Local temple sustains slight earthquake damage

After the initial shock of an unexpected earthquake in the Philadelphia region, people are assessing the damage. A 210-year-old synagogue in New Jersey felt the shake more than most.Temple B’nai Israel in Burlington, New Jersey already needed some roof work done, and the earthquake caused some standing water to leak into the sanctuary. What surprised president Joseph Horwitz was the crumbling bricks. The quake caused several bricks to fall through the windshield of a car parked below, and firemen later pried out more bricks loosened by the shaking.The building will be closed for repairs, but Horwitz says the damage should not interrupt the temple’s worship schedule.”As long as this synagogue has been active, over 100 years now, they’ve always taken summers off,” said Horowitz. I guess God goes to the shore, even in the summer. We haven’t had active services since the beginning of June.” Previously arranged roof maintanence had been scheduled to be completed by Labor Day. Horowitz says a worst-case scenario would be that the building will be closed an extra week.