A fatal traffic collision outside Valley Beth Shalom (VBS) in Encino on the morning of Sept. 12, as High Holiday services were underway, claimed the life of synagogue board member Karen Rubinstein and left VBS members Kyle Meyerowitz and her son, Elon Van Pelt, hospitalized.
In the days since, the community has stepped up to provide support for Rubinstein’s surviving son, Ian, as well as for the Meyerowitz and Van Pelt families. Meyerowitz’s other son, Micah, was not involved in the crash.
The two-vehicle collision occurred Saturday morning at the intersection of Ventura Boulevard and Densmore Avenue, where VBS is located. The crash also injured pedestrian Brian Merritt, described by VBS as “a friend of VBS who is now fortunately home” from the hospital.
Based on conversations with multiple community members, Rubinstein and Meyerowitz, who were friends, were traveling to High Holiday services with Meyerowitz’s son Elon. Their Lexus was reportedly turning left onto Densmore Avenue from Ventura Boulevard when it was struck by a Tesla traveling west on Ventura.
Six people were transported to a hospital following the crash, according to local media reports.
Elon, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized in the wake of the incident, “broke his pelvis and femur and underwent surgery Saturday night.” His mother, Kyle, “is currently in the ICU. Her injuries are serious, but thankfully, she is stable and receiving the care she needs.”
Rubinstein died in the collision.
“Her death has rocked us all,” VBS said in a statement released after sundown on Sept. 13, at the conclusion of Rosh Hashanah. “May God send comfort to her son Ian, to the Rubinstein family, and to all who love Karen, among the rest of the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.”
The collision unfolded while worshippers were gathered inside VBS for services. Those in the sanctuary reported hearing a loud bang, while the flashing lights of emergency vehicles filtered through the sanctuary’s stained-glass windows.
“We first heard a boom. Considering all the attacks going on, people thought right away something terrible had happened,” Roslyn Grinberg, president of the board at VBS, who was attending services there at the time, said. “We found out quickly it was a bad [car] accident. Pedestrians were involved. We announced from the bimah that anyone who is a doctor with trauma experience to come outside.
“We kept going with our service. We were three-quarters of the way done, and we had thousands of people in the synagogue that day. A lot of staff went to the scene and saw a lot, and they’re very traumatized and rocked by this.”
Congregants with young children were cautioned to exercise care when leaving the building because of the disturbing scene outside.
Rubinstein was a longtime parent in the VBS Day School community and served on the Day School Board of Trustees. She began her first term on the VBS Board of Directors in July.
A single mother, Rubinstein sent her son, Ian, now a 12th-grade student, to the VBS Early Childhood Center and VBS Day School.
Meyerowitz also has longstanding ties to VBS. She is a former VBS Day School parent, served as chair of the day school’s parent organization and was a member of the Day School Board of Trustees. Both of her sons, Micah and Elon, attended the VBS Early Childhood Center and Day School.
“Kyle and Elon are both hospitalized,” the synagogue said. “Our hearts are with their family. We pray for their full recovery.”
As of press time, a GoFundMe campaign established to support the Meyerowitz and Van Pelt families had raised nearly $160,000 toward a $200,000 goal.
Carly Vazana, who has spent her career working in the organized Jewish community, including five years as director of development for VBS Day School, organized the campaign.
Reached by phone, Vazana said she had been moved by the “level of response and outpouring of the community. The support is beyond what we ever thought we’d receive.”
The community also has organized a meal train for the Rubinstein family through Meal Train, with dozens of volunteers signing up to prepare meals. As of Monday, the schedule had been filled through Oct. 30, with the campaign’s homepage displaying the message: “All dates are booked.”
VBS is also launching a scholarship fund for the day school in Rubinstein’s memory and starting a separate fund through the synagogue to support Meyerowitz and Elon. Those interested in donating are encouraged to contact the synagogue.
