Chaverim y'karim - dear friends,

 

Fire and water are two magical substances that are mesmerizing. When contained, they provide elemental needs for living. When unleashed and left to their own, they can consume with unique force. Sadly the city of Los Angeles is witnessing this reality right now.

 

Amy and I have just returned from San Francisco, visiting my family. We had planned to go to L.A. to visit my son, Eitan, and his fiancée, Robin, but given the fires we returned home. Los Angeles hardly needs another car on the road. On a personal level, Eitan and Robin and her family, thank God, are well. They all live in Los Angeles and are very close to the fires. None have faced evacuation (yet) but have their bags packed should an order be issued. Eitan’s synagogue in Santa Monica, where he works, is very near Pacific Palisades and needless to say, their community has been affected immediately and painfully. 

 

Like so many of you, I have been gripped by the pictures and the news from the fires - the loss of property, security, safety … it is nothing short of a human and envirronmental tragedy of the highest proportion. Truly I am overwhelmed thinking about the scope of this disaster! I read a statistic that roughly a quarter of the Jewish community of Los Angeles is in one of the evacuation zones.  

 

While many are debating the causes of the fire, and there is much finger pointing, I will leave the assessment to others - for us, the consummate question in this moment is: what can we do to assist? I have provided a few resources below though I have no doubt you all know excellent organizations that can help as well. 

 

I pray for the hundreds of thousands of displaced people and of suddenly homeless individuals and families. I pray for the emergency responders, who are working tirelessly. I pray that we will all do our part to help Angelinos recover from this unspeakable disaster. While in San Francisco I was watching the local news, and I found it very inspiring to see churches and loving souls fill trucks with donated goods for the people “in SoCal.” I heard one man say, “We are just going to drive it down there and bring it to people in need.” I pray the spirit of generosity and concern will inspire all of us to do our part.  

 

Six months ago, it was Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina that destroyed communties and lives with too much water. And in this moment it is southern California that is being brutalized by fire - and clearly, not enough water. 

 

In First Kings, Chapter 19:12, we find the prophet Elijah searching for restoration at a time of deep despair. God passes by and there is massive wind and fire … “but God was not in the fire - and after the fire, a small, still voice - kol d'mammah dakah - קול דממה דקה.”

 

The kol d’mammah dakah. That small, still voice is every action and prayer, every donation and deed of loving-kindness, that calling out of truth where there has been human failure and that considering how to make wiser decisions for the inevitable future disasters that await us by fire, by water, by earthquake and by human frailties. 

 

Consider how and where to give - and I know you join me in hoping that all those affected by these fires can find a sukkat shalom - a shelter of peace - to work through these most difficult of days. 

 

Rabbi Mark Cohn, 14 January 2025

rabbicohn@tsholom.org 

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