Friday, April 11, 2025

Local Jewish Community Finds Renewed Meaning in Passover Amid Local Temple’s Ashes

An ancient story of resilience becomes a lived experience as local Jews forge makeshift sanctuaries and shared tables

As Passover 2025 approaches, Pasadena’s Jewish community is demonstrating remarkable resilience following the destruction of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center by the Eaton Fire.

Congregants are opening homes to displaced families while community organizations adapt traditions to ensure holiday celebrations continue amid the devastation.

“The Passover story is about resilience and about wandering in the desert. We are definitely wandering right now. And so I think it’s really important to provide the opportunities to be together and to pray together and to sing together and to eat together,” said Melissa Levy, Executive Director of Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center.

The fire has created a situation where a number of congregants lack basic necessities for the upcoming holiday, which begins at sundown on Saturday, April 12, and continues through April 20.

“We have many congregants that have no dining room to have their Seder in,

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Church to Distribute Financial Aid to Eaton Fire Victims Today

LIFT International Church offering support to affected community members

LIFT International Church announced it will distribute financial aid today to community members affected by the recent Eaton Fire.

The distribution will take place at 11 a.m. as part of LIFT’s newly launched Financial Aid Support Program. The church is located on the Westminster Presbyterian Campus at 1757 N. Lake Avenue in Pasadena.

Qualified applicants who have submitted their information through the LIFT International portal will receive funds to address immediate needs, helping to alleviate financial strain and promote financial stability resulting from the wildfire that impacted the Altadena and Pasadena communities.

“At LIFT International Church, we believe in the strength of community and the importance of providing support where it’s needed most,” said Dr. Anthony McFarland, pastor of LIFT International Church. “This financial aid program is a testament to our commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of our community members.”

The initiative reflects the church’s ongoing commitment to empowering and uplifting individuals in need of support and care as the aftermath of the California Wildfire,

Friday, March 14, 2025

Experts to Speak on Resilience at Pasadena Event for Eaton Fire Families

Local experts to provide guidance on resilience and recovery for affected school communities

All Saints Church in Pasadena will host a free parent education event focused on resilience and recovery for families affected by the Eaton fire. The event, scheduled for Monday, March 17, will feature child development and psychology experts Robert Evans, Ed.D. and Michael Thompson, Ph.D., who specialize in post-traumatic events.

“We are honored to partner with St. Mark’s School by offering a venue for bringing together schools from Altadena and Pasadena that have experienced devastating losses in the Eaton Fire,” said Thomas Diaz, All Saints’ Director of Care & Connection. “All are welcome.”

The free session, which runs from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., is specifically designed for parents from school communities impacted by the fire. St. Mark’s School of Altadena is sponsoring the event as part of ongoing community recovery efforts.

Evans and Thompson bring extensive experience supporting communities after disasters, having worked with recovery initiatives following Hurricane Katrina,

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Purim Celebrations Mix Joy With Purpose as Pasadena Chabad Continues Fire Relief Efforts

Traditional Jewish festival takes on deeper meaning for community recovering from disaster

As Chabad of Pasadena prepares for Purim celebrations this week, the traditional Jewish festival of resilience and charity takes on added significance for approximately 60 families displaced by the devastating Eaton Fire. Rabbi Chaim Hanoka is connecting the holiday’s ancient themes with ongoing emergency relief efforts for affected congregants.

“The message of Purim is kind of a celebration of Jewish resilience and courage in the face of danger,” said Rabbi Hanoka, Executive Director of Chabad of Pasadena. “But the message of resilience is all the more so apropos today after having suffered all the tragedies of eaten fire and people still sadly having a lot of difficulty being out of their homes, not having home, et cetera.”

The two-day celebration begins Thursday, March 13 at 7:15 p.m. with a Megillah reading and festive gathering at the Chabad of Pasadena community center. Activities continue Friday with a children’s carnival from 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Three Congregations Return to Shared Church Building After Devastating Eaton Fire

STAFF REPORT

Amid piles of ash and lingering toxic smoke, a sense of unity has risen in California’s San Gabriel Valley where the Eaton Fire devastated communities in January 2025, according to a story published by Mennonite Disaster Services.

“Snowdrifts of ash, an acrid smell, a lung-burning toxic cocktail hanging in the air,” left the interior of the Pasadena Mennonite Church building unrecognizable following the fire, writer Susan Kim reports, quoting church member Dan Sharp who described “piles and piles of ash—ash on every horizontal surface.”

The Jan. 7 Eaton fire killed at least 17 people and destroyed 9,414 structures, leaving three congregations and their 270 members without a place to worship until their shared building could be professionally cleaned, Kim writes.

Less than two weeks after the disaster, Mennonite Disaster Service leaders reached out to the Church to offer assistance. According to Kim, the Mennonite Disaster Service California Unit funded half the cost of professionally cleaning the building,

Monday, March 10, 2025

When Flames Meet Faith: New Horizon School Becomes Sanctuary for Fire-Displaced Muslim Community

Educational institution opens doors to victims during holy month of Ramadan while redirecting fundraising efforts

New Horizon School Pasadena (NHSP) has transformed from an educational institution into a vital community sanctuary during the holy month of Ramadan, offering displaced Muslims space for daily prayers, community meals, and support services after devastating fires affected Masjid Al-Taqwa in Altadena.

The pre-K-8 school has opened its Cypress Avenue campus facilities to serve as a community hub for Muslims displaced by the recent fires, providing essential religious and community spaces during a critical time for gathering in Islam.

“In the spirit of Ramadan, and in following the footsteps of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, supporting our neighbors is deeply emphasized in Islam and is considered an important part of our faith,” New Horizon School said in a message on its website.

The timing adds spiritual significance to the school’s response, as the Muslim holy month traditionally emphasizes charity and community support through practices like daily prayers and iftar meals breaking the daily fast.

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Sacred Spaces, Shared: Altadena Islamic Congregation Experiences Ramadan Without Their Spiritual Home

Interfaith solidarity emerges as local churches open doors to Muslim community displaced by January’s devastating Eaton Fire

For the first time in over two decades, Altadena’s Muslim community is observing Ramadan without their spiritual home, Masjid Al-Taqwa. Instead, they’re finding refuge in the sanctuaries of Christian neighbors and classrooms of a local Islamic school following January’s Eaton Fire.

The blaze reduced the mosque to ashes weeks before Ramadan began on Feb. 28. Fueled by 90 mph Santa Ana winds and drought conditions, the fire claimed at least 17 lives and left homeless so many community members, including mosque leaders.

“This masjid is sort of like a home, a family place,” said Wynona Majied-Muhammad, a Board member of Masjid Al-Taqwa. “You can always go back to someplace where you can always find familiarity like a family with friends who basically grew up together, or at least your children grew up together.”

The loss has been poignant during one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar,

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Church Launches Free Support Space for Wildfire Victims

Local initiative provides resources and connection for hundreds of displaced families

La Cañada Presbyterian Church has established a new community resource called Healing Grounds to support hundreds of families displaced by recent devastating fires. The free support space offers practical amenities and emotional support for those struggling in the aftermath of local wildfires, providing more than just a cup of coffee – it offers a lifeline of hope and connection.

“We know a lot of people are spending time waiting around town or needing a place to work,” said Pastor Ross Purdy, explaining the inspiration behind Healing Grounds.

“We have Wi-Fi, coffee, and refreshments, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we open this up to the community?’ It’s about offering a space for healing, bringing people together, providing quiet rooms where they can work or communicate, and simply getting to know one another.”

Located at 626 Foothill Blvd. in La Cañada Flintridge, the initiative operates every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m.

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Altadena Church Rallies to Spread Word: SBA Offers Crucial Aid to Homeowners, Too

“So many people do not know”: Altadena Baptist congregation, itself displaced by flames, hosts event to connect fire victims with loans they may not realize they are eligible for

In an act of community service even as they recover from their own losses, members of Altadena Baptist Church have organized a special event today to help wildfire victims discover often-overlooked federal financial aid. The congregation, whose historic building was destroyed in January’s devastating Eaton Fire, is working with the Small Business Administration to raise awareness that disaster loans are available for homeowners and renters—not just businesses, as many assume.

“There are so many people who do not know that the SBA is offering low-interest loans to folks who lost their homes or personal property and valuables in the wildfires. We want to be sure that people have a place to meet with a live person, so the wonderful folks at the SBA offered to have a representative from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to meet with people who might need their services,”

Friday, February 28, 2025

Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan Begins Friday Evening

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan, commemorating the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad, will begin Friday evening upon the sighting of the moon, with fasting beginning on Saturday.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, during which Muslim adults fast from dawn until dusk each day, unless they are ill, pregnant, diabetic, breastfeeding or traveling.

Fasting is one of the “five pillars” of Islam, along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity and pilgrimage to Mecca.

During Ramadan Muslims engage in increased prayer and charity, both financially and feeding and supporting the local unhoused population. Individuals and organizations typically host iftars, the meal eaten when breaking the fast, to benefit those in need.

The end of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, which will fall on March 30, according to Fiqh Council of North America, based on calculations determining the lunar calendar, will be marked by communal prayers called Salat al-Eid.

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Church and Community Groups to Host Eaton Fire Recovery Events

Day of support planned for Pasadena and Altadena residents affected by January wildfire

New Revelation Baptist Church and community organizations will host a day of recovery events on Saturday, March 8 to support residents impacted by the devastating Eaton Fire. The events include a gas giveaway, a resource festival, and a free comedy show, aimed at providing both practical assistance and emotional relief to a community still rebuilding after the January disaster.

The initiative will come two months after the devastating Eaton Fire.

The day will begin with a gas giveaway from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Mobil Gas Station on Woodbury Road in Altadena, where the first 150 vehicles will receive $50 worth of free gas.

Following the gas giveaway, a “Festival of Fun & Resources” will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at New Revelation Baptist Church in Pasadena. The festival will feature car and laptop giveaways, a game truck, free food, and additional resources for fire-affected residents.

Friday, February 21, 2025

Community Organizations Rally Saturday to Aid Families Affected by Pasadena-Area Fire

Relief event to provide shoes, supplies and federal assistance to displaced residents

A coalition of community groups and corporate sponsors plan to host a comprehensive relief event Saturday, February 22, for families impacted by the recent fire in the Pasadena-Altadena area.

The community-led resource hub, taking place at Metropolitan Baptist Church at 2283 North Fair Oaks Avenue will open its doors from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with volunteers arriving at 9:30 a.m.

DVS Skateboarding, alongside Steve Berra of The Berrics, Tyler Peterson, Timmy Johnson, and Uggs, will distribute free shoes and gear to displaced families who can demonstrate proof of residency.

Children from impacted households can receive assistance by showing proof of enrollment at local schools, according to event organizers at Music Changing Lives, who are coordinating the relief efforts.

Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business Administration and Los Angeles County, will be on-site to provide community resources and guidance for affected residents.

Additional support will come from organizations including Global Empowerment Mission and Soul Saving Productions,

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Philadelphia Churches Rally to Help Local Congregations Hit by Wildfire

Altadena and Pasadena churches to receive two truckloads of emergency supplies from East Coast churches

Several Philadelphia churches have mobilized to send essential supplies to local churches in Altadena and Pasadena affected by the Eaton Fire.

Two 18-wheel trucks filled with vital goods are scheduled to roll into the parking lot at the Grocery Outlet in San Gabriel early Thursday morning.

“We thank the people of Philadelphia for their generosity and this heartfelt mission to donate vital items and fill two tractor-trailers with collected supplies goods to be delivered to the Altadena and Pasadena communities,” said Anthony McFarland, Pastor of LIFT International. “This collaboration delineates God’s grace in having all these churches work together for the good of our communities.”

The East Coast churches leading the relief effort include LIFT International, Northeast Baptist Church, and the Church of Christian Compassion, working to support local congregations including Pasadena Church, Community Bible Church, Hillside Tabernacle City of Faith, and Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Volunteers Still Needed for “Every Person Has A Name”, A 25-Hour Holocaust Remembrance Program to Commemorate UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys is partnering with the City of Pasadena and the community’s synagogues, to hold Every Person Has a Name. This 25-hour vigil will be held on the steps of Pasadena City Hall on Saturday, January 26 – Sunday, January 27, 2019.

The program will begin with a commemoration ceremony at 7:00 p.m. and it will feature speeches from elected officials, including Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek, Congresswoman Judy Chu, State Senator Anthony Portantino, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Assemblymember Chris Holden (invited), Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, local clergy, as well as performances by the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Youth Orchestra and Kol HaEmek.

Immediately following the ceremony, the program will transition into the reading of the names of people who perished during the Holocaust. Holocaust survivors, and children of Holocaust survivors from around the community will begin by reading the names of their family members who were killed during the Holocaust, and then will be followed by volunteers from throughout the community reading names.

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Pastor Tyrone Skinner to Speak at Altadena Baptist for Black History Celebration

The 33rd Annual Black History Celebration will be held at Altadena Baptist Church [ABC] in Altadena, California at 5:00 p.m. on February 19, 2017. All are welcome to attend.

Prominent speakers join local artists and dignitaries for this celebration every February: in 2015 nationally-known author Brenda Salter-McNeil spoke to a standing-room-only crowd. This year, Reverend Tyrone Skinner of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena will be the featured speaker. He has served as an instructor for the National Baptist Convention with the Western Regional Youth Conference and Laymen’s Department, and holds positions on several non-profit boards. Reverend Skinner will speak on this year’s theme: “Still We Rise.”

“This is a pivotal time to be focusing on Black history,” said ABC’s co-pastor George Van Alstine. “We speak prophetically as a church, and that prophetic voice rises from the Black community in an empowered and beautiful way. Now is the time to embrace our history and our future together.”

The 33rd Annual Black History Celebration is an Altadena institution.

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Newly-Arrived Rabbi Noam Raucher to Speak at Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service

Newly-arrived Rabbi Noam Raucher will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Altadena Congregations Together Serving (ACTS) interfaith Thanksgiving Service, Sunday November 20 at 7 p.m. at the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, 1434 N. Altadena Drive, just north of Washington Boulevard.

The event is being sponsored by ACTS (Altadena Congregations Together Serving), an interactive fellowship among local religious congregations, who work together on community issues such as homelessness, positive youth activities and mutual understanding.

Congregations that will take part in this event’s program include the Christian Science Church, St. Marks Episcopal Church, Altadena Community Church, the Bahai Faith, Christ the Shepard Lutheran Church and the St. Vincent De Paul Society.

Praise music on the Thanksgiving theme will be presented by Altadena Baptist Church’s Gospel Choir, under the direction of Loren Roberts, and by Cantor Ruth Berman Harris. A musical tribute will be made to song-writer Leonard Cohen, who recently passed away, through the singing of his moving “Halleluia.”

A freewill offering will be received to support the ACTS Food Bank from which a number of local families receive food every Saturday.

Friday, July 22, 2016

Dialogue on Gun Violence and Racism to be Held at Altadena Community Church

The Altadena Community Church will offer opportunities for congregants and community members to process and respond to recent events of gun violence. It is hoped that these opportunities will provide space for individuals to seek peace and healing, the Church said in an annoucement.

On July 24th and July 31st at 11:30 a.m., Rev. Mark Smutny, an Ambassador from the Kaleidoscope Institute, will lead adult education on gun violence and racism.

This Sunday, the Church announced, attendees will focus on President Obama’s speech in Dallas and reflect on how recent gun violence has impacted our lives. On July 31st attendees will reflect on Christian scripture and how people are called to respond to recent events.

As an Ambassador from the Kaleidoscope Institute, Rev. Smutny will also introduce the tools known as “Respect Guidelines” and “Mutual Invitation” to facilitate multicultural dialogue. Congregants and community members are invited to join this event as the organizers seek to move attendees from the news to hope and peace.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center Welcomes New Rabbi

The 94-year “young” Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center is welcoming Rabbi Noam Raucher as their new Senior Rabbi. Rabbi Raucher had been serving as the Associate Rabbi of Temple Israel in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rabbi Raucher said he loves being a rabbi and the meaningful work of the rabbinate.

His self-written professional credo states: “I will live each and every day guided by a covenant of love with my Teacher. Each day I give thanks for the opportunity to serve the Jewish people, my fellow citizens of the world, and God. In service to them I will operate as a light of the Jewish tradition perpetuating: love, justice, hope, and wisdom. I will value people over programs, and relationships over numbers. I will always strive to sanctify life and treat all of creation as holy.”

Rabbi Raucher is originally from Hamden, CT and grew up in a home of Jewish educators and leaders. He graduated from Hofstra University in 2002 with honors in Judaic Studies and Psychology,

Monday, February 15, 2016

Dr. Joy J. Moore to Speak at Altadena Baptist for Black History Celebration

The 32nd Annual Black History Celebration will be held at Altadena Baptist Church [ABC] in Altadena at 5:00 p.m. on February 21, 2016. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Prominent speakers join local artists and dignitaries for this celebration every February: last year nationally-known author Brenda Salter-McNeil spoke to a standing-room-only crowd. This year, Dr. Joy J. Moore of Fuller Theological Seminary will be the featured speaker. Director of Fuller’s Pannell Center for African American Church Studies, Moore has focused on cross-racial ministry in urban, rural, and suburban congregations. As a pastor, she has called local congregations to recognize their vocation of glorifying God as a peaceable community—practicing hope, hospitality, and honesty. Dr. Moore will speak on “The Harvest: From Roots to Fruit.”

“This is one of the ways we give back to the community every year,” said ABC’s co-pastor George Van Alstine. “With everything happening on the national stage, the Black History Celebration takes on new meaning: it is the Church’s responsibility to recognize the roots of the Christian faith in the black community,

Monday, January 18, 2016

Metropolitan Baptist Church Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Exuberant Service

Altadena’s Metropolitan Baptist Church celebrated the life and teachings of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday with an exuberant afternoon service.

The service, which was sponsored by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Pasadena, was led by the Rev. Tyrone Skinner as host pastor, and the Rev. John B. Bledsoe, of Zion Star Missionary Baptist Church.

State Senator Carol Liu addressed the congregation and local attorneys Dale Gronemeier, and Elbie “Skip” Hickamanbottom, Jr., were both honored for their work in support of the African-American community.

The attendees were inspired by the Lincoln Avenue Celestial Temple COGIC Church, and the afternoon’s featured speaker was Rev. James E. Stevenson, Sr., Pastor of Scott United Methodist Church.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Neighborhood Church to Sponsor Walk Marking Six Month Anniversary of Christopher Walker’s Murder at Fair Oaks Burger

The day before Halloween in 2014, Altadena-bred Christopher Walker, 26, was shot as he sat on the patio at Fair Oaks Burgers about 4:30 in the afternoon by a person who got out of a car, fired multiple times at him, then climbed back into the car and sped off on East Calaveras Street.

Walker was taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital, where he died.

As Walker’s family and friends prepare to mark the six month anniversary of his death (Altadena’s first homicide since 2012), his story is attracting attention as a revealing tale of the lure of gangs in our neighborhoods.

Annenberg Radio News released a program last week that focused on Walker, and on April 30, the Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church of Pasadena will host a memorial march which will be joined by community leaders and anti-gang experts.

For the details, we turn to Neighborhood Church’s Reverend Hannah Petrie:

“This past week has been a whirlwind of activity in preparation to get the word out about a meaningful,

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Radio days at Neighborhood Church April 24-25

What do we hear after each and every Radio Play? “That was so much fun, I wish I’d asked my uncle/aunt/mom/grandpa to come see it!” Now’s your chance to do so. Laugh, cry and sing along with Radio Review Best Hits! (1955). Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25, Neighborhood UU Church of Pasadena’s Sanctuary, 301 N. Orange Grove Blvd at Walnut.

Come early! Open seating. Reception at 6:30pm; curtain at 7pm. Dress up in 40s or 50s clothes and hats! Free childcare if you sign up with Kat Roberts KRoberts@neighborhooduu.org before 1 pm on April 19th.

Ned Racine’s Radio Review Best Hits! (1955) is the 6th installment and the best yet! Parodies of radio plays, real funny commercials and tunes from 1955.

Tickets on sale On April 5, 12 and 19th on Neighborhood Church’s patio or email Lee atlee.brainerd@gmail.com. CHEAP! Adults, $8; Students, $5; Family Cap, $20–not recommended for children under 8 or thereabouts.

Stars 30 über-talented actors and musicians among Neighborhood Church members and friends.