Over the last two days, five wildfires have broken out in Los Angeles county, engulfing multiple areas of the city in flames. So far, the worst fire in L.A. history has claimed five lives, caused more than 100,000 people to flee their homes under mandatory evacuation orders and has destroyed homes and businesses across over 25,000 acres of land.
Among those who tragically lost their homes include Jewish actor Adam Brody and actress Leighton Meester, his wife, whose Pacific Palisades house was leveled by Wednesday. The couple, who have two young children, have not issued a statement on the matter. However, they were last in the public eye just days ago at the Golden Globes on Sunday, where Adam was nominated in the Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy category for his turn as hot Rabbi Noah Roklov in the Netflix hit “Nobody Wants This.” (He ultimately lost out to Jeremy Allen White in “The Bear.”)
Jewish celebrities Eugene Levy, Diane Warren, Jennifer Grey, Melissa Rivers and Billy Crystal are also among the scores of Los Angeles residents whose homes have burned down.
“Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing. We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy,” Crystal, the “When Harry Met Sally” actor and comedian, shared in a heart-wrenching statement to People. “[My wife] Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.”
He concluded, “We pray for the safety of the fire fighters and first responders. The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home.”
Other Jewish celebrities impacted by the fires include Academy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis, whose neighborhood was devastated by the fires, and actor Steve Guttenberg, who heroically helped the Los Angeles Fire Department and aided in evacuating people near the Pacific Palisades blaze.
Jewish places of worship have also been affected by the L.A. wildfires, with at least one synagogue, the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, having been completely destroyed. (Members of the Conservative synagogue were able to remove its 13 Torah scrolls beforehand, however.) Meanwhile, Pacific Palisades synagogue Kehillat Israel has so far survived the wildfire, but the home of associate Rabbi Daniel Sher, as well as the homes of other members of the community, have been lost.
In the words of Rabbi Sandra Lawson:
