A historic Jewish synagogue near Los Angeles has been lost to one of several rapidly spreading wildfires in Southern California.

The Eaton Fire ignited on Tuesday evening and spread quickly, consuming the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center overnight. Images and videos shared by local news outlets and residents depict the synagogue engulfed in flames against a strikingly orange sky.

Nearby temples have shared their sympathies for the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, which has connections to the local community stretching back over 150 years.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to the whole community, particularly to those members of the Pasadena temple who have been directly affected, including many who are at risk of losing their homes,” stated Temple Beth Israel in Pomona, California, in a Facebook message. “We are here to offer support in any way possible.”

As of Wednesday, neither the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center nor the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection had responded to inquiries from YSL News.

The Historical Background of the Jewish Temple

The congregation at the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center has roots in the area that date back to 1874 when Maurice and Mina Rosenbaum moved there, marking them as the first Jewish residents in Pasadena, according to the temple’s website.

Attempts to establish a formal Jewish congregation occurred in 1907, 1912, and successfully in 1921. That year, Temple B’nai Israel of Pasadena was recognized by the state of California, and a new synagogue was built in 1923.

Just before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, a new synagogue was built on the site of the previous one. Over time, the size of the synagogue and its congregation fluctuated. In 1956, they adopted the name Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center.

The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center also housed the Weizmann Day School and B’nai Simcha Pre-School, which were the only Jewish educational facilities of their kind in the San Gabriel Valley.

Fires Rage Across the Region

The Eaton Fire joins two other wildfires in the Los Angeles region, all of which ignited on Tuesday. The Palisades Fire was first, starting at around 10:30 a.m. and burning nearly 3,000 acres between Santa Monica and Malibu, according to Cal Fire. Concurrently, the Hurst Fire started in the San Fernando Valley and has burned approximately 500 acres.

By Wednesday afternoon, at least two fatalities have been reported, with over 30,000 residents forced to evacuate their homes in Los Angeles County. All three wildfires remain uncontained as of Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire.