargy? I have never heard that term before.
Any Sifrei Torah saved?
Just read on the Duluth news tribune website that the torahs were saved. Unclear if they got water logged or not. Sad.
Yankel…..You are such a ehrliche yid to highlight your concerns about the hashkafah of these yidden (whatever it happens to be) at this time of tragedy for them.
yaakov doe, you probably have not heard of a lot of terms.
One article I saw combined the term high conservative and modern orthodox. I went to a “conservative” shul (really was more of a Steeble) once that like yaakov doe says, used really old siddurs and wouldn’t buy any new changed ones with all of the changed wording. The people there couldn’t figure out how to describe their stream either, so they just said traditional.
Have to realize that Duluth is still a smaller place in the United States and you’re lucky to get this or hopefully a Chabad house. Otherwise, all you get is the Reformation. I wish I could’ve visited this place