A section of ceiling collapsed over the weekend at the historic synagogue in the Skver Hasidic community in upstate New York, but the area was unoccupied at the time and no one was injured.
The incident occurred in the southern section of the women's gallery in the community's older prayer hall. A substantial portion of the ceiling gave way without warning, crashing down onto the prayer benches below. Fortunately, no worshippers were in the affected area when the collapse happened.
The older building stands adjacent to the community's massive new main sanctuary, which has recently been completed. Most prayer services and community events now take place in the newer facility, while the historic structure is used primarily for special occasions and smaller prayer groups.
Emergency volunteers quickly responded to the scene and conducted thorough searches to confirm that no one had been hurt in the collapse. Community officials are now awaiting the arrival of structural engineers and other professionals who will assess the damage and evaluate the stability of the remaining portions of the women's section and the older building.
Shortly after the incident, Rabbi Chaim Meir Twersky, the younger son of the Skverer Rebbe, visited the site. Accompanied by community leaders, he toured the damaged building, examined the extensive property damage, and expressed gratitude that the timing of the collapse prevented what could have been a serious tragedy.
