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63 New York Synagogues Damaged by Sandy

Superstorm Also Damaged Six Jersey Shuls, Forward Finds

By Seth Berkman

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Rabbi Marjorie Slome of West End Temple, which is located in the Queens neighborhood of Neponsit in the Rockaways, estimated more than $1 million in damages to her synagogue. She said that with help from the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York she would apply to FEMA for aid.

In New Jersey, where there are 18 Jewish federations, damage to area synagogues was substantially less than in New York.

In Ocean County, which includes a number of synagogues in coastal communities, only one synagogue reported to the local federation about suffering physical damage.

New Jersey’s Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, which covers northern and central areas of the state, reported that only three of its 74 synagogues suffered physical damage. Shelley Labiner, MetroWest’s chief marketing officer, said she was not aware of any synagogues requesting help in applying for FEMA aid. Other federations reported no damage aside from power losses, or hadn’t kept extensive lists of the status of the synagogues in their area.

Rabbi Robert Scheinberg of the United Synagogue of Hoboken estimated $50,000 worth of damage to his congregation’s basement, which took in seven feet of water.

Rabbi Benjamin Adler of White Meadow Temple, in Rockaway, N.J., said his congregation lost part of its roof. He gave a “ballpark estimate” of total damage at $20,000. Adler said he was waiting to hear back on what his insurance would cover.

Rabbi David Bauman of Temple Israel of Long Beach, in Long Island’s Nassau County, estimated $5 million worth of damages, cleanup and reconstruction for his congregation’s building. Bauman said his synagogue was insured, but he noted, “Insurance companies have outs for everything.”

Synagogues Hurt by Sandy

Contact Seth Berkman at berkman@forward.com

Assistant managing editor Larry Cohler-Esses contributed to this story