Saving Torah scrolls and saying prayers, Los Angeles fires leave congregants without worship spaces

Among the thousands of buildings destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires were a mosque, a synagogue, a Catholic parish and a half-dozen Protestant churches. Many members of these congregations were among the thousands of Angelenos who lost their homes. As the threat of new fires persisted, clergy were left with the huge challenges of offering comfort and pondering paths toward rebuilding and recovery. At a synagogue in Pasadena, the cantor and three companions were able to rescue the sacred Torah scrolls before flames engulfed the building. A Protestant congregation in Altadena posted images of their church burning down, with this message: “WE are the church! We can worship anywhere.”