Four days after the arson: Entered the burned Chabad house in San Jose and looted

December 27, 2021   

A thief entered a Chabad house in a San Jose neighborhood in California yesterday (Sunday), looting valuable items, after the extensive destruction left behind by a fire that broke out there last week - and ruined what was left. Last week, a Chabad house was destroyed in a fire that broke out early Wednesday morning. Neighbors of the two-story building saw the flames and called one of the community members, along with the fire department. Footage from security cameras suggests that it was an intentional arson. The director of the Chabad house, Rabbi Mendel Weinfeld, managed to save the Torah scrolls from the fire. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames, which had devastating results. The floor of the second floor was broken, and everything in the rooms was burned. Rabbi Weinfeld noted that the destruction of the building, which housed a synagogue and a Jewish school, is "very great damage and the police are now investigating the cause of the fire." As mentioned, a burglar entered the building last night and attempted to cause further destruction, while stealing items. Local police and the FBI are investigating the arson. [Gallery]