Torched Lower East Side Synagogue May Face The Wrecking Ball

An interior shot of the historic synagogue. Image by paul berger
A board member of the historic Beth Hamedrash Hagodol synagogue, which was ravaged by a fire in May, has filed a request to demolish at least part of the structure, according to DNAInfo.
A spokesperson for the Landmarks Preservation Commission said that the request did not specify if all or only certain parts of the synagogue would be demolished.
A community board meeting is being held Tuesday night for the synagogue’s board to present its proposal to demolish the building, which the Department of Buildings has deemed unstable.
The police arrested and charged a 14-year-old boy with the arson of the building, which has stood since 1850 and was given landmark status in 1967.
Contact Ari Feldman at [email protected] or on Twitter @aefeldman.
Did you know that only 2% of Forward readers donate to support our nonprofit newsroom? That 2% make it possible for millions to read the Forward without a paywall or subscription — removing any barriers to the full and fair Jewish story.
But while the Forward is free to read, it isn’t free to produce. Big stories — like deep dives into the antisemitism data, political scoops or reporting trips to college campuses — take months of research and fact-checking. All while we keep you informed of what you need to know each day.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Forward Publisher & CEO
