Dear Friends,
We have heard from many friends who are concerned how we're doing following our April 13 Fairmount Temple fire. We want to keep you informed as we move along this journey of repair and restoration. Below you'll find some answers to questions we know you have. If you have other questions or concerns, please reach out to us. We're on this journey together.
What caused the April 13 Fire?
The fire was determined by all authorities to be an electrical fire. What occurred was entirely accidental, and there was no foul play. Together with experts, we are finalizing methods for continued fire safety and prevention year-round. We are heartened that no one was injured during what was a brief but destructive fire. Just as our Early Childhood Center faculty and Fairmount Temple staff responded quickly and appropriately to this emergency, we are reviewing our safety and security procedures for all activities happening at temple or on its grounds, to keep up a high standard of responsiveness to fire or other risks. The goal we share with all of you is that reparation and construction in our facility be carefully planned so that all of us can experience in the near future a safe, orderly and inspired re-gathering in all of the building of Fairmount Temple. But for a considerable period ahead, a significant portion of our building will shift from being a fire zone to a construction zone and will remain off-limits.
When will work begin to remediate and repair Fairmount Temple?
Remediation and reparation of Fairmount Temple’s facility after the April 13 fire has begun! Many items in the fire zone have been cleaned and restored for use in the limited portion of our building where our staff and schools now operate. Updates in the north wing are occurring now. Some Religious School and Early Childhood Center classrooms are now clergy and staff offices. The Gray Garden has been upgraded for use in communal gatherings and lifecycle events, and the Bogomolny Faigin Activity Center is being carefully reconceived and set as a prayer space. We expect in the coming days to undertake a thorough cleaning process that will enable us to re-inhabit the kitchen space.
TO READ the rest of this column, including upcoming info on Shabbat Services and the High Holy Days, click here to access this full Update message.
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