Israel Culture Center Reopens
By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter
The Israel Culture Center held a reopening ceremony at its new venue in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, Tuesday, on the occasion of its seventh anniversary.
The center has been active in promoting Israeli and Jewish culture with a variety of activities in Korea such as exhibitions, symposiums, lectures, Hebrew lectures, a library on Israel and Jewish studies.
Kim Hee-woo, director of the center said that the center will present more diverse services to those interested in Israel in seven new areas _ Hebrew lectures, a permanent exhibition, a library, special seminars about Jewish holidays, information on study in Israel, a new Web site and encouragement of the Israeli community.
Kim’s dedication to the operation of the center has been well recognized by the Israeli government, particularly since it not government-run but run by private people under the leadership of Kim.
Israeli Ambassador to Seoul Yigal Caspi said that his embassy is grateful for the center promoting Israel in the right way, saying the center fixes anti-Semitism disguised as anti Zionism and anti Israel propaganda.
``This center is, in a way, an annex of the embassy that helps us tremendously to tell the Korean people the story of Israel and the Jewish people by organizing seminars, cultural events, teaching Hebrew, and arranging and maintaining a library,’’ Caspi said.
As special event during the opening, Caspi affixed a mezuzah (a parchment inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah) to the doorpost of the center. According to Jewish tradition, people put a mezuzah on the front door when they move into a new house.
On hand at the event were lawmakers, foreign ambassadors and members of the public interested in Israeli culture. There were also traditional Israeli and Korean musical performances, to celebrate the opening.
The new Web site of the center is www.iscc.co.kr, and its telephone number is (02) 525-7301.