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VESTAL — After a roof collapse late Sunday night, the congregation at Temple Israel is picking up the pieces and searching for a temporary home.Parts of the structure, built in 1967, were severely damaged. No one was in the building at the time the roof fell.Authorities were called to the temple on Clubhouse Road in Vestal at 11:30 p.m. Sunday when the alarm system went off, said Steven Gilbert, a Vestal resident and past president of the temple who currently serves as special counsel to the executive board. When Gilbert and officers from the Vestal Police Department arrived on the scene, they could tell something was wrong.“It was obvious something bad had happened. There was debris and water all over the lobby,” Gilbert said.The roof of the temple had collapsed into the social hall. The room came down with such force it broke through the main floor and sent debris into the basement as well, Gilbert said.Vestal Fire Department authorities shut down the utilities to the building late Sunday night, said Assistant Fire Chief John Paffie.Monday morning, Gilbert and members of the Vestal code enforcement department did a walk-through of the building to begin assessing the damage. A structural engineering team was on site on Monday to assess the damage and attempt to separate the damaged part of the building from the unaffected part.The library, office and main sanctuary were not affected by the roof collapse, Gilbert said.“Virtually every other part of the building has been mostly destroyed. It’s a tremendous amount of damage,” he said.There is no official cause for the collapse yet, but Gilbert said it may have been caused by the weight of ice on the roof.Officials from the Vestal code department could not be reached for comment.Temple officials were allowed to remove the Torahs from the two main sanctuaries, which was essential to the congregation’s spiritual well being, Rabbi Tziona Szajman said.“While Judaism would never allow a person's life to be endangered to save a Torah scroll, or any object, receiving permission today to carry them to safety was incredibly important to us,” she said in an email.
While the damage was still fresh on Monday, officials began plans to move forward.
Hillel Academy, which occupies the basement, is looking to relocate for the remainder of the academic year. About 30 students ranging from pre-kindergarten to grade five attend the academy, school administrator and Vestal resident Julie Piaker said.
A significant portion of the basement roof collapsed and the only salvageable item so far is the main computer, Piaker said.
Administrators hope to reopen the school on Wednesday and are working with officials at the Vestal Central School District for supplies.
“Everyone has been very cooperative so far,” Piaker said and added the school is looking to relocate at Temple Concord.
Plans are still being made while the building is assessed, said Jason Weinstein, an Endwell resident and congregation president. Shabbat services this week will be held at the Binghamton Jewish Community Center
“The strength of Temple Israel is its people. A collapsed roof doesn’t change that,” Weinstein said.