Fire Guts Chabad of Almaden Valley, Calif., Arson Suspected – Nobody was harmed, the Torah scrolls were saved | Chabad

Fire Guts Chabad of Almaden Valley, Calif., Arson Suspected – Nobody was harmed, the Torah scrolls were saved | Chabad

In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, Dec. 22, in San Jose’s Almaden Valley, what appears to be an intentionally lit fire ripped through the distinct purple building of Chabad-Lubavitch of Almaden Valley. The fire devastated the building, tearing through the very foundation. Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld, co-director of the center with his wife, Mussi, is resolute in his response. “The light of Judaism will outlast the flames of this fire,” he told Chabad.org. “We just celebrated Chanukah with 1500 community members and the mayor; the message of the holiday is freedom of religion and light overcoming darkness. This is how we will go forward.” The community is shocked and devastated, but optimistic, Weinfeld notes. “We’ll rebuild stronger than before.”