- News
Our city is on fire.
Some of us will experience fitful sleep in our own beds tonight, others will be in temporary locations because of evacuations, and too many of our Wilshire Boulevard Temple community no longer have homes to go back to after all of this. As of tonight, we have more than 40 families whose homes are confirmed to have been lost in the devastating fires in Pacific Palisades and the Altadena/Pasadena area, with close to 40 more who are assuming their homes are destroyed but are awaiting official confirmation. With more fires arising across the city, I’m sure we will learn of more in the coming days. It’s unfathomable and shocking and heart-wrenching. It is going to take us a long time to fully comprehend the impact this will have on our city, our neighborhoods, our community, and the lives of the individuals and families who mean so much to us.
First and foremost, this is a time to pray.
It is a time to pray for the emergency workers who are working tirelessly across our vast city; a time to pray for the winds to die down and the weather to shift.
It is a time to pray for the safety and security of all of those who have been evacuated from their homes.
It is a time to pray for strength, comfort, and peace for all those who have lost their most precious memories in homes that have been burned to the ground.
It is a time to pray for collective strength and resilience.
Pray with words, pray with your texts and calls to friends and loved ones, pray with your wallet and your resources, pray with your hearts and souls.
Here at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, we are continuing to collect information about members of our community who have lost their homes and need assistance and earlier today, we sent an email asking for you to let us know if you are able and willing to help provide support to families in need, whether it be supplies, connections to housing opportunities, therapeutic support for children and adults, and whatever else you think may be helpful. We had close to 100 people respond and we want to give others the opportunity to add their names to the list. Feel free to add your information HERE.
I know we are all eager to lend a helping hand and do what we can, but it is still early in this long journey toward recovery and repair. Please don’t begin dropping off supplies at the Synagogue or making assumptions about what people may need without allowing us to coordinate efforts. We are beginning to work with local organizations, groups within our own synagogue community, and others to come up with the most effective, meaningful, and sustainable ways to support our own families in need, as well as other across this city who need our help. We will continue to update you with opportunities to make a difference and thank you in advance for stepping up and leaning into the important mitzvah of caring for our neighbor and stranger alike.
I’m including a resource by our own member, Dr. Erica Felsenthal, which offers guidance to those who may need to talk to children about the loss of a home. Even if this doesn’t apply directly to you, please feel free to share it with those you know, and you may even find some elements of her guidance that can support you during this difficult time. We are all dealing with the stress and anxiety that these fires have wrought upon our city.
Tonight, let us all remember the famous Talmudic phrase, Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh - All of Israel is responsible for one another. We are in this together.
With prayers of peace and comfort,
Rabbi Joel Nickerson