“All Systems Go”
on Construction of New Chabad Campus

After many months of overcoming innumerable challenges and frustrating obstacles, the construction of the new Chabad of the Conejo Community Campus has finally been green-lighted. All permits have been obtained, all necessary easements have been recorded, the construction financing is in its final underwriting stages and the highly reputable Martin Teitelbaum Construction, Inc. has been engaged to build and oversee the project to its completion. It is with these exciting and long-awaited developments beneath its wings that Chabad of the Conejo will be celebrating its 30th anniversary with a banquet-concert gala on the tenth of June, aptly titled: “Celebration 30: Gateway to the Future”.

From its inception in 1979, Chabad of the Conejo has dreamed of the day it would build a multipurpose campus to serve as a central headquarters and hub of activity for its outreach and educational programs, which now serves the greater Conejo Valley Jewish community through six regional centers. Celebrated for its warm and inviting approach, Chabad of the Conejo has been at the forefront of developing one of the most dynamic and flourishing Jewish communities in the United States. Its innovative programs have been emulated and duplicated by organizations of its kind throughout the world.

Along with the pride of success have come the challenges of growth. With overflow crowds and burgeoning enrollments at its synagogues, schools, summer camps, Conejo Jewish Academy, Hebrew High, Friendship Circle and Sunshine Club programs, the need for Chabad of the Conejo to operate from a more spacious and conducive facility has increased in almost exponential fashion with each passing year. The project to realize this expansion and create the Chabad of the Conejo Community Campus will proceed in two phases. The construction of the new Center for Jewish Life on the vacant lot located at the rear of the existing facility will be the first phase. This special purpose building will include educational facilities, kosher kitchen and administrative offices. The second phase will totally reconfigure and transform the existing Chabad building on Canwood Street into a new sanctuary and multipurpose facility. The completed project will go a long way toward addressing Chabad’s present and future needs.

While the campaign to build the new campus has been in the works for a number of years, progress has unfortunately been stalled and prolonged due to various technical issues. Once all obstacles were overcome and all zoning, planning and city and county agency requirements were satisfied, with a superb set of plans designed by Lanet Shaw Architects and a building permit in hand, the process to select the right contractor for the project was launched. Fortunately, at the end of the process, Chabad did not have to go very far to find the most suitable and qualified company to bring its long-awaited dream to reality. Martin Teitelbaum Construction, Inc, (MTC) headquartered in Camarillo, agreed to make this historic project its own.

Active in the construction and development business since 1955, MTC has completed major projects in Southern California and Southern Nevada for a select and satisfied group of clients on a repetitive basis. From public corporations to developers, business owners and its own real estate development endeavors, it is renowned for its personal service and attention to detail in the highest degree. Its expertise is in commercial and industrial construction. MTC’s principal, Martin Teitelbaum is passionately dedicated to the ideals of Jewish education and continuity. “This will not be just another building project in a long career of many projects, but an opportunity to contribute my energy and expertise to the community, my people and heritage in a manner that will endure on more than a physical level,” says Martin.

“From the day this project was first conceived, I’ve been involved in the capacity of an advisor and consultant,” says Martin. “Now that the way has been cleared for construction to get underway and MTC has undertaken the general contractor role, I want to be sure that this project is pursued with maximum energy, attention to quality and detail and insure that this community gets the new facility it needs to continue to flourish.”

Martin points out that while the first 100 days of activity may not show much by way of visible change, there will nonetheless be a flurry of progress at the site. Included will be the site demolition and grading work, the running of all underground utilities to the building pad, the installation of underground plumbing at the building, the pouring of the new building’s footings and slab and commencement of the structure’s framing.

“Due to no fault of our own, there have been many ‘false starts’ to this project – to use the football vernacular,” says Rabbi Moshe Bryski, Executive Director of Chabad of the Conejo. “This time, however, we’re headed for the end zone.

As we enter our fourth decade of service to this community through that hallowed ‘gateway to the future’, this is truly an extraordinary time in the annals of Chabad.

“For those who have not as yet formalized a dedication or pledge of support toward this capital campaign, now is the time to come on board and be a part of history in the making. We’re getting this project started, but we will need broad-based support to go all the way and get it finished. We need our community to seize this opportunity to join together and raise that building from the ground up – for the sake of our children and our children’s children.”

To discuss a pledge or dedication within the new campus,
contact Rabbi Moshe Bryski at 818- 991-0991 or Rmdb@aol.com