In 1979 the OU Israel Center opened its doors as a “home away from home” for Anglos living in Israel. Inspired by the unique vision of George, z"l, and Ilse Falk, the Israel Center began as a place where students learning in Israel for the year could feel at home. In its original location at 10 Strauss Street, the Center offered students a safe environment where they could hang out in comfort, enhance their learning and enjoy themselves. As the Israel Center evolved and catered to a growing and varied community, the Falks remained close friends. Indeed, years later, the family still maintains ongoing interest and support for the Center.
Julius, z"l, and Sylvia Samson came aboard and joined efforts to ensure the success of the Israel Center. As olim who were active for many years in the West Coast OU, the Samsons took great personal interest in the fledgling Israel Center. Sincerely devoted to the Center, Julius held the position of first chairman of the Israel Center for many years.
Rabbi Dr. Samson R. Weiss, z"l, former Executive Director of the Orthodox Union in America, took over as the “elder OU statesman” of the Israel Center.
The Israel Center developed a two-fold mission: To strengthen the bonds between the Jewish people, Torah and the Land of Israel. To encourage aliyah and to aid olim in the process of acclimating to their new country. The activities of the Israel Center were designed to forward these goals, always with the intention of bringing Jews closer to their heritage.
In the late 1970’s and early ‘80’s, the Israel Center focused primarily on the English speaking population in Jerusalem. It offered shiurim, concerts and community services such as a second Seder for tourists. As enthusiasm and demand grew, the center expanded its offering of shiurim, and added a range of new programs, including: tiyulim, lectures, the weekly Torah Tidbits publication, Shabbatons, and special programs.
In September 1981, Phil Chernofsky, a veteran teacher and NCSY advisor – “on the chapter, regional and national level” – arrived in Israel to take a senior position in the Israel Center. He immediately began to develop enlightening and uplifting educational and outreach programs catering to Anglos across the spectrum. Phil’s unique approach – an ability to combine informal education with a passionate love for Torah and Eretz Yisrael – has been his hallmark from the Israel Center’s early days. This approach continues to endear Phil to the thousands who have benefited from his teachings and writing since the Israel Center first opened. Phil has been with the Israel Center nearly 28 years. In that time, he says the Center has grown from a “one-man makolet to a mini-market to a supermarket” of classes, programs and activities.
June 1982 – Monthly Motzei Shabbat shiurim were added to the Israel Center’s programming at the behest of MRs. Millie Lopshinsky, a"h, one of the new Center’s first attendees. Millie also suggested timely Rosh Chodesh luncheons. Thirteen people attended the first shiur, and the shiurim soon expanded into weekly lectures. It was not long before the luncheons also became a permanent feature in the Center’s programming repertoire.
Late 1982 – The Yair Landau Memorial Library was established by the family of Yair Landau, z"l, who was killed in the costly battle of Sultan Yakoub in the First Lebanon War.
1983-1984: Morning shiurim were added to the Center’s full schedule of afternoon and evening classes. One of the first shiurim was Phil’s class on the laws of milk and meat. The class attracted quite a blend of individuals, inclusing a Bais Yaakov girl who felt it was the first time in her life she was allowed to question, two back-packers (college students who knew nothing aout Judaism), and a Lutheran minister and his wife, eager to learn about the prohibition against eating meat and milk together.
Rabbi Zev Leff began to teach a morning shiur. He continues to be a popular teacher at the Israel Center today.
The schedule of shiurim developed from two days a week on Strauss Street to a full week of morning, and evening classes at today’s Israel Center.
Mid 1980s – Shulamit Neaman began to volunteer at the Israel Center, planning tiyulim and Rosh Chodesh luncheons, introducing participants to the beauty and majesty of the land of Israel. Over the past 20 years, thousands have participated in Shulamit’s inspirational tiyulim, each trip planned with a balance of torah, Ahavat Eretz Yisrael and leisure. For her dedicated work Shulamit was awarded the eishet Chayil Award at the Israel Center’s 4th Annual Dinne. She has been nobly assisted in the endeavor by one of the Israel Center’s longest standing colunteers, Naomi Liebersohn.
Later 1980s – The Jewish Agency began to fund educational and social action programs for the various religious streams of Judaism. They allocated funds to the Orthodox Union’s Israel Center, which were used to develop a number of innovative rograms. Among them were the “Chidush: program, which created a much needed social framework for older singles, and the “Gam” program for senior adults. The Israel Center took just two Russian-speaking children on a Pesach tiyul. They offered a mini-shiur to Russian adults. And the “Shavu Banim: project was born! It was later renamed “Achim” and became a major outreach project for Russian immigrants, including an ulpan (which featured information about Judaism in easy Hebrew), shiurim, tiyulim, Bar and Bat Mitzva programs and clubs for college students. The project continued successfully into the late nineties.
Late 1980s – The Israel Center continued to grow and evolve, in response to a growing number of enthusiastic participants. The Center developed a range of programs to meet the needs of the Anglo community such as “Nitzotz” (Sparks), Leadership Training, NESTO, and Project Tikva.
By 1991, 800 people crowded into the Israel Center to prepare physically and spiritually for the impending Gulf War. By then, the Israel Center was not reserved for English speakers alone, and Russian olim continued to attend Ulpan at the center throughout the war.
June 1992 – The first issue of Torah Tidbits made its debut. Director Shai Solomon asked Phil to prepare a one-page flyer of Israel Center activities to be distributed at several Anglo shuls in the area. Phil thought, “why not add some Torah?” and suggested putting a D’var Torah on the front side and a list of activities on the back. The issue appeared for Parshat Sh’lach. Sixty copies were printed (actually photocopied), and two shuld received 30 copies in size and number as an increasing number of shuls distributed the distinctive D’var Torah booklet each week.
Today’s Torah Tidbits, a 50-60 page booklet, travels the length and breadth of the country. Some 8,600 weekly copies- plus over 100 large print editions- are printed in-house, and 25 regular volunteers fold the edition every week for distribution throughout Israel. Content has long since expanded to include a full selection of Divrei Torah including columnists. The first column, by Rabbi Emanuel Quint, senior Vice President of the Israel Center, still appears weekly.
Toni Chernofsky, who has been involved with the distribution of Torah tidbits since the beginning, notes that today, hundreds of individuals distribute approximately 8,000 copies to over 400 shuls, hotels, and stores throughout the country. Communities as far north as Tzfat and as far south as Beersheva receive Torah Tidbits each week. And Torah Tidbits isn’t just for reading anymore. For 12 years, Torah Tidbits Audio has been heard on the Arutz Sheva website and is now also available on the OU website each week.
1999 – Rabbi Dovid Cohen, previously an advisor to the Israel Center, was named director- General. In his new position, Rabbi Cohen brought tremendous growth to the Center and was instrumental in unifying its programs. He consolidated all OU programs in Israel into the Israel Center amutah. As plans continued for the Center to move to its new facility at 22 Keren Hayesod, Rabbi Cohen supervised the building’s redesign to include space for classes, offices and a community center. Rabbi Cohen, with the assistance of Sara Berelowitz, who was appointed Comptroller, revamped the fiscal department and incorporated the NCSY youth programs in Israel under the banner of the OU Israel Center.
2000 – Yitzchak Fund took on the role of President of the Israel Center. Through his strong leadership and sense of purpose, he directs the vision of the Israel Center to look towards new horizons. Israel Center initiatives began to take on a national scope, and in 2000, the center moved to larger facilities at the Seymour J. Abrams OU Jerusalem World Center in central Jerusalem. In September, the new Israel Center in Rechavia was inaugurated with its first program as an overflow crowd arrived for Selichot. The numbers attested to the excitement and anticipation of Israel Center attendees as they awaited the new building. In October the Seymour J. Abrams Orthodox Union Jerusalem World Center (otherwise known as the Israel Center) officially opened at 22 Keren Hayesod after the chagim, beginning a period of extensive growth. From its new location, the Israel center tripled its youth activities and spread its reach to Gush Dan, the Jordan Valley and the Golan Heights.
2000-2005- The 21st century began a period of extensive growth at the Israel Center: Many new programs were added or expanded, including: Gemach, Beit Din for financial matters, two charity funds, the Ganchrow Beit Midrash, Makom Balev, Gesharim, Lev Yehudi, Dor l’Dor, The Pearl and Harold Jacobs Outreach Zula center, Beit Kharkov, Travel Desk, and Camp Dror.
2002 – The Avrom Silver Jerusalem College for Adults, headed by Rabbi Sholom Gold, became affiliated with the Israel Center, incorporating the College’s lecturers and programs into the ongoing schedule of classes and special events at the Center.
July 2006 – Rabbi Avi Berman was named Director-General of OU Israel. Leaving Vancouver as the North-West Regional Director of NCSY, he started his work at the Center two days before the Second War in Lebanon began. When the war broke, the Israel Center jumped into action to help residents in the North. Nine hundred volunteers responded, and funds came in from the OU in America and the United Jewish Communities Emergency Fund. Volunteers visited bomb shelters and ran programs from residents. When the war ended, the center continued its activities in the North, including the Jack Gindi D’Oraita program. D’Oraita began to work with street kids at risk and opened teen lounges in distressed areas providing teens with a safe and nurturing environment.
Under Rabbi Berman’s leadership, the links between the OU Israel Center and the OU in America grew stronger. The OU began to do more than just provide funds as it developed a true partnership with the Israel Center.
Today – Today tens of thousands of people participate annually in an array of programs at the Seymour J. Abrams Orthodox Union Jerusalem World Center. The programs are partially funded by the Orthodox Union in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Israeli Government, various municipalities and private donors, all who continue to live the Israel Center Dream.
