Chabad of Conejo Opens New Facility

Chabad of the Conejo’s newest facility opened its doors Sunday in the hope of becoming a focal point of Jewish life in the Conejo Valley. Other Chabad houses are located in Westlake and Oak Park.

The new center, located on Canwood Street near Reyes Adobe Road, has a worship hall that houses up to 150 people. It was established to serve worshipers of the Chabad Lubavitch movement from Calabasas to Camarillo.

“Our primary motive for building this facility was to expand our educational efforts,” said Executive Director Rabbi Moshe Bryski before the dedication ceremony. “This will serve the entire region from Calabasas to Thousand Oaks.”

Chabad of the Conejo began 17 years ago and has grown to include three synagogues, a Hebrew school, summer day camp and an Adult Education Institute. The new facility in Agoura Hills will serve as the headquarters. Other centers in North Hollywood, the west San Fernando Valley and Ventura offer classes, lectures, workshops and study groups.

Although the Chabad movement teaches Orthodox adherence to Jewish law, it has included some who drive to Sabbath services, which is restricted among the Orthodox.

“Chabad accepts every single Jew at the level they are at,” Bryski said. “Our goal is to bring them closer to Judaism--up the ladder at their own pace.”

The new center will serve as home for the Conejo Jewish Academy, a Hebrew school for children using new teaching methods and committed to Torah learning and Jewish values. A similar program was established for adults two years ago.