American Jewish University

American Jewish University

Motto	Leadership, Identity, Innovation
Type	Private
Established	1947
Affiliation	Judaism
President	Robert Wexler
Location	Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California, USA
Campus	Urban
Mascot	Zion the Lion
Website	www.aju.edu

The American Jewish University, formerly the separate institutions University of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin Institute, is a Jewish, non-denominational educational institution in Los Angeles, California.

Its largest component is its Whizin Center for Continuing Education in which 12,000 students are enrolled annually in non-credit granting courses. A prominent program of the Center is the university's annual speaker series, featuring luminaries like Tony Blair, Colin Powell, and other political and diplomatic leaders.

AJU's academic division includes the College of Arts and Sciences, leading to a B.A. degree in majors such as Biology & Bioethics (pre-med), Business Administration & Innovation, Communication, Literature, and Media, Jewish Studies, Politics & Global Studies, and Psychology. In addition, AJU offers graduate degrees through the Fingerhut School of Education, The David L. Lieber Graduate School, and the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, a Conservative Jewish rabbinical seminary. AJU is host to the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program, which prepares students to convert to Judaism and engages interfaith couples and families, as well as three "think tanks": the Institute on American Jewish-Israel Relations, and the Sigi Ziering Institute for Exploring the Ethical and Religious Implications of the Holocaust and the Center for Policy Options. Through the Brandeis-Bardin Institute, the University has oversight over Camp Alonim and Gan Alonim Day Camp.

History

The University of Judaism was founded in 1947. The spiritual founder was Dr. Mordecai Kaplan, a Jewish thinker and philosopher whose goal was to create an institution representing the diversity of Judaic expression in the United States. Another co-founder was Rabbi Jacob Pressman.^[1] Initially a project of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City and the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Los Angeles, the UJ became an independent institution in the 1970s. It became officially non-denominational with the ascension to the presidency of Dr. Robert Wexler in 1992. Dr. Wexler was preceded in the presidency by Dr. Simon Greenberg (1947–1963) and Dr. David Lieber (1963–1992).

In March 2007, officials from both the University of Judaism and the Brandeis-Bardin Institute, an education and camping organization in Simi Valley, announced the two parties would merge into a new organization called the American Jewish University with UJ President Dr. Robert Wexler at the helm.^[2]

Campus resources and facilities

The American Jewish University is home to the Ostrow Library, which boasts over 120,000 volumes, extensive electronic resources, and contains one of the West Coast's largest collections of Judaica. The campus also includes the Gindi Auditorium, a 475-seat theatre featuring many concerts, celebrations, and other programs. The campus also includes dormitories and a recently completed student union with fitness facilities, a basketball court, and grass field.

The Max and Pauline Zimmer Conference Center is a 96-acre (39 ha) campus in Ojai, California. It is home to Camp Ramah in California.

Art galleries

The Marjorie and Herman Platt Gallery and Borstein Art Gallery play host to many major exhibitions, both of Jewish and non-Jewish art. Past artists at the Platt Gallery have included David Hockney, Jim Dine and Frank Stella as well as works by the Gallery's donor, Herman Platt. The Smalley Sculpture Garden on the campus grounds has a collection that includes the work of well-known contemporary sculptors. Dedicated in 1981, the sculptures include works by Beverly Pepper, Sol LeWitt, George Rickey, Jenny Holzer, Anthony Caro and George Rickey.

Undergraduate study

The College of Arts and Sciences

American Jewish University, Bel Air

The College of Arts and Sciences is the program of undergraduate study at AJU.

The academic program itself at the College grants the Bachelor of Arts degree. The core curriculum consists of over half the required credits during a student's time at the College, and consists of the study of Western, non-Western, and Jewish civilizations, foreign language studies, arts, science, math, and computer study. Several academic majors and minors are offered including:

Bioethics, Business, English and Literature, Jewish Studies, Journalism, Liberal Studies, Literature and Politics, Media, Communications, Political Science, Behavioral Sciences (Psychology), and U.S. Public Policy

The College also permits students to design their own majors, minors, and individualized programs of study in consultation with their academic advisor. The College encourages students to take leadership roles both on campus and in social, political, and religious work in the greater Los Angeles area.

Student life

The American Jewish University is home to an active student life. Students are encouraged to participate in student organizations in order to enrich their undergraduate experience. If a student determines that an organization they might be interested in is not yet established, students are welcome to establish new clubs and receive funding based upon student support and need.

Current student organizations include: the ASAJU (Student Government), Bio-Ethics Association, Casiano Chronicle (Student Newspaper), Cymbals, Hillel, Honor Society, Israel Action, NASHIR/AJU Choir, Political Science Association, Peer Mentoring Program, Psychology Association, Sports Club, and Tikkun Olam (Social Action).

Graduate study

The Lieber School of Graduate Studies

The Lieber School of Graduate Studies offers programs in Nonprofit Management and Jewish Communal Studies. Students may earn a Master of Business Administration degree in Nonprofit Management, or students who have already earned a Master of Arts degree in some other field may earn an M.A. in Nonprofit Management. The Lieber School also offers an M.A. in Jewish Communal Studies, which consists of studies of management skills as well as Jewish texts, history, and sociology.

The M.B.A. can be combined with the M.A. in Jewish Communal Studies and the other graduate degrees (see below).

Graduates of this program take leadership positions in the management of a variety of non-profit organizations.

Graduate Center for Education

The Graduate Center for Education at American Jewish University prepares educators to create and articulate a compelling vision for Jewish education and apply the knowledge, skills, creativity and leadership needed to bring that vision to life. The Fingerhut School of Education offers both a full and part-time Master of Arts in Education (MAEd), a half-time Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), and a duel MAEd and MBA in Nonprofit Management degree. In addition, the Graduate Center for Education offers various certificate and continuing education initiatives for experienced educators.

The Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies

Main article: Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies

In addition to Rabbinic ordination recognized by the Rabbinical Assembly of Conservative Judaism, the Ziegler School offers programs culminating in the awarding of a Master of Arts in Rabbinic Studies. This degree may be combined with the M.A.Ed. or M.B.A. programs. The Ziegler School also encompasses the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program, which supports those who are considering converting to Judaism, as well as Jews who wish to reconnect with their heritage.

Continuing education

AJU offers many programs of study through its Whizin Center for Continuing Education. These studies most often take the form of individual classes generally taken simply for personal enjoyment and edification. Classes are offered in language studies, Jewish studies, literature, fine arts, dance and fitness, performance arts, and other varied areas. One of its largest programs is the annual Public Lecture Series held at Universal Studios' Gibson Amphitheater and is attended by five to six thousand series ticket holders. Featured speakers have included President Bill Clinton, Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell, as well as Israeli Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Shimon Peres.

Gallery

Notable faculty and staff

Robert Wexler (rabbi), Ph.D. (President)
David Lieber, D.H.L. (President Emeritus)
Bradley Shavit Artson (Vice President and Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies)
Elliot Dorff, Ph.D. (Rector and Distinguished Professor of Jewish Philosophy)
Brian Goldberg, Ph.D. (Co-Chair Department of Political Science and Member of the Beverly Hills School Board)
Zvi Dershowitz, (Rabbi Emeritus of Sinai Temple (Los Angeles))
Rhoda Weisman, Dean of the School of Nonprofit Management

References

↑ Larry B. Stammer, A Witness to Hate and Hope, The Los Angeles Times, October 23, 1999
↑ "2 Jewish educational institutes are merging," Los Angeles Times, March 22, 2007

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to American Jewish University.

Coordinates: 34°07′40.18″N 118°28′17.95″W / 34.1278278°N 118.4716528°W / 34.1278278; -118.4716528

Bel Air, Los Angeles

Geography

Neighborhoods	East Gate Bel Air

Education

Primary and secondary schools	Los Angeles Unified School District Marymount High School Milken Community Schools The Mirman School John Thomas Dye School Westland School

Other education	American Jewish University Los Angeles Public Library Los Angeles Community College District

Other

Landmarks	Bel Air Presbyterian Church Hannah Carter Japanese Garden Stephen S. Wise Temple

This list is incomplete.

Conservative Judaism

Core articles	Conservative responsa Conservative halakha

Organizations	Leadership Council of Conservative Judaism Committee on Jewish Law and Standards Rabbinical Assembly Cantors Assembly Jewish Theological Seminary of America American Jewish University (formerly University of Judaism) Miller Introduction to Judaism Program Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies Conservative Yeshiva Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies Solomon Schechter Day School Association Ramah Camping Movement Masorti on Campus Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism United Synagogue Youth Kadima

Related topics	Criticism of Conservative Judaism Gladstein Fellowship more...

Colleges and universities in Los Angeles County

Public universities	California State University Dominguez Hills Long Beach Los Angeles Northridge Pomona University of California (Los Angeles)

Private universities	Academy for Jewish Religion AFI Alliant AADA American Jewish AMDA Antioch Art Center Azusa Pacific Biola CalArts Caltech Claremont Colleges Claremont Graduate Claremont McKenna Harvey Mudd Keck Pitzer Pomona Scripps Claremont Lincoln Claremont School of Theology Colburn Drew Fuller Hebrew Union King's La Verne Life Pacific Loyola Marymount Marymount California Master's Mount St. Mary's National Otis Occidental Pacific Oaks PRGS Pepperdine SCI-Arc SCU Southwestern USC UWest West Coast Baptist WesternU Whittier Woodbury

Community colleges	Antelope Valley Cerritos Citrus Canyons Compton East LA El Camino Glendale Long Beach LA City LA Harbor LA Mission LA Pierce LA Valley LA Southwest LA Trade-Technical Mt. San Antonio Pasadena Rio Hondo Santa Monica West LA

For-profit branches	American InterContinental Art Institute DeVry FIDM ITT Los Angeles College of Music LA Film Le Cordon Bleu New York Film Academy

Jewish life in the United States

Major communal organizations

Major Federal liaisons
and policy organizations
not focused exclusively on Israel

Major foreign assistance organizations

Major Israel policy, education, and
outreach organizations

Major domestic and neighborhood
assistance organizations

Major religious movement organizations
(and associated rabbinical membership
and policy body; seminary)

Major youth groups

Religious education

College Jewish studies programs
Hebrew school
Jewish day school
- PARDeS
- RAVSAK
- Schechter
- Torah Umesorah
Yeshiva / Mesivta

Major college organizations and
Jewish fraternities

Organizations	Chabad on Campus Hillel KESHER (defunct) Masorti on Campus Orthodox student groups

Fraternities & Sororities	Alpha Epsilon Pi Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi (Historically Jewish: Alpha Epsilon Phi Sigma Alpha Mu Sigma Delta Tau Tau Delta Phi Tau Epsilon Phi Zeta Beta Tau)

Media

Newspapers and wires	Algemeiner Journal Baltimore Jewish Times Charlotte Jewish News Cleveland Jewish News Hamodia The Jewish Advocate (Bost.) The Jewish Daily Forward (N.Y.) The Jewish Exponent (Phila.) The Jewish Journal (L.A.) The Jewish Ledger (Conn.) Jewish News of Greater Phoenix The Jewish Press (N.Y.) Jewish Standard (N.J.) Jewish Telegraphic Agency The Jewish Week (N.Y.) JWeekly (S.F.) New Jersey Jewish News St. Louis Jewish Light Washington Jewish Week Yated Ne'eman Der Yid Der Blatt Di Tzeitung

Magazines	Ami Binah Commentary Emunah Magazine Jewish Currents Jewish Sports Review Jewish World Review Lilith Mishpacha Moment Tablet Tikkun We Are In America

Television	Jewish Broadcasting Service Jewish Life Television (JLTV) National Jewish Television The Jewish Channel

Blogs & Websites	AskMoses.com Chabad.org Heeb Jewcy Jewish Virtual Library Tablet Magazine Vos Iz Neias? Yeshiva.co Yeshiva World News

Major communal activities

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