Kansas Citians grow up with tornado warnings and snow days. I grew up in Northern California with fire danger warnings and earthquakes.
I remember hearing stories from my parents about the 1991 Oakland Firestorm and knowing our home in the Oakland Hills was at risk, but I always took comfort in the fact that we lived up the street from a firehouse.
People often ask how I ended up in Kansas City, given that I'm from California. I tell them it’s because I attended Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles. One of the main reasons I chose LMU was its Jewish Studies program, and throughout college I became deeply involved in Jewish life on campus. I served as a research assistant for the director of the Jewish Studies Program, who became a mentor to me, and I gained exposure to the world of Jewish advocacy and Jewish communal organizations through internships at the AJC Los Angeles office and the Museum of Tolerance.
Though it may seem surprising, my Jewish identity was nurtured and strengthened at a Jesuit university. I don’t believe I would be who I am today without attending a school that embraced the values of “the service of faith and the promotion of justice,” and I am grateful that I gained first-hand experience pursuing these values in a city like Los Angeles.
When the fires in LA began earlier this month, my social media feeds shifted from being filled with news and images about the massive snowstorm from local friends to posts from college friends, who were sharing real-time photos and videos of the fires and updates about the latest evacuation orders. From the comfort of my own home, I felt helpless and heartbroken for the city that holds so many wonderful memories. Beyond checking in with family and following friends’ updates on social media, I wanted to do something more to help and began considering where I would want to donate.
Then, I received a message from my friend Alex Weisz, who serves as senior rabbi at Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park & Eagle Rock. Beyond the odd coincidence of us sharing a birthday and both being twins, we also both share the common experience of having had our professional lives shaped by being Jewish Studies students at LMU.
Alex had reached out to ask for help spreading the word about a GoFundMe database he had created to gather information about efforts to help Jewish families affected by the fires. Some of his congregants had lost their homes, and after seeing similar initiatives for Black and Latinx communities, he wanted to do something similar to support his own community. He explained, “Folks have been abundantly clear that their biggest need is immediate financial relief — not in three months or a year, but right now. Thankfully, they’re receiving essential supplies and navigating the complicated world of disaster relief. But they need this money as quickly as possible. That’s why these grassroots campaigns are far more effective than emergency funds from large organizations.”
Like any good rabbi, he shared that “rabbinic tradition calls upon us to act clearly and quickly when our friends and neighbors tell us exactly what they need – not to question whether or not they actually need it (Mishneh Torah, Gifts to the Poor, Chapter 7; Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 250:1).” He then told me that our LMU modern Israel professor had lost his home in the fires, and his family’s GoFundMe was one of those in the database. Feeling a little less helpless, I immediately made a donation and agreed to share information about the database with my community here in Kansas City.
After learning that I am from California and hearing how I ended up in Kansas City, people inevitably ask me if I am going to stay here for the long term. While Los Angeles will always be a part of my story, Kansas City has become home — a place where my husband and I have found a warm, supportive Jewish community that we care deeply about.
As we enjoy the safety and metaphorical warmth of our own community, I humbly ask that you consider joining me in making a donation to one of the funds in the Displaced Jewish Families Database to help those affected by the fires as they begin the process of rebuilding their own communities.
Thank you.
Sarah Markowitz Schreiber is a California native and currently the director of educations and programs at the Jewish Community Relations Bureau|AJC in Kansas City.
