WPCNR STREETS OF WHITE PLAINS. By John F. Bailey. September 19, 2003: Governor George Pataki visited the fire-ravaged Bet Am Shalom temple in White Plains Friday afternoon to lend his support, concern and compassion to the templeless congregation. The Governor arranged with SUNY Purchase to make available the Fine Arts Center at Purchase to the congregation for the High Holy Days coming up. Saying it was important in crisis for us all to hang together, the Governor congratulated the White Plains Fire Department for their bravery in containing the blaze, preventing the sanctuary from being extensively damaged. He and Mayor Joseph Delfino surveyed  the interior damage to the old Bet Am Shalom mansion it sustained in its Primary Day fire, September 9.

"GOVERNOR WITH A HEART:" George Pataki, arriving at 3:35 P.M. Friday,  views the damage at Bet Am Shalom on Soundview Avenue with Mayor Joseph Delfino, and Rabbi Lester Bronstein, head of the congregation. Later, Mayor Delfino characterized Governor Pataki as a "Governor With a Heart," for his prompt arranging space for the congregation at SUNY Purchase. Photo by WPCNR News.

IN PROCESS OF ESTIMATING COST OF DAMAGE: Governor Pataki and Mayor Delfino solemnly surveyed the devastated, roofless hulk of the Bet Am Shalom mansion as it looked Friday. Robin Rattner, the synagague Executive Director,  said their insurance company, Church Mutual Insurance Company, is in the process of determining the cause of fire and estimating the cost of the damage, and that was not expected to be calculated for about 2 to 3 weeks. She also reported the congregation anticipates rebuilding the mansion on the structure in place and perhaps enlarging it and adding additional sections, figuring the time to rebuild would be about 2 to 3 years, at the cost of several million dollars. Rabbi Bronstein said the temple sanctuary at the extreme right in this picture is being clean up and will undergo reconstruction of the beams before it could be ready for services again. Rattner said the temple's Hebrew School is being housed at Solomon Schechter in White Plains, and praised Solomon Schechter for stepping forward so promptly to provide facilities to keep the school operating. Photo by WPCNR News