Jewish groups launch relief effort as island's Jews are among the evacuated

(JTA) - Jewish groups in the United States and in Hawaii are launching relief efforts following the devastation caused by wildfires that have killed more than 50 people so far.

The wildfires have all but destroyed the town of Lahaina on the island of Maui, which Hawaii's Jewish governor, Josh Green, toured on Thursday with Brian Schatz, the state's Jewish senator.

"What we saw today was likely the largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history," Green said in a statement.

The fires have had consequences for Hawaiians well beyond the fire zone.

"It's with much gratitude and humility to share...