Muslim and Jewish groups lost houses of worship in the Eaton Fire. How they're recovering

It’s been two months since the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, wiping out a number of beloved places of worship and prayer. With the Islamic holy month of Ramadan underway and Passover coming up, how will these communities observe their respective religious traditions?

The first mosque in the Altadena-Pasadena area, Masjid Al-Taqwa, and the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center were both reduced to ashes.

Jihad Abdus-Shakoor, who is chair of the Crisis and Recovery Committee for Masjid Al-Taqwa, and Melissa Levy, executive director of Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, joined "AirTalk," LAist 89.3’s daily news program, to talk about how communities of faith are working together.

Interfaith support

Masjid Al-Taqwa currently holds Friday prayers at the Jackie Robinson Kennedy Center, but that’s not where they started after the fire.

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“Our first congregational prayer a few weeks after the fire was actually held at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pasadena,” Shakoor said. “Reverends Campbell and Van opened their doors up to us.”

Mayfield Senior School, a Catholic college preparatory school, along with First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, offered their spaces to the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center's community.

Levy and Shakoor echoed their appreciation for the support of local congregations.

“Not just our buildings, but our hearts, our souls are broken, and it is definitely the role of any faith-based organization to help heal that,” Levy added.

Shakoor says the goal is to continue building a more collective community.

“I think it’s a moment where everybody is having to look inward and focus on the humanity of the entire city,” Shakoor said.

Masjid Al Taqwa was the first mosque in the Altadena-Pasadena area.

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Samanta Helou Hernandez

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LAist

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Ramadan observances 

Essentially, Ramadan rituals consist of a pre-dawn breakfast known as suhur or sehri, fasting during daylight hours and a nightly feast to break the fast, known as iftar. No water or snacks in between — just prayer, community and self-reflection. The timings of suhur and iftar vary each day based on the Islamic calendar.

Ramadan began the last night of February. Members of Masjid Al-Taqwa have had to find alternate places to observe Ramadan together.

“We have our breakfast and night prayers at the New Horizons school in Pasadena,” Shakoor said. “We've also been offered some space from another church organization as well.”

Shakoor said that the familiarity of the New Horizons school and its location has helped make their community feel welcome.

Read more: After the Eaton Fire destroyed Altadena’s first mosque, its leaders focus on rebuilding

Passover observances

The Jewish observance of Passover, which this year begins at sunset April 12, is the celebration of the Israelite Exodus from slavery in Egypt. A ritual meal, called a Seder, is to take place on the first and sometimes second night of Passover.

The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center had a tradition to host the second night of Seder, and that’s still the plan, but the location is yet to be determined.

“We anticipate a larger attendance," she said. "The first night will be in people’s homes, and on the second night, we will come together for a fully catered wonderful meal just to give us a sense of normalcy."

The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center seen from above after the Eaton Fire.

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Josh Edelson

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Will they rebuild?

Shakoor says the only plan right now for Masjid Al-Taqwa is to rebuild in the same location.

The Environmental Protection Agency has completed Phase 1 of cleanup at the mosque — meaning hazardous waste has been removed. The second phase of FEMA property cleanup — when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers clears away the rest of the debris — has yet to begin. The mosque's board of directors are in talks with community organizers about assisting with the cleanup.

“It’s going to take some time because the understanding is that you don’t really know how toxic the grounds are going to be,” Shakoor said. “Obviously, having a community with many people and children, it is very important to make sure the safety is there.”

The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center is also waiting on FEMA cleanup, which Levy expects to take time. They formed a rebuilding committee and hope to rebuild in the same spot but are keeping an open mind.

“The rebuilding process, I think, is one piece that gives us a sense of hope,” Levy said.