Listening. Serving. Repairing: A Jewish Response to the LA Wildfires

This past January, wildfires swept through Los Angeles with devastating speed, reducing entire neighborhoods to ash and displacing thousands of families. In moments like these, response must be fast, but it must also be rooted in trust and strong partnerships. Repair has a strong history of meeting local needs in moments of crisis, including rapid response programming after Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Helene, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Repair’s deep partnerships in the Los Angeles community, national infrastructure, and ability to activate volunteers at scale enable Repair to listen, serve, and help communities begin to rebuild. 

“You couldn’t find one person in LA who wasn’t connected to somebody affected by the fires,” recalled Allison Davalos (she/her), Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager at National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles (NCJWLA). 

A wall of fire in Southern California. Image courtesy of Tim Walton, Photo One Productions, CALFIRE. Shared with permission.

The crisis demanded more than good intentions. Effective disaster relief requires trust, infrastructure, and the ability to listen first. “We’re not people from outside a community going in and telling our partners what their problems and solutions are,” explained Michael Auerbach (he/him) City Director of Repair the World Los Angeles. “We always start by learning their needs and being guided by their work.” 

Repair’s Unique Ability to Meet Urgent Needs

Local organizations suddenly faced impossible demands. Food banks needed to serve thousands more meals each day. Donation centers overflowed with clothing and supplies. Volunteers and resources were flooding in, but partners lacked the capacity to coordinate it all. As Michael explained,

“That’s where Repair comes in. We act as that pipeline between incredible direct service providers across Los Angeles and a network of Jewish volunteers.” 

Repair’s approach begins with compassionate communication. “Instead of just providing material, we listen to what and why partners need these items,” said Emanuelle Hutman (she/her), Program Coordinator for Field Activation & Jewish Education at Repair. “We get a deeper understanding of the issue at its core. We never assume we know better than the recipient. That continuous effort to represent the person receiving services is what makes Repair’s work so special.” 

Repair launched a multifaceted response—ensuring resources reached the people who needed them most. Repair’s strategy centered on three approaches: Jewish service programs focused on wildfire response that engaged hundreds of volunteers at once, Wildfire Response Service Corps cohorts that embedded volunteers in nonprofits meeting urgent needs, and Wildfire Response Service Ambassadors who led their peers in hands-on relief efforts. 

Jewish Service Movement in Action

One of LA Repair’s service partners, NCJWLA, quickly transformed its network of thrift stores into critical relief hubs. “We had the ability to process items when other places had to say no,” Allison shared. For NCJWLA, having consistent support from LA Repair was invaluable. “I had only been at NCJWLA for a few months when the fires hit. To have Repair the World say, ‘Whatever you need, we’ll support you,’ was grounding. They provided not just practical help, but emotional support.” 

LA Repair matched Wildfire Service Corps member Julia Belanova (she/her) with NCJWLA, where she supported the team over four months by helping keep relief centers running smoothly as community needs evolved daily. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, “I really admired their flexibility—their employees and their team were willing to adapt, which reflected their commitment to their mission because that adaptation was necessary.”

Allison echoed that sentiment, noting that Julia’s steady presence allowed the center to keep pace with the changing needs on the ground. “Having Julia there was a load off my mind,” she said, reflecting on the 350+ volunteers who sorted donations, assisted families, and offered emotional support to fire-affected folks.

“Julia could manage volunteer roles, greet families, and teach new volunteers. Her presence allowed me and the program team to focus on other pressing needs.” 

Bringing Joy through Jewish Service 

Each NCJWLA relief center was designed with dignity in mind—spaces where families could choose what they needed, rather than simply receive what was available. We share NCJWLA’s commitment to kavod, dignity, and infuse our Jewish learning with the same value. Julia remembers one moment that brought this principle to life:

“A mother and her daughter came in, and the little girl’s eyes lit up seeing pink shower caddies instead of gray ones. That simple choice brought so much joy. We didn’t just meet needs—we gave families a sense of normalcy and choice.” The work of repair isn’t a sprint; it’s a long-term commitment. As Julia puts it,

“Service isn’t just about helping—it’s about building connection, offering dignity, and showing people they are not alone.” 

Another LA Repair volunteer, Max Weinberg (he/him), served with It’s Bigger Than Us, distributing supplies to over a thousand fire-affected residents and leading a back-to-school event that provided backpacks and school supplies to children. Through these experiences, Max witnessed the impact of tikkun olam, repairing the world, and discovered the joy of Jewish service: “Seeing the changes in people’s emotions from when they walk in versus when they walk out, and that thankfulness—hearing everyone’s individual stories—is just so inspiring. I think that has really sparked a love for community service and why I have personally put in over 175 hours in the last nine or so months.”

Across all wildfire response programming over the past nine months, 363 LA Repair volunteers provided 7,714 services—including meals prepared, donations sorted, and clients directly assisted—across 11 local nonprofits, reaching an estimated 25,000 Los Angeles residents. Yet the work is far from over. 

Ongoing Repair

New partnerships are emerging to sustain long-term recovery, including reforestation and essential housing initiatives with NECHAMA and A Sense of Home. This fall, LA Repair’s Wildfire Service Corps is evolving to meet current community needs, focusing on habitat restoration and fire mitigation.

While significant impact has been made so far, there is still much to do as Repair and partners continue to shift from immediate response to long-term recovery. If you’re looking for a way to make lasting change in your community, join the Jewish service movement today.