Israeli-American Community Center to Open in Woodland Hills

A community center designed as a hub for the Israeli-American and Jewish communities in Los Angeles is expected to open later this year.

The IAC Shepher Community Center is an initiative of the Israeli- American Council, which is adding an office building to an existing 11,000- square-foot structure on the Woodland Hills property.

“This center will be the first of its kind, providing a vibrant hub for our local Israeli-American community and a bridge connecting Israel to Southern California,” said Miri Shepher, IAC Los Angeles council chairwoman.

“Creating a physical gathering space will advance the IAC’s mission to engage and unite Israeli-Americans -- and contribute to the broader Jewish community,” she said. “We are hopeful that it will be the first center of many around the country.”

The center will host classes and programs that serve Israeli-Americans and connect the broader community to Israel -- from Israeli dance classes to Hebrew-language film screenings; from baby health classes in the Israeli style of Tipat Halav clinics to senior citizen activity groups with Hebrew programming.

The facility will also serve as a leadership training center for the next generation of Israeli-Americans and Jewish-Americans, with programming focused on public diplomacy and pro-Israel advocacy, Shepher said.

The future site will also include a basketball court, a gymnasium, and space for hosting other organizations and entities that promote Israeli and Jewish values.

The opening of an Israeli-American community center in the San Fernando Valley is noteworthy because most of the Jewish Community Centers that once served the area’s large Jewish community closed years ago, leaving a gaping hole in communal life, Shepher said.

The media will get a first look at the property on Sunday, with a program featuring remarks from dignitaries and supporters, live entertainment anf an original exhibit commemorating 40 years of Israeli-American history in Los Angeles, including newspapers, artifacts, and photos of old restaurants, clubs, and local landmarks frequented by Israelis.

“We are building something that will be much more than a community center, it will be the center of the community,” said Erez Goldman, IAC Los Angeles’ regional director.

City News Service