Chabad celebrates milestone birthday




Moshe Bryski

Moshe Bryski

There are those who say birthday celebrations are only for kids, that after a certain point the cake and party hats bring diminishing returns. But some birthdays just have to be celebrated.

Chabad of the Conejo is turning 40 years old on June 12 and will host a grand gala that features a musical performance, stand-up comedy and presentations from important figures, past and present, in the Chabad community.

“In Judaism, a 40th year is a significant milestone in that it represents an attainment of deeper wisdom and understanding, a heightened sense of appreciation for ‘what it’s all about,’ so to speak,” Rabbi Moshe Bryski, executive director of Chabad of the Conejo, said. “This is true not only in the life of an individual but also in the life of a community.”

The celebration will take place at the Fred Kavli Theatre in Thousand Oaks.

What started in 1979 as one Westlake Village-based Chabad has blossomed into nine centers from Calabasas to Ventura.

Bryski took over the Westlake Village Chabad and nurtured its growth. He helped establish the Calabasas, Oak Park, Camarillo, and Thousand Oaks centers, all of which operate under the Chabad of the Conejo umbrella.

Chabads are also in North Ranch, Moorpark and Simi Valley.

In 2011, Chabad completed the ground-up construction of its state-of-the-art Center for Jewish Life in Agoura Hills, which now serves as the organization’s headquarters.

Yitzchak Sapochinsky started the Oak Park Chabad in 1985 and is now rabbi at Westlake Village. He marvels at Chabad’s growth.

“For those of us who have been here that long and watched the growth, you have to step back and see the forest, not the tree. When you look back at those times and look now, it’s pretty awesome,” Sapochinsky said.

‘Daring experiment’

“Forty years ago, the very notion of traditional Judaism gaining a foothold in one of Southern California’s most suburban areas seemed almost fantastic, if not ludicrous, on its face,” said Rabbi Yisroel Levine, Chabad of the Conejo’s director of development.

“Taking our lead from the Lubavitcher Rebbe (the late spiritual leader of Chabad) and Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, our mission has never been about numbers, demographics or statistics. It’s always been about reaching out with genuine love and concern to real-life human beings, one soul at a time,” Levine said. “Child by child, student by student, person by person, family by family, what might have seemed like a daring experiment at the outset is now a thriving network of people helping people.”

While Chabad celebrates its anniversary every year—and honors members of the community who have made significant contributions through fundraising, community organizing and other efforts—this year’s four-decade mark is special.

Sapochkinsky said organizers decided to prepare a video collage of the previous honorees, many of whom are expected to attend.

Sapochkinsky believes the reason for Chabad’s success is its open-door policy among the Jews in the community.

“When you go into a reform temple, you expect to find Jews who associate with the reform branch, the same for the conservative and orthodox movements,” he said. “When you go into Chabad, you find the whole gamut of reformed, conservative, orthodox, unaffiliated, Hassidic, you name it, they’re there.”

Those wishing to attend the celebration can call (818) 991- 0991 to receive complimentary tickets while supplies last, or visit chabadconejo.com/concert for seating accommodations.