Overview
- The blaze broke out late Friday night and rapidly consumed the Rabbeinu Hagadol complex, destroying the main shul and wrecking the central hospitality and kitchen facilities.
- Local firefighters fought the fire for hours during Shabbat and succeeded in containing it with no reported injuries.
- Guests and staff rescued several Torah scrolls from the burning building before it was lost, while damage to the site is estimated in the millions of dollars.
- Ukrainian police have launched an active inquiry into the cause and are examining an electrical short circuit among the possibilities under review.
- Chabad leaders and the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine have begun emergency fundraising, are organizing replacement seforim and ritual items, and say they plan to rebuild the pilgrimage complex.