Fire at Jewish frat house at Emory investigated

DeKalb County fire officials are investigating the cause of a small fire started over the weekend at a predominantly Jewish fraternity house at Emory University.

The fire happened during what some have dubbed “Palestinian Week,” which included the building of a mock fence to protest Israel’s West Bank security barrier.

According to a statement released by Emory, the fire was reported early Sunday morning in a side-entrance doorway of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house. The fire damaged to the door’s wooden framing and caused smoke damage inside. There were no injuries and the house is considered habitable.

A university spokeswoman said officials have no evidence the fraternity was targeted.

Michael Rabkin, director of Emory’s Jewish campus life foundation, Hillel, urged people to reserve judgment about the incident.

“Everyone should remain calm and refrain from jumping to conclusions pending the outcome of the investigation,” Rabkin said. “I have been assured by Emory University that they are treating this matter with the utmost importance and taking necessary steps to ensure the safety of all Emory students.”

— Staff writer Marcus Garner contributed to this report.