An emergency campaign to raise funds for Beit Midrash Monash synagogue in Sea Point has been started.
This comes after a fire at the synagogue last Tuesday evening, December 4, destroyed the sanctuary and seven Sifrei Torah.
The incident took place around 11pm and the City’s firefighters battled the blaze into the early hours of Wednesday.
Chairman of the Cape South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), Rael Kaimowitz, thanked the firefighters for their bravery and shared his sympathy with the synagogue.
“Our heartfelt prayers are with Rabbi Sam Thurgood and the entire congregation.
“The SAJBD (Cape Council) can confirm on behalf of the synagogue that there are no injuries and investigators report no signs of foul play at this stage and await the outcome of a full investigation,” he said.
The SAJBD said a Sifrei Torah from their Johannesburg offices was carefully transported on a flight to Cape Town and delivered to Rabbi Thurgood to be used by the Beit Midrash Morasha community.
The board said even though no one was injured, the image of the Torah that was burnt haunted every Jewish person.
The City’s Fire and Rescue spokesperson, Theo Layne, said four fire engines and 22 firefighters responded to the incident.
