DULUTH – Members of the Adas Israel Congregation searched through the burned remains of their synagogue last week for any artifacts that, under Jewish law, still required a formal burial.
After charred pieces of Torah scrolls and other sacred texts were found, they were stored in a nearby garage a congregation member was renting.
On Sunday the garage burned.
While the cause of the fire remains unknown, Duluth officials don't think someone targeted the artifacts.
"We have every reason to believe this is entirely circumstantial," said city spokeswoman Kate Van Daele. "The fact those artifacts were in the garage doesn't appear to have anything to do with the fire."
Congregation leader Phillip Sher said that even if it were a deliberate act, "it wouldn't make a difference. It's something to be buried."
David Sher, a congregation board member who was renting the garage, said that when the synagogue first burned, "we were devastated," but the recently recovered remains were already ruined.
"This is unfortunate. It's not earth-shattering," he said. "You couldn't even tell what they were."