.jpg "Congregations Rebuilding After the L.A. Fires")
The L.A. fires have left many families displaced, and some members of the local religious communities lost their holy places. Yet amidst the desolation, these scenes of resilience and faith stand out as a reminder of the strength of unity and hope.
1. A Borrowed Space Becomes a Sanctuary
For the first time since an Eaton fire ravaged their more than 80-year-old campus, the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center congregated in a borrowed space: a theater at the Mayfield Senior School, a Catholic school in Pasadena. The service was humble, yet profound; loaned prayer shawls, books, and yarmulkes filled the gap.
Rabbi Jill Gold Wright summed it poignantly:
I noticed that you are … here."
Despite their loss, the congregation celebrated community still intact, drawing strength from one another and their shared traditions.
2. A Torah Saved from the Flames
One thing, however, was found in the ashes and remained intact-a Torah. Rescued from the ruin of the synagogue, this relic was brought forward in stirring testimony to faith and resilience into the service.
Rabbi Wright's leadership, along with the joyful music of Cantor Ruth Berman Harris, created a hopeful and joyous tone for the congregation present to mourn the loss of their spiritual home.
3. Interfaith Solidarity in Action
In a gesture of unity, Rabbi Wright invited Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, former leader of the congregation, to share a message. Having also lost his home in the fires, Rabbi Grater focused not on loss but on the enduring power of people and community: "Judaism is not about space. It's about people. It's about community."His words mirrored the resiliency of the congregation, pointing out one important universal reality-that faith is bigger than any building structure.
4. Catholics Open Their Hearts and Homes
Another parish affected by the fire was the Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades; hundreds of families lost a home for worship when it was razed to ashes. In sisterhood with them, St. Monica Catholic Church welcomed these people into her space.
Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson not only opened his church but also his home, welcoming Corpus Christi’s Monsignor Liam Kidney and his associate pastor into St. Monica’s rectory. “We are just trying to be good neighbors,” Monsignor Torgerson said, embodying the spirit of Christian compassion.
5. Rebuilding Together Amid Complete Devastation
Both congregations reach beyond spiritual aid; they get the families rebuilding lives. They pair families up with food, toiletries, school supplies and temporary shelter for families.
Monsignor Torgerson reflected on what it is that the fires continue to take on an emotional toll:
"All I can do is walk with them.
His words remind us of the need for leadership in times of crisis and the resilience of faith communities to come together in support of one another.
Conclusion
While the L.A. fires brought much destruction, the responses of these congregations show the indomitable human spirit. Spaces lent became sanctuaries, and faith became the cornerstone to rebuilding not only places of worship but lives and communities.
Let these moments remind one that even from the ashes, hope and unity can bloom.