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2 rabbis avoid prison time in Rockland County nursing home fire that killed firefighter, resident

The scene of a fatal fire at 65 Lafayette St., the Evergreen Home for Adults, in Spring Valley on Tuesday, March 23, 2021.
The scene of a fatal fire at 65 Lafayette St., the Evergreen Home for Adults, in Spring Valley on Tuesday, March 23, 2021.
John Meore/The Journal News via Imagn Content Services, LLC

SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. (1010 WINS) — Two rabbis who pleaded guilty to starting a fire two years ago at a Rockland County adult care facility that killed a firefighter and a resident avoided prison time on Wednesday.

Rabbi Nathaniel Sommer, 71 and his son, Aaron, 29, were sentenced to probation following a plea deal where they admitted to recklessly causing the fire by using a blowtorch during a March 2021 pre-Passover cleansing ritual in the kitchen of the Evergreen Court nursing home in Spring Valley.


Rabbi Nathaniel Sommer pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, while his son pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment. Neither will serve jail or prison time but will pay $600 in court fees.

The plea deal was reached due to there being no legal precedence for deaths connected to a religious ritual.

Spring Valley Firefighter Jared Lloyd, 35, was able to rescue several residents before he became trapped himself and was killed. Resident Oliver Hueston, 79, also died in the blaze.