January 8, 2025

Dear Friends,

The devastation caused by the wildfires in Los Angeles is significant, and has affected many in the Jewish community in Southern California. Homes have been destroyed, there has been significant loss of property, and also, most sadly, the loss of life. Thousands have been displaced and are in immediate need of assistance.

I have personally been in Los Angeles for the last twenty-four hours for a Jewish Federations of North America meeting (I’m on my way back to Seattle now) and smoke from the fires is visible throughout the area. Colleagues from the Los Angeles Federation have shared that many in their community are already directly affected by a disaster that has become all too commonplace in California. Many Jewish institutions are in the evacuation zones for the fires, which have already destroyed a synagogue that’s over 100 years old in Pasadena.

As part of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle’s commitment to helping in times of crisis, we are working closely with Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and other Federations nationwide to support the Jewish community affected. The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, along with the Jewish Federation of Ventura County and Jewish Federation of Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys have opened a Wildfire Crisis Relief fund to provide critical assistance to those impacted.