Rabbi's Blog

“Hope In The Midst Of Loss”

At our sister Reconstructionist congregation in Pacific Palisades, Kehillat Israel, the Rabbi Emeritus, the Senior Rabbi and the Associate Rabbi have all lost their homes, as have 300 of their congregants! Click here for the KI Community Palisades Fire Assistance Fund.

In Pasadena, as has been widely reported, the synagogue has burned down and the former rabbi has lost his home, as have many congregants.

In Altadena, our congregation’s friend, the former pastor of the Irvine United Congregational Church, Rev. Paul Tellstrom, has lost his new church.

So much loss, dislocation, uncertainty, and chaos have entered the lives of so many whom we know and love.

I have been in touch with so many people offering assistance and support. It’s a profound reminder of the loving relationships in our shared concentric circles of our Jewish and human family.

The influential theologian Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote that Judaism “sanctifies time, not space.” Our people have been dislocated frequently in our history. We have lost our “space” – homes and synagogue buildings – but we have always continued to celebrate the “sacred times” of Shabbat, holidays and lifecycle events in new places and in new ways.

Our people know how to be strong, creative, and adaptive. We know how to rebuild and shape the future out of the ashes of the past.

Reach out to those you know in Los Angeles. They need our love and support. Everyone is traumatized, wondering what’s going to happen next to them and their loved ones. Let them know that we’ll always be here for them. Let us also be grateful to the firefighters who risk their lives each day to save people and buildings. For those who want to offer financial support, click here for the Jewish Federation of Orange County wildfire relief fund. 

Please be at services tomorrow evening and again on January 24, when interim rabbinic candidates will lead services. Click here to register for tomorrow evening. Please give them your attention and support.

Also, please be at “Shabbat Alive” services next Friday evening, January 17, at 6:00 p.m. for Shabbat Dinner and at 7:00 p.m. for our jazz and pop service “Shabbat Alive,” that the Cantor and I will lead, when our guests/speakers will be the “best and brightest” of Israeli CEOs and executives, sponsored by the Merage Foundations. Click here to register for Shabbat dinner and our Shabbat Alive services. These Israelis specialize in Medical Devices/Life Sciences and their work will save countless lives in Israel and around the world. Click here to view their work. Each dinner table will have our Israeli guests.

Our Israeli brothers and sisters know how to affirm life even in the face of fires, bombs, missiles, war and dislocations, and they will speak about “How Has Life In Israel Changed Since October 7, 2023.”

We will also dedicate a special gift from the Merage Family of Shabbat candlesticks and a Hanukkiah, created by one of Israel’s greatest artists. There are only three sets in the world and one of the others were gifted by the artist to former President Bill and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

We will also remember, through the dedication of a leaf on our Tree of Remembrance, one of our founding members, Judi Appleman.

There’s so much happening intellectually and emotionally this month at University Synagogue. Please be with us.

Kol tuv,

Rabbi Arnie Rachlis