WESLEY HILLS - Fire guts Judaica shop owner's home

WESLEY HILLS — The owner of a popular Monsey Judaica shop remained hospitalized this morning after fire destroyed his Judith Lane home early today.

Tuvia Rotberg, 57, was alone in the bi-level-style home off Forshay Road when fire broke out in the living room shortly before 1 a.m., Ramapo police said.

“The smoke detector saved his life,” said Rotberg’s son-in-law, Ezzy Katz, who surveyed the smoldering remains of the house this morning.

Rotberg’s wife was visiting relatives in Florida when the blaze broke out, Katz said.

Rotberg and a firefighter were both taken to Good Samaritan Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. Rotberg remained in the hospital this morning. It was not immediately clear if the firefighter was released.

 

Katz praised firefighters who battled the blaze.

“They were amazing,” he said. “We can’t thank them enough.”

Volunteer firefighters from Monsey, Hillcrest, Tallman, Spring Valley and South Spring Valley were at the scene along with Ramapo Valley Ambulance Corps.

Rotberg is the owner of Tuvia's Seforim & Judaica on Route 59 in Monsey, a popular store that sells books and other religious items.

“He is very well known in the community,” Katz said.

Friends and neighbors were already contacting the extended family offering support, he said.

Rotberg had many precious books and other items in the home that were destroyed in the blaze, his son-in-law said.

“All the pictures, all the albums, all that history,” he said. “It’s all gone. But the important thing is that my father-in-law is alive.”

Investigators don’t know what caused the blaze but said it did not appear suspicious.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Jane Lerner  Lohud.com