Arsonist Torches Lubavitcher’s New Home
A charred pile is all that is left of the home Rabbi Zalman Zvolonov was building here on 69th Road. It is the seventh and latest in a string of arsons in Forest Hills, and residents are on edge • Full Story
A charred pile is all that is left of the home Rabbi Zalman Zvolonov was building here on 69th Road. It is the seventh and latest in a string of arsons in Forest Hills, and residents are on edge.
“We need extra security. We don’t feel secure no more,” Zvulonov said.
“The whole neighborhood doesn’t know where it’s going to strike next or what neighborhood it might strike next,” Forest Hills resident Ruth Lehman said.
Officials say the most recent fire happened around 12:30 Sunday morning. Firefighters had it under control less than two hours later.
Zvulonov says an arsonist targeted the home before, on November 15, but was unsuccessful.
Leaders from Bukharian Jewish Community Center gathered for an emergency meeting Sunday afternoon. The JCC’s members are afraid they are the arsonist’s target.
“It’s difficult to say right now, but I guess everybody draws his or her own conclusions,” said Aron Borukhov of the Bukharian Jewish Community Center. “Everyone who suffered with these fires, they were members of Bukharian Jewish Community.”
The meeting came just after police released a surveillance photo of a person of interest in the case.
Investigators are looking to question him about the fires, which each happened at construction sites in Forest Hills.
Simon Kazakov lives next door to the site of the Sunday morning fire. He says neighbors beat on his door around 12:30 to wake him up.
“They panic because they’re saying we have to get out of the house and there’s a fire next to the house,” Kazakov said.
The flames also damaged his home, and he and his family will have to stay somewhere else until repairs can be made.
“I hope the city is going to help us to install the cameras on each blocks because it’s going to save a lot of houses,” Kazakov said.
“This cannot continue,” Borukhov said. “If it takes for a patrol car to be at every construction site, maybe that’s what it takes.”
The Jewish Community Center also announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. That is in addition to the NYPD’s $12,500 reward offer.
So far, no injuries have been reported as a result of any of the fires.
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The Rebbe Shlita said: If Israel gives away land that Hashem helped them win in a miraculous way during the June 1967 SIX day war this will put the lives of Jews all over the world in danger
On a positive note: Even though The fight for Sh’Lemus Ha’Aretz seems overwhelming. We need to remember what it was like to fight for yiddishkeit in the Former Soviet Union (the 2nd most powerful country in the world).
And with the Rebbe Shlita’s /brochos & guidance we won. & now the Soviet Union only exists in history books.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3DX4SlIz5M
That video shows that when we dedicate(d) ourselves to fulfilling the Rebbe Shlita’s horas. We saw (& will see) miraclous help from Hashem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3DX4SlIz5M
Hi Rabbi Zalman Zvolonov
I am so saddened with the news about your home. I saw the article in all the chabad websites. I’m sure you are upset about the loss of any of your belongings that were in the house, but I’m so thankful to Hashem that you all escaped without injury.
If any of the chabad websites post a link to donate $$ to help you out. I’ll give what I can.