The Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles invited some 20 members of the Korean American faith community to a luncheon the Israeli Consulate office on August 24 as a gesture to work together for the advancement of the Jewish and Korean communities in Southern California.
"The Korean and Jewish communities share many things in common," said David Siegel, the Consul General of Israel, and expressed a desire for the two communities to work together in those aspects to "bring about a greater contribution to the advancement of the community at large."
Some of those in attendance included Hyepin Im, the president of Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD); Michael Lee, the senior pastor of Young Nak Celebration Church; Sam Park, the senior pastor of Community Church on Holliston; Woogie Kim, the director of development in international relations at Biola University and a pastor at Shalom Church; and Sam Koh, the lead pastor of Hillside LA, the English congregation of Los Angeles Christian Presbyterian Church; among others.
The group discussed various issues, including the need to infuse the ethnic culture in the next generation and build them up into influential leaders of the future. Siegel expressed that he and the Jewish American community plans to meet regularly with the Korean American community to form a leadership program for young people.
The need to work toward peace was also emphasized during the luncheon, as both Israel and South Korea are involved with other countries with nuclear power (Iran and North Korea).
Meanwhile, the Consul General of Israel is known to also have been invited to KCCD events in the past, including a breakfast reception in March with Young Hoon Lee, the senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea, and Korean American community leaders in Southern California.
