Congregation Beth El in Rutherford, more than a century old, was destroyed. The mayor said there was no indication of arson so far.

A rabbi and his family are lucky to be alive after escaping a fire that engulfed a historical synagogue in New Jersey on Friday, Aug. 8

An early investigation of the fire found no evidence of criminal intent. A fire early Friday morning destroyed a historic synagogue and Jewish community center in Rutherford, New Jersey, as the congregation’s rabbi and his family escaped unharmed.