20 Years of Learning in Agoura

By Rachel McGrath, Ventura County Star
Photos: KAREN QUINCY LOBERG/THE STAR

What started out as a series of Bible studies in people’s homes has evolved into a wide-ranging program of lectures, workshops and study courses hosted by Chabad of the Conejo.

The religious organization’s Jewish academy is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and is now based at the Center for Jewish Life in Agoura Hills.

The adult education program offers classes on a variety of Judaic subjects, including faith, spirituality, philosophy, culture and heritage.

More than 3,000 students have passed through its doors, and the academy has hosted hundreds of speakers from all over the world on subjects related to Judaism, according to Rabbi Moshe Bryski, the executive director of both the academy and Chabad of Conejo.

The Conejo Jewish Academy was founded in Westlake Village by Bryski.

“I was giving a series of Bible studies on Jewish themes in people’s homes, and they said let’s take it out of people’s living rooms and dining rooms and make it an institution where everyone can take part,” said Bryski.

The academy moved to Agoura Hills 16 years go.

In 2011, Chabad of Conejo celebrated the opening of its new Center for Jewish Life at 30347 Canwood St. and David and Sara Bergstein dedicated the institute as the Leonard Bergstein Jewish Academy in memory of David’s father who passed away in 2008.

“It enabled us to really expand,” said Abba Bryski.

Judaic study and Jewish awareness are key elements of Chabad’s mission, which is “to bring Judaism to every Jew on earth,” the rabbi said.

“Our job is to make it as simple as possible for Jews to discover and learn,” he said. “We take our role as the chosen people very seriously. We are chosen to bring Godliness and goodness to all people on the face of the earth and to do so we need to understand what we need to practice ourselves and what we need to share with the world.”

Tom Block, of Agoura Hills, has been attending the Lunch ‘N Learn program hosted by Bryski since the beginning.

“When I first started, I was the third person to join,” said Block. “Now, it has between 70 and 100 people every week.”

Block says he grew up as a secular Jew but thanks to Bryski and the Jewish Academy, he has become connected to his Jewish faith, history and heritage.

“I have just grown in my knowledge and my observance and my interest,” he said. “I’ve raised a family in it, and it’s made a huge impact on me – I hope for the good.”

Some of the topics featured during the winter semester which is just beginning are what it means to be a “mentch,” or a person of character; unlocking the secrets of the Torah by exploring Kabbalah; Hebrew for beginners; and Jewish identity and what it means to be Jewish, both historically and in the modern day.

For the first time, the academy is also offering a basic class on Judaism in Russian and a three-part lecture series in Hebrew, both in response to requests from the growing Russian and Israeli communities in the area.

The classes are taught by rabbis and rebbetzins who are part of the Chabad of Conejo.

For more information about the Jewish Academy and the courses and events it offers, go to http://www.jewishacademy.com.