Where the Fire Stopped: The Torah Protected the Study Hall

Of all the fires that swept through Israel over the weekend, one in particular stood out, the fire in the lush, forested community of Beit Meir, nestled near Jerusalem. With so much greenery and closely built homes, a blaze in this area posed an enormous danger and could have easily destroyed the entire settlement.

In the midst of this terrifying situation, a deeply moving miracle took place. Rabbi Shalom Karlinsky, head of the Torah institutions in Beit Meir, could barely find the words to describe what happened. Speaking with Yated Ne’eman, his voice was filled with emotion.

Rabbi Karlinsky shared that years ago, during another major fire in the same area, his father-in-law, Rabbi Tzvi Kahana, had refused to evacuate. He believed that a place where Shabbat is truly observed would not be consumed by fire. At the time, the swimming pool on the property cracked from the intense heat, but the building was saved. Today, that same building serves as a beit midrash, a Torah study hall where dedicated students continue to learn.

“This fire was fierce and heartless,” said Rabbi Karlinsky. “All the residents were evacuated. The flames burned dangerously close to the yeshiva. A beautiful, well-built gallery that had stood for 40 years just meters away from the yeshiva was completely destroyed.”

Right next to the yeshiva stood a large storage warehouse for children’s toys, known as the ‘Sons’ warehouse. “The entire warehouse caught fire,” Rabbi Karlinsky explained. “Flames reached 20 meters high. According to the fire crews, there’s no natural reason any nearby buildings should have survived.”

But what happened next stunned everyone.

“With all its contents gone, the warehouse left nothing behind but ashes,” he said. “And yet, when the fire reached the walls of the yeshiva it just stopped.”

Rabbi Karlinsky returned to the site after the fire had been put out. What he saw left him in awe. “The flames had surrounded the yeshiva on three sidesת on Habayit and Habrosh streets and crept all the way to the entrance of the beit midrash. That’s where they stopped. No fire crew had even arrived yet. Hashem stopped it right there.”

Other than the smell of smoke, the building was untouched. Not a single sefer (holy book) or piece of furniture was harmed. The Torah scrolls remained in their place. The tables and shelves, untouched by flame.

“It was a miracle,” Rabbi Karlinsky said. “A miracle you can stand in front of and see with your own eyes.”

This incredible moment in Beit Meir reminds us that Torah is not just words on a page. It brings real protection, holiness, and blessing into our world. For those learning or returning to Judaism, stories like this are a living testimony to the power of Torah, Shabbat, and faith.