Poile Zedek

Story

Poile Zedek Synagogue is a historic synagogue at 145 Neilson Street in New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States.The congregation was founded in 1901 by a group of merchants in downtown New Brunswick's Hiram Market district. Originally named the Independent Sick and Death Benefit Association of New Brunswick, the congregation moved to its current location in 1905 and at some point began using the name Poile Zedek ("Workers of Righteousness"). The cornerstone ceremony was held for a new building on August 19, 1923, and the building was completed in 1924. In 1995 the building was placed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places.On Friday afternoon, October 23, 2015, a massive fire broke out in the synagogue, gutting the building. The fire is believed to be accidental.2008 cemetery vandalismIn January 2008, almost 500 gravestones at Poile Zedek's cemetery were damaged in an incident of vandalism. Four local teenagers were charged and later sentenced to probation and community service in a juvenile court proceeding.2015 fireAccording to police, a large fire broke out on the first floor of the synagogue on October 23, 2015 at around 4:30 p.m., destroying all but the exterior of the building. One Sefer Torah was rescued by the rabbi before the roof collapsed. According to the congregation's rabbi, the external structure remains sound and the building may eventually be repaired. Religious documents and scripts damaged by the fire were later buried in the affiliated cemetery.