Update

Our home miraculously survived

On Tuesday, Kyle and I watched the livestream on our Nest camera as flames jumped over the side of our pool and around our backyard in L.A. We watched as firefighters put out flames in our shed and hedges. Then the video went out. Later, we received multiple alerts that our indoor sprinkler system had gone off. Our final alert was that the heat sensor at our front door was triggered.

We we sure we had lost our home.

But, miraculously, we recently found out that our home survived.

It’s hard to feel “lucky” or “happy” when we are grieving the loss of our town and community. Half the homes on our beautiful, windy road are gone. Homes just five away from us on one side and two away on another burned to the ground.

So many of our friends have lost their homes. They’ve lost everything. All their things. All their mementos. All their beloved, meaningful objects. Their schools, churches, temples — and their houses. Many businesses we loved have also been destroyed. It’s horrific on such an epic scale.

Honestly, I’m a mess. I opened my Doordash app today to order in pizza for the kids and realized I still had a few items in my cart from Yogurt Shoppe in the Palisades. I never finished placing my order on New Year’s Eve — and the store burned to the ground. I burst into tears. It’s all so raw. Every time someone hugs me, I cry.

But now I’m trying to help the community. At Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica, we’re organizing a clothing drive from brands who will be giving away new merchandise to those who have lost their homes. (Keep an eye on my Instagram for details and FAQ and please send to anyone who might need it.) Our team is all safe. And we don’t need more donations just yet as we’re overwhelmed by how many we’ve received from almost 30 brands — but thank you.

I’ve also been sharing “how to help” resources regularly on social and in our company newsletters. Here are a few:

The Malibu foundation

Good + Foundation

Baby2Baby

Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation

California Fire Foundation

Jewish Federation Los Angeles

https://www.caninerescue.club/donate

LA Regional Food Bank

Chabad Malibu

California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund

If you want to donate clothing (adults and kids), toiletries, kids toys, bedding and linens, or food items, contact, Maxi@ldrventures.com, who will be distributing them at the Chabad in Malibu.

Meanwhile, my focus right now has shifted to helping the community in LA during this time. I have canceled my travel to do On Being Jewish Now events in Chicago and St. Louis next week. Not only am I not emotionally up for it, but if I travel anywhere, I want it to be L.A. I’m also canceling my participation in some events for the book elsewhere, but I know my fellow contributors will do a wonderful job.

You might be thinking: What the heck?! Her home didn’t even burn down! She can’t do a few panel events??! She spends more time in New York than LA, doesn’t she? Come ON! Well, everyone has their emotional limit and I have hit mine. I just can’t. I’m honestly too depressed right now. I’m really sorry. I’ll still do a couple upcoming events that are local, but mostly, I’ll be working on more ways to help in LA.

This might sound ridiculous, but I believe I have to go where I’m called, like I’m the Mary Poppins of trauma. And right now I’m being called to help LA. My heart is with the devastated LA community. The flattened village. The vanished homes. It’s all I can think about.

I hope you understand. You might not — and that’s okay, too. But this is where I am right now.

Kyle and I (and the kids) really appreciate all your care and concern this week. Thank you so much, everyone.

Warmly,

Zibby