On the morning of Erev Pesach, Monday, April 14, the Teaneck Jewish Center held its annual Big Bread Burn, as it customarily does, in its parking lot. This tradition was started many years ago by members Joy and Al Amsel, who held a communal Biur Chometz in their own backyard on Maitland Avenue. With the Amsels gone, the tradition was taken over by the congregation about seven years ago. It was noted that Teaneck Councilman Yitz Stern was to be commended for arranging for the public safety provided at the event.
The event has two primary purposes: To provide a festive communal atmosphere and safe conditions in which Jews from all over Teaneck and nearby towns can perform the mitzvah of burning their chometz, and to use the opportunity to teach the community about fire safety at home.
The chometz burning is carried out by providing two large metal dumpsters for the burning, surrounded by plastic rope lines to remind everyone to stay a safe distance away from the fires in the dumpsters.
Some of those who came had burned some of their chometz at home and brought the rest to the communal event. Rabbi Lawrence Zierler of the Teaneck Jewish Center pointed out that many people find it inconvenient to burn the chometz at their homes because it might present a fire hazard. He also noted that some are deterred from doing so because some neighbors are worried by that danger and bothered by the smoke that drifts from the site of the burning. Many neighbors are also unaware that most chometz is sold rather than burned—and that it is not a wanton destruction of food, just a symbolic act.
On that morning, people from nearly every congregation in the area came to burn their chometz. Participants were continually reminded not to throw plastic bags into the fires, just paper bags or cardboard containers. Cards with the appropriate brachos were provided for everyone. Many people tied the coming of Pesach to Sukkot by bringing their dried-out lulavim, hadassim, and aravot to feed the fire, as reporters from CBS and other TV stations came to record the event for posterity.
Parents filled the parking lot with young children, who were attracted by the big fires and joined in the festivities. Rabbi Zierler, who is the Fire Department chaplain, is quite familiar with the work of the Teaneck Fire Department, deals with the aftermath of fires, and has also arrived at fire scenes where he had to identify the bodies of some victims. He prevailed upon the department, and two fire engines came to the chometz burning site with large number of firemen who instructed the children about fire safety, and showed them all the “good stuff”—like the fire hoses, the extinguishers and the other equipment they use to put out fires. Though listening to the firemen was a treat, it was more so when they were able to see and touch the firefighting equipment. The ultimate thrill was to sit at the steering wheel of one of the trucks, sometimes on a parent’s knees.
The Jewish Community Center also provided plastic firemen’s helmets and lollipops for all the children who wanted them. Parents busy minding their children at the dumpsters and at the lines to approach the fire engines found it impossible NOT to take pictures of their junior firefighters.
JLBC interviewed Fireman Brian Wiecenski and Lt. Lad Bell who explained some of what they teach the children and what they want the community to know. Children who have attended any school are familiar with “stop, drop, and roll,” and to stay low if they cannot escape a fire, as the danger from smoke is more serious to families and to firemen than the fire itself.
The firemen also want children to tell their parents to arrange evacuation plans in case of a fire in their own homes. There should be one designated exit at the front of the house and another at the back. The children should know when to leave the house and where the family should immediately meet at a safe distance from the fire. The firemen also want to familiarize children with their uniforms and equipment, so that when they hear a fire siren they will not be scared but will know that help is on the way.
The Teaneck firemen, who are full-time professionals, pointed with pride to their rapid response time, which is between 2 to 4 minutes to reach any property in Teaneck. They also have arrangements to assist some surrounding towns that have well-trained volunteer firemen, but who are not resident in their fire houses. This excellent response time is crucial because a fire can double in size every 30 to 60 seconds. They said they provide this level of community service, which includes fighting about two fires per week, at a cost of only about $50 per household per year.
Fireman Wiecenski, who was fully dressed to answer a fire alarm, was sweating from wearing his heavy suit for so long. He pointed out that though it is fire resistant, it is only rated to protect at up to 500 degrees, and house fires can easily reach over twice that temperature. The hoses allow them to water-down a fire from a safe distance. Lt. Bell said it is the firemen’s mission to provide the best “customer service” possible, and to help people prevent fires, fight fires, and even sometimes get cats out of trees.
Photo credits: Jay Greenspan
By Stephen Tencer
