A fire caused extensive damage at Yeshiva Lev Shlomo in Baltimore on Wednesday night. The fire appears to have intentionally been started.

Bichasdei Hashem, there were no injuries and the Sifrei Torah are all safe.

The following is a statement from Lev Shlomo regarding tonight’s fire:

As you may have heard, a fire was started in the Lev Shlomo building, on the corner of 7 Mile Lane and Park Heights Avenue, this evening. We believe that the fire was started by a mentally unstable member of our community who has been attempting to enter the building. He is not a participant in the Lev Shlomo program, and Lev Shlomo has been working in recent days with law enforcement and others to address this situation.

We are grateful for the outpouring of support and offers to help. We will indeed need help, but we want to make certain that we address this situation in an effective and efficient manner. We hope to develop near and medium-term plans in the coming days.

We will have additional information posted on BJL as it develops.

Thank you,

Aryeh Zigdon

Director

Chananya Backer Memorial Institute

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)