Israeli-American Community Center to Open in the Valley

Paige Austin, patch.com

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Excerpt:

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. ...