Early Shabbos morning, a devastating fire completely destroyed the Bellevue, WA, home of Rabbi Sholom Ber and Chaya Elishevitz, local shluchim and directors of MMSC Day School, Seattle Cheder. In an open miracle, all eleven people inside, including family members and seven CTeen Summer Camp counselors, escaped with their lives, with only minor injuries reported.

Within a short time, the fire consumed the home, leaving the family with virtually nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

Rabbi and Mrs. Elishevitz have served as shluchim in Bellevue for the past 18 years, directing MMSC Day School, Seattle Cheder, and the Bellevue chapter of CTeen. Their dedication has helped transform Jewish life throughout the region, and their home has long served as a place of hachnosas orchim, Shabbos and Yom Tov meals, Torah classes, and community events.

The fire comes as Rabbi and Mrs. Elishevitz are directing the annual CTeen Summer Camp, a highlight of the summer for Jewish teens from across the region. Despite the devastating loss, camp staff, led by Rabbi Mordechai and Rochie Farkash, said the camp will continue as scheduled, ensuring that campers enjoy the inspiring and meaningful experience they have been eagerly anticipating.

“Anyone who knows Rabbi Sholom Ber and Chaya Elishevitz knows that their home was never only their own,” one community member shared. “Their door was always open, there was always room for another guest at the Shabbos table, and they have quietly helped countless people over the years. Now it is our turn to stand with them.”

Since news of the fire spread, the Bellevue Jewish community has rallied to provide temporary housing, meals, clothing, and other essential needs. Support has also begun pouring in from fellow shluchim and friends around the world, including Keren Hashluchim, under the leadership of Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, and Rabbi Sholom Ber and Chanie Levitin, head shluchim to the Pacific Northwest and Washington State.

Following Shabbos, Eastside Torah Center, together with the Elishevitz family, established an Emergency Fire Relief Fund to provide immediate assistance and support the long road to rebuilding the family’s home and replacing everything that was lost.

Help the Elishevitz family rebuild and replace the basic necessities lost in the fire by donating here.