The Chabad community is mourning a major fire that destroyed the synagogue and central hospitality complex at the resting place of the Alter Rebbe in Haditch, Ukraine. The local Shliach said the community is already preparing to rebuild.
Photos released Tuesday show the extensive destruction from the blaze that consumed the main building at the holy site.
Rabbi Shneur Zalman Deitsch, the Rebbe's Shliach and rabbi of Haditch, said it was only by miracle that no one was injured. A large group of guests from Kyiv had been at the complex during Shabbos, participating in seminars held throughout the year. Before the synagogue was consumed, guests rescued all four Sifrei Torah.
"We are receiving hundreds of phone calls of encouragement and support from every corner of the world," Rabbi Deitsch said. "In the coming days, we will launch an emergency fundraising campaign to rebuild the terrible destruction and construct a new complex. It will take time, tremendous effort, and enormous financial resources, but, with Hashem's help, 'Greater shall be the glory of this latter house than the former.' The complex that was destroyed was large and magnificent, capable of accommodating hundreds of guests at one time. The one we rebuild now, with Hashem's help and the support of Anash, will be even larger."
In the immediate aftermath, Rabbi Deitsch described the loss. "We are in total shock," He said. "The entire central building at the tziyon, into which we poured our hearts, our souls, and our entire lives, has become an inferno. The damage is simply unimaginable. It is incredibly painful. But Chassidim are not deterred by anything, and certainly as the Rebbe's Shliach and the one responsible for this holy site, I cannot give up. With Hashem's help, we will find the strength, rebuild everything from the ground up - however much time and money it takes - and make it even greater and more beautiful than before. I am certain that Anash will rally to this effort. Thank G-d that no one was physically harmed."
Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, said the organization is awaiting investigation results while preparing to help restore the site. "We at the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine are awaiting the final findings of the investigation and remain in contact with the authorities," He said. "At the same time, we are preparing to provide replacement seforim and tashmishei kedusha, and we are confident that the Jewish community here and around the world will assist in rebuilding this tremendous loss. I thank the fire department, the mayor of Haditch, and the regional governor for their dedicated efforts, for closely overseeing the firefighting operation, and for their assistance in rehabilitating the site."