No injuries were reported, but a rabbi and his family escaped unharmed. The cause of the fire remains unclear, but Rutherford police said Friday afternoon the initial outcome of an investigation determined it was not intentionally set. The 4-alarm fire began about 2:45 a.m. at Beth El Chabad in the 100 block of Montross Avenue, authorities said.

Congregation Beth El in Rutherford, more than a century old, was destroyed. The mayor said there was no indication of arson so far.