Shluchim Flee From Raging Fires

By COLlive reporter

Fast-moving wildfires prompted tens of thousands of evacuations in both Northern and Southern California, including 75,000 in and around Los Angeles, sending residents fleeing for their lives on short notice.

The idyllic communities of Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and their surrounding areas have been hit hard in the past 36 hours.

“We woke up to the horrific news of the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks,” explains Rabbi Yitzchak Sapochkinsky of Westlake Village. “And while we were still trying to come to grips with it, this massive fire came raining down from two sides, effectively sandwiching us in between.”

“Evacuations took place throughout the night. Naturally, the family of shluchim have opened their homes to us, and our friends and supporters,” Sapochkinsky told COLlive.

At 2 am the Sapochkinskys called Rabbi Mayer and Debbie Greene, Shluchim in nearby Tarzana, and told them they are on the way to them.

Before leaving, the Sapochkinskys made sure to check on elderly congregants and those living alone. Several joined them at the Greenes.

“We live in suburbia. There are never any cars on the road at night,” describes Rabbi Sapochkinsky. “Tonight was different. We began packing as soon as we received the voluntary evacuation notice. It didn’t take long for the order to become ‘mandatory evacuation.’ Cars lined the streets and the freeways were buzzing with traffic.”

Rabbi Chaim and Shula Bryski, Shuchim in Thousand Oaks, are still reeling from the mass shooting in their city on Thursday.

After comforting first responders and attending a memorial service and funeral for Ventura County Sheriff Sgt. Ron Helus, who was killed in the shooting after rushing in to save others, Rabbi Bryski, his wife and their 7 children have fled their home as well.

“At 4:30 am the police came knocking on everyone’s door in our neighborhood, ordering us all to leave immediately,” Rabbi Bryski told COLlive.

The Bryskis have traveled to spend Shabbat at the home of Shluchim Rabbi Yanky and Hindy Kahn in Tarzana.

With everything going on, the shluchim did not lose focus of their shlichus. A production by the students of Lamplighter’s Academy in Oxnard took place as planned, despite the fact that freeway linking the communities was closed. Attendees drove for 2 hours to reach the event and were gratified for the inspiration that the girls provided with their song and dance performance entitled ‘The Journey to Shiloh.’

At 9pm, Shluchim directors of teen programs in Conejo, Rabbi Mendy and Mushka Friedman, scheduled a conference call for all teens.

“Our What’s App chats and other social media were exploding with worried teens,” Rabbi Friedman related.

Teens and their families called in and heard words of chizuk from Rabbi Sapochkinsky. He also led them in saying tehillim and giving tzedakah.

“We witnessed the devastating effects of one person who caused so much havoc and tragedy and now we are witnessing nature wreaking havoc and chaos in our communities. But we have to remember that Hashem is in control and we must stay together and continue to daven,” Sapochkinsky said,

Rabbi Sapochkinsky also encouraged the teens to perform “indiscriminate acts of kindness, just as the gunman and the fires tore apart lives indiscriminately.”

A Friday night dinner for teens who attend weekly Jewish Clubs at all local high schools has been postponed.

“I have a lot of freshly baked challah rolls sitting in my kitchen,” laughed Mushka Friedman, who left her home at 2:30am with her family, taking along a next door neighbor who was recently widowed.

“Boruch Hashem that this community is so incredible and united. Jews and non-Jews alike are reaching out to each other to offer assistance.”

Other shluchim who evacuated were Rabbi Yisroel and Leah Levine and Rabbi Shlomo and Tovi Bistritzky from Oak Park, and Rabbi Schneur and Tzippy Schnnersohn from Newbury Park.

“As the fires rage and the 50mph winds continue to shift, there’s no telling what will happen next. It’s a very fluid situation,” Rabbi Sapochkinsky says.

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