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A historic synagogue in Pasadena, California, with roots going back more than a century, was destroyed overnight as wildfires tore through parts of Southern California. The Pasadena Jewish Center and Temple succumbed to flames fueled by fierce winds after a fire erupted in the Eaton Canyon area, JTA reported.
Meanwhile, about 40 miles away in Pacific Palisades, another fire prompted evacuations and left the fate of a Chabad center uncertain. These were just two of three major blazes wreaking havoc across the greater Los Angeles region, threatening lives and property.
🇺🇸 The Pasadena fire has destroyed the Pasadena Jewish Temple.
This synagogue stood for over 100 years. Thankfully, the rabbi and students managed to save all the valuable items before the fire took over. pic.twitter.com/o2gItPVFRE
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 9, 2025
The Pasadena Jewish Center, a Mission-style building that housed a congregation of 434 families, had stood since the 1940s. It featured a Torah ark carved by Jewish artist Peter Krasnow and included several outbuildings.
“It’s a massive center, and it’s just crumbling from the heat,” a KTLA reporter said during a live broadcast as flames engulfed the structure. With smoke billowing and fire consuming the synagogue’s roof, she added, “It looks like even the concrete and metal are melting. It’s a total loss.”
The main sanctuary of Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center burning on live television. Stunning images, unthinkable 24 hours ago.
Pasadena’s Jewish community dates back to the 19th century. This complex is about 100 years old. Generations of Jewish history lost. pic.twitter.com/F3mkTINntK
— Louis Keene (@thislouis) January 8, 2025
A former congregant interviewed at the scene said emotionally, “I feel numb. It’s like a horrific dream. To think it won’t be here tomorrow…”
Firefighters struggled to control the flames, with resources stretched thin across multiple fires in the region. Tracy Leong, a reporter on-site, noted, “They’re doing what they can, but there just aren’t enough of them right now.”
The Pasadena Jewish Temple has been consumed by flames.
This Shule, nearly 100 yrs old, holds generations of Jewish legacy now lost to 🔥.
Thankfully, the Torahs were rescued. My 💙goes out to the Jewish community in Los Angeles and to all affected by this devastating disaster. pic.twitter.com/S47mjDyfKE
— Daniel Kraus (@rabbidkraus) January 8, 2025
Melissa Levy, the synagogue’s executive director, confirmed to The New York Times that all staff members were safe. “We are devastated,” she said, “but we managed to get our Torahs out safely, even as ash rained down in our parking lot.”
Elsewhere in Southern California, other Jewish institutions were in evacuation zones or on high alert. In Pacific Palisades, strong winds fueled a fire that led to evacuation orders, forcing Kehillat Israel, a Reconstructionist synagogue, to close. The Chabad of Pacific Palisades preschool evacuated 100 children as flames approached. Rabbi Zushe Cunin reported removing Torahs from the building for safety, sharing an urgent call for prayers on Instagram.
“The night is still long, and the winds are fierce,” the Chabad center posted online. The area remained within the evacuation zone for what was being called the Palisades Fire.
Across Topanga State Park in Calabasas, Congregation Or Ami, a Reform synagogue, took precautionary measures by relocating Torah scrolls and essential items. “We’re in a holding pattern,” Rabbi Paul Kipnes wrote on Facebook. “The fire is 17 miles away, but distances here feel both large and small with winds gusting up to 100 mph.”
Zibby Owens, an author and bookseller, shared on Instagram that flames reached her family’s home in the area before her camera feed cut out.
None of the three major fires had been contained as of Wednesday morning, with weather conditions expected to intensify the crisis
