Fundraiser to Rebuild Temple Beth El

By Jennifer Ersalesi

Since the devastating loss of their beloved Temple, Temple Beth El, Rabbi Yitschok Lerman, his wife Bina Lerman, their family, and their congregation have been holding services and programs in a different location. However, during that time they have been working together to find a way to rebuild their Temple and home. In just a few weeks, they will hold a special fundraiser at the Woman's Club of Rutherford. This is Rutherford interviewed Rabbi and Bina Lerman to learn more about this upcoming event and the Temple they lost.

Bina and Rabbi Yitschok Lerman

TIR: Tell us about Temple Beth El, your synagogue and home, that was lost in a terrible fire on August 8, 2025.  What was the synagogue's significance to you, your family, and congregation?

Rabbi Yitschok Lerman: Sure. In the early 1900s Rutherford had a sizable Jewish community. In 1919, they formed a synagogue, and were originally located just across the tracks on Park Ave in East Rutherford. In addition to hosting services, they had a Sunday Hebrew School, and established one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in NJ.

By 1950, they had outgrown their small location and were in search of a larger space to gather. In 1953, they purchased the Dannheim home on Montross ave and built a gymnasium in the back. The house was beautiful with lots of woodwork, ironwork, beautiful moldings and plastered ceilings. The community created a synagogue, classrooms and a hall for events. Many remember our gymnasium from when they dropped off their children to practice baseball with Wladyka baseball.

My family and I moved into the apartment above the synagogue in 2014 (shortly after the terror attack in 2012) and have been leading the congregation since. Over the past twelve years we have increased programming, events and membership, and have spent a great deal of energy and money updating and renovating the synagogue building.

The fire on August 8th was absolutely devastating for us and our community. The building was a home to our family where my wife Bina and I lived with our six children. Unfortunately, nothing survived the fire. We literally ran out with our lives, and the PJs on our backs. All our memories, family heirlooms, and possessions were lost. We are thankful to God that we survived, and we are grateful to our neighbors and friends who helped us find a place to live and rebuild our lives after the fire.

Rabbi Lerman

For our community, the synagogue held a special place. Many weddings, baby namings’ and bar/bat mitzvahs have taken place there over the years. We shed tears of joy during the good times, and many tears of sorrow during the difficult times. Those walls have heard our prayers during service, and the laughter of children as they went about their studies or enjoyed camp. It will greatly be missed.

TIR: After the devastating fire at your 125 year old synagogue, you, your congregation and others in the community have organized a fundraising event to help rebuild the synagogue.  Tell us about the event you have planned on May 26th at the Woman's Club of Rutherford.

Bina Lerman: The dinner's theme is "Rebuild and Reconnect". The Jewish community is still here and we have plans to REBUILD. We felt that making a dinner would give us the opportunity to RECONNECT with our neighbors in the wider Rutherford community over shared food, wine and music.

TIR: Who is helping to organize and run this event?

BL: We are blessed to have a talented and passionate team within the local Rutherford community.

TIR: Can you tell us about the musician, Tali Yess, that will play at this event?

BL: We are very excited that Tali Yess will be the performer at the event. Tali's late father, Moshe Yess was a legendary Jewish country singer with a wide vocal range. My husband and I grew up listening and loving his sound. We even had our favorite line from one of his songs written out for us on a plank of wood and displayed in our home. Of course we no longer have that piece but it remains in our hearts. Tali is extremely talented in his own right. He has taken his father's sound and made it his own. He brings a rare combination of professional polish and raw, authentic soul.

To purchase tickets, click this link:  https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/lechaim-to-life

TIR: What are your plans for rebuilding the Synagogue, your home, and the new Jewish community center?

BL: We plan to build a beautiful community center and Synagogue for our community as well as a home for our family on the Montross Avenue property. Since the day of the fire we have been working closely with a wonderfully talented local architect to develop a community center that is meaningful and functional. We look forward to sharing some of the plans with the wider community at the event.

TIR: What else would you like to add? 

RYL: We are grateful to our fellow Rutherfordians who have reached out and contributed to the campaign that was setup on our behalf in the hours after the fire, and although we haven't been able to thank everyone personally, we are extremely moved by everyone's kindness and generosity. Our volunteer Fire Department and first responders were incredible the night of the fire. We are so fortunate to live in this town, where people look after and care for one another.