The fire originated in the kitchen following the Kabbalat Shabbat service when no one was present in the community centre; it is unlikely that arson was the cause of the fire, but the municipal fire department determined that a live hot plate was where the fire originated.

Unfortunately all of our community rooms – including the downstairs synagogue - were badly damaged by the fire and the resulting soot development before it could be put under control. Until a renovation of these rooms is complete, the community centre cannot be used. It is estimated that the repairs will take anywhere from eight to twelve weeks.

In addition to the damage of the building and the community centre rooms, there has also been massive damage to the community’s property, including our entire library, the kitchen, tables, chairs, office equipment, prayer books, pictures and the materials used for educational purposes. Much of this property has been destroyed or has been rendered irreparable, largely by the soot created by the fire. The total damage including the damages to the rented rooms (walls, floors, ceiling, windows, etc.) has been estimated at more than 70.000,00 Euro.

While there is a fire insurance policy which will apply to cover the damage to the building and the community rooms, the community unfortunately cannot fall back on an insurance policy to cover the total estimated damage of its own property estimated at 40.000,00 Euro. At the time Beth Shalom rented the rooms destined to become the new community centre in 2004 it was not deemed to be a high priority to insure the community’s own property since the community possessed very little property at the time. In the following years, when the community started to invest more heavily in its own infrastructure, this issue was simply not given any further consideration. In hindsight this was an unfortunate mistake.

The Board of Beth Shalom has decided to take swift action to repair the damage caused by the fire, to find provisional rooms to continue to provide services to the community and to replace the lost property. A professional loss-recovery company has been engaged by the Board and by the landlord to coordinate and implement the renovation efforts at the community centre. An inventory of all lost or damaged property has already been completed and efforts to replace and/or fix all damaged property of any value are now underway.

As we now face the costs and the burden of renovation, repair and replacement of the community’s lost property we turn to YOU, our dear members, friends and supporters. Please support the restoration of our community rooms with your donation. By helping us to replace and repair our damaged or lost property you will greatly contribute to a quick recovery of our community from this terrible disaster.

Any monetary donation – small or large - will be highly appreciated. For donations above 100 Euro we will generate individual tax-deductible donation receipts. The bank transfer receipt otherwise functions as a donation receipt for all donations below 100 Euros.

Donations can be made to the account of the „Liberale Jüdische Gemeinde München Beth Shalom“ at the Hypovereinsbank München, Account Number 467 64 935, Bank Code („BLZ“): 700 202 70; Please note that your contribution is a donation („Verwendungszweck“:)Donation Brandschaden Beth Shalom“

Thank you and toda rabba on behalf of the Beth Shalom Board
Thomas Dahmen
President