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Ok, January 2025 has not been easy, and I have a few thoughts.

🔥 First off, let's talk about the fires in LA.

These fires are devastating. They will turn out to be one of the most expensive disasters in US history, with a possible $50 billion in damages, and one of the worst disasters in LA history. To top it off, the fires aren't fully out yet.

Los Angeles will never really be the same. There will be years of rebuilding, recovery, and restoration. With ongoing climate change and climate policy unlikely to get better, we face future disasters around the corner.

Many have lost their belongings, their homes, and other treasured places, but Barukh Hashem, relatively speaking, only a small number of people have lost their lives.

I think about my own memories of Los Angeles, the special places I frequented, and the hikes and explorations of the hills, which are now likely gone. One particular spot that breaks my heart to see lost is Tuna Canyon, where I proposed to Elana.

That said, my memories and home are safe with me across the country, which is not true for everyone. I'll miss these places and look forward to visiting them in the future, but many people still need help.

Not just homeowners, but landscapers, house cleaners, store employees, and so many more have just lost their livelihoods. Community resources are stretched to the limit.

I invite you to share support when/where you can. A few places I'm keeping in mind are:

​Jewish Federation of Los Angeles's Wildfire Crisis Relief
​​Jewish Free Loan Los Angeles​
​World Central Kitchen
​​Friends In Deed​

There are many places to give, so find the right one for you.

🏛️ The new Trump Administration

The years to come will be difficult, painful, and scary.

There are no mincing words here, but this new administration's fascistic approach will be dangerous to our neighbors and communities. It will be essential to watch out for the vulnerable among us.

I strongly recommend folks read On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder.

Here are a few things I'm keeping in mind, along those lines:

We have to balance the short-term and the long-term. Living in a state of constant panic is unsustainable and unhelpful. Every day and every week will have some new horror, and while we cannot allow ourselves to get complacent, there isn't enough energy to react to everything. When you can act short-term, do so, but keep the long-game in mind.

Figure out what you care about. Together, we can fight a lot, but individually, it is very difficult. We have to use our energies wisely, focus on what we can bring to the table, and spend our time supporting what we care about. Align your time and energies on things you're passionate about.

If you care deeply about immigrants, find an organization doing good work and support them. If it is something else, do that. We'll all be called to lift up the projects of others, and we will do that when the time comes.

Not all of us have to lead. There are many out there who have already been doing the work for years. We can find the local and community leaders who have been grinding away and rally around them. We don't have to recreate the wheel, and we don't all have to be out front.

Impact the world however we can. There are many ways we can contribute to the world around us depending on the power we can exercise. Whatever reach we have, we can use.

Many folks are feeling paralyzed right now, so I recorded a video reading from this page in my book with what I think can help in those moments.

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​You can watch the short here.​

There will be many challenges in the next few years, and we have to think sustainably to get through it. I don't really have any more answers than anyone else. I'm trying to find my path through this time too.

Ultimately, I'm trying to remember not to let them control what I think through their media circus and scare tactics. I'm going to keep caring about my neighbors and trying to look out for them.

📚 What will I be doing?

I plan to keep learning and teaching Torah.

I still believe in kindness, self-improvement, and making the world a better place. I will continue to write and share the Torah that speaks to me and this moment in our lives. This year is still unfolding (and barely started), and who knows what will happen.

As part of that, I've contemplated creating more video content. I recently recorded this video (a bit of ranting, raving, and wandering) called: We Desperately Need Spiritual Patience. I'm be curious to hear what you think.

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​You can watch the video here.​

In summary, a decade's worth of history has already happened this year, and we're only a couple of weeks in. So remember: We're in this together, and we're just going to put one foot in front of the other.

Let's take care of each other,
Jeremy

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