Helping Our Neighbors
Resources for supporting those affected by the California wildfires recommended by rabbis in the LA area
California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund
The California Fire Foundation, working with local fire agencies and community based organizations to provide direct, ongoing support to victims of wildfires
GoFundMe’s landing page for all wildfire-related fundraisers
Mutual Aid Network LA, a clearinghouse of small, hyper-local businesses and organizations that are providing relief
The National Day Laborer Organizing Network, supporting immigrant workers impacted by the fires
The Pasadena Humane Society, boarding displaced pets and suppling those in need with pet food and medical care
World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team, supporting first responders and families impacted by wildfires in the Los Angeles area. They are mobilized across the region to provide nourishing meals to people in need.
קהילת עמנו אל
K’hilat Imanu El – Our Emanu-El Congregation
תורה
Torah
Study
עבודה
Avodah
Celebration
תקון אולם
Tikkun Olam
Mending the World
Shalom and thanks for visiting our Temple Emanu-El website
We are a Reform Jewish Congregation in Rochester, New York. Our members are Jews by birth, Jews by choice, and those drawn to Judaism, including multiracial, LGBTQ+, and interfaith households. We see ourselves as a family, where everyone’s participation is sought and appreciated. We invite you to attend our services and events, and share in our warm, informal approach to Reform Judaism.
Coming Up at Temple Emanu-El
Shabbat Service
Fri, Jan 17, 7pm at the JCC
Chevre Torah Study Groups Online
Sat, Jan 18, 10am and 11:05am via Zoom
Temple Emanu-El Board Meeting Online
Tues, Jan 21, 7pm via Zoom
See Our Full Calendar of Services and Events
Rabbi Drorah Setel’s Jan 15 Message
The devastating wildfires in California have left a trail of destruction, claiming lives, homes, and irreplaceable memories. The sheer loss is staggering, prompting reflection on what truly matters in life. In the face of such calamity, I’ve been thinking of an exercise that used to be taught (I hope it isn’t anymore) in lessons about the Holocaust: if you had to leave suddenly, what would you pack in one suitcase? Tragically, this has been the experience of far too many people, not only in California, but in Gaza, Ukraine, Darfur, and other disaster zones.
Our Covid Policy
We are following the Covid risk for Monroe County as reported by the U.S. Covid Tracker on the CovidActNow website:
—When the risk of Covid is low, masking at Temple Emanu-El is optional.
—When the risk of Covid is medium, masking at Temple Emanu-El is required. We urge attendees to use N95 or KN95 masks. Masks will be available for those who need one.
—When the risk of Covid is high, we will meet via Zoom only.
TigerChat – Aiding Communication
TigerChat is a phone app that’s been developed by the Center on Access Technology at RIT. The app allows you to converse with or listen to another person or group using automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology that converts spoken words into typed text. You can read our services as they happen! The app was designed to work on the RIT campus, and RIT has extended it so that it now also works in the JCC.
