photos courtesy of NJ District 36 Assembly candidates Chris Musto and Diane DeBiase
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
RUTHERFORD, NJ — A devastating blaze in the early hours of Friday, August 8, 2025, destroyed the home and synagogue of Rabbi Yitzchok and Bina Lerman on Montross Avenue. The couple and their four children narrowly escaped with their lives, but everything else — including seven sacred Torah scrolls — was lost.
According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, the fire broke out at approximately 2:45 a.m. at Congregation Beth-El, a historic synagogue the Lermans have spent more than a decade rebuilding after a 2012 firebombing. First responders from the Rutherford Police and Fire Departments arrived within minutes, ensuring the family’s safe evacuation.
Bina’s sister, Brocha, described the escape as happening “right in the nick of time.” Tragically, the flames consumed the building and its contents. The structure, a Queen Anne mansion built in 1821, had served as both the family’s residence and the heart of their congregation.
The Lermans, who moved from Brooklyn to Rutherford more than a decade ago, worked tirelessly to restore and grow Beth-El despite challenges maintaining the aging property. In 2016, Rabbi Lerman told the Daily Voice, “If we don’t fix it, we’re going to lose this place.” That same year, they were honored by President Barack Obama for Beth-El’s 95 years of community service.
Friday’s fire marks yet another heartbreaking chapter for the congregation. In 2012, a Lodi man threw a firebomb through one of the synagogue’s windows — an attack for which Anthony Graziano was later convicted of terrorism.
Preliminary investigations suggest no injuries, though the structure suffered catastrophic damage. The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Arson Squad is working alongside local authorities to determine the fire’s cause. Detours remain in effect, and the public is urged to avoid the area.
In a joint statement, NJ District 36 Assembly candidates Chris Musto and Diane DeBiase said:
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Rabbi Lerman and his family. Thanks to the quick and heroic work of Rutherford Police and Fire Departments, they escaped harm from a major fire that has destroyed their home and synagogue. Please keep the Rabbi and his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Despite this devastating loss, the Lermans’ resilience — forged through years of adversity — has been a cornerstone of Beth-El’s spirit. The community now faces the challenge of rebuilding once again.
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