Chabad of the Conejo to Break Ground on Historic New Campus in Agoura Hills

AGOURA HILLS, CA [CHI] — It began in 1979 in a small storefront and has since blossomed into a network of nine community centers spanning the Conejo Valley. From synagogues to schools, summer camps to teen clubs, the “Friendship Circle” to the nationally-recognized Conejo Jewish Academy; Chabad of the Conejo has been at the forefront of developing one of the most dynamic Jewish communities in the western United States.

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Energized by the teachings and legacy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, who consistently emphasized the importance of reaching out with love and nonjudgmental acceptance to fellow Jews and putting them in closer touch with their heritage; Chabad’s staff of rabbis, teachers and counselors, are driven by a passionate desire to make a difference in people’s lives. With its hallmark warm and inviting spirit, Chabad prides itself on being a place where people from all walks of life – regardless of previous background or affiliation – can feel at home. Chabad does not require membership as a prerequisite to getting involved in any of its programs.

Along with the pride of Chabad’s successes over the past three decades have come the very challenges of its growth: Overflow crowds at services and events, burgeoning enrollments and the pressing need for a more conducive headquarters to serve as the central hub of Chabad activities throughout the region. For the longest time, Chabad of the Conejo has dreamed of the day it would build a major campus bustling with various new educational programs for young and old, a host of new social services and an even more dynamic spirit of community.

According to the organization’s leaders, that day is at hand. A major capital campaign aimed at building the New Chabad of the Conejo Community Campus at the site of its current Agoura Hills center on Canwood Street is underway. Having acquired the empty parcel in back of its existing center several years ago, Chabad’s proposed project entails two phases: the construction a new “Center for Jewish Life” on the empty lot and the demolition of the existing building for a new Synagogue Building to be erected in its place. While substantial support has already been lined up for the effort, fund-raising efforts will be stepped up during the excavation, demolition and construction process.

“It’s exciting. The wheels are in motion,” says Rabbi Moshe Bryski, Executive Director of Chabad of the Conejo. “By a 5-0 vote, we’ve received zoning approval from the Agoura Hills Planning Commission. We’ve submitted plans for the construction of Phase One to the Department of Building and Safety, and we’ve already begun to raise real dollars for the Capital Project. I wish I could say that we have in place all that we need, financially, to bring this project to total completion; but that is simply not the case – as yet. We still have ways to go.

”I do believe that once more people out there get to know what we’re trying to build here for this community – for our children and our children’s children – there will be a new groundswell of support for this endeavor. The critical thing now is for us to get the word out with greater urgency and have this campaign generate the excitement it needs, and deserves. We’ve come a long way over the past twenty-eight or so years, but the greatest days for Chabad of the Conejo are yet to come.“

Bryski went on to say the new Chabad Community Campus will enable the organization to double the enrollment of its Hebrew School, Hebrew High and adult education programs; and triple the capacities at its community events and Shabbat services. Moreover, it will enable it to offer a whole new range of programs and services that have, until now, been beyond its reach – simply due to the lack of space and facilities. For example, new ”Senior Programming“ for the elderly; the ”Parenting Place“ for new and expectant parents; and additional Friendship Circle activities for children with special needs.

The construction effort will be initiated by a grand community-wide ”Ground-breaking Festival“ to be held on Sunday, September 9th, at the Canwood site, just west of the Reyes Adobe exit – off the 101 Freeway. The festivities, which will get underway at 11:00 a.m., will include presentations by many prominent community leaders, live music and refreshments. It will be highlighted by symbolic foundation-digging by members of the community who have already signed on for major dedications within the new state-of-the-art campus.

”If we are going to cross that finish line and finally make this incredible dream a reality for the Conejo Valley Jewish community, it’s going to have to become a true grass roots effort,“ says Honorary Building Campaign Chairman, Maury Friedman. ”We need people at all levels to come on board and be a part of history in the making. The bulldozers are about to begin rolling, the cement barrels are about to begin churning and, before long, we will all stand with pride and solidarity to rejoice in an amazing edifice of learning and gathering we will have built — together.

“More than just kicking things up a notch or two, we will be taking the accomplishments of the past three decades and using them as a foundation and springboard to a whole new beginning. We will build a beautiful, warm, welcoming new Center of Jewish life that will open its doors and its loving heart to so many more people; a real community center that will leave nobody behind!”

The community at large is invited to join Chabad for the Ground-Breaking Festival. Live music, dignitaries, refreshments and the ceremonial placing of the foundation stone, will be part of the festivities. It will be held at 30345 Canwood Street on Sunday, September 9, at 11 a.m.