The reopening marks one of the first returns by a faith institution to Pacific Palisades following the disaster.
A Pacific Palisades synagogue will reopen May 15, marking its first return since a devastating fire forced hundreds of member families from their homes and scattered the congregation across Los Angeles.
Kehillat Israel will hold a Shabbat dinner and sanctuary rededication ceremony Friday evening, bringing congregants back together in their home neighborhood for the first time in 16 months. The synagogue building survived the January 2025 Palisades fire but sustained significant smoke damage and has since been renovated.
Of the congregation’s roughly 900 families, 250 lost their homes and another 250 were temporarily displaced, synagogue leaders said.
Since the fire, members have continued to gather for worship and community events at temporary locations throughout Los Angeles. The reopening marks one of the first returns by a faith institution to Pacific Palisades following the disaster.
The event will also honor Cantor Chayim Frenkel, who is celebrating 40 years of service to the congregation.
“Returning home as a community is deeply emotional and personal for me,” Frenkel said. “Music and prayer have carried us through these past 16 months.”
The synagogue’s 4,700-square-foot sanctuary was redesigned by Herman Coliver Locus Architecture to accommodate more than 400 congregants. Renovations include a new ark, updated memorial walls, improved acoustics and enhanced audiovisual capabilities for both in-person and virtual events.
Senior Rabbi Amy Bernstein described the reopening as more than a physical milestone.
“It is a moment to gather again in a familiar space that has been transformed to meet our community members where they are now,” Bernstein said.
Board of Trustees President Matthew Ross said the congregation relied on one another for support in the aftermath of the fire and throughout the rebuilding process.
“It’s been a long road to our reopening, but now that we’re back in our reimagined building, we’re excited once again to have a central gathering place,” Ross said.
