American Jewish University - AJU

Have you seen The Odyssey? Did you notice the parallels between "Zeus's law" (Zenia) and the Jewish concept of welcoming guests (Hachnasat orchim)?

AJU's Ryan Torok sat down with Rabbi Brad Artson to explore the fascinating connections, and differences, between The Odyssey and Jewish tradition.

Read the article below and discover a Jewish lens to the movie and ancient epic poem:

A Rabbi Explains What’s Jewish About 'The Odyssey' In both, there's sacrifices, there's tribal identity, there's a concern for honor and dignity. And then there are these huge, glaring differences

The future of Jewish education is growing. 📚✨

At AJU, we're continuing to expand opportunities for students with the launch of four new fully online, transferable general education courses through the Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership Extension Program this fall.

We're investing in accessible, flexible learning that helps students reach their academic goals while strengthening the future of Jewish education.

📅 Don’t wait - Registration closes August 13
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4bxwT1M
Register here: https://bit.ly/4pYcsRA

Questions? Contact [email protected]

SHIR AND DANIEL: A TU B’AV LOVE STORY

After commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples on Tisha B’Av - the 9th of Av, the Jewish calendar gives us Tu B’Av, a holiday celebrating love, joy, connection, and new beginnings!

In honor of Tu B’Av, read a love story below from one of our Miller Introduction to Judaism students and see how Judaism became part of their journey together...

After October 7th, Shir and Daniel found themselves pouring their hearts into hasbara (pro-Israel public relations efforts) on social media, using their voices to stand up for Israel and the Jewish people during one of the most painful and challenging periods in recent history. At the time, Shir was living in Arizona and Daniel was in San Francisco. Through their advocacy, they began coming across each other's posts, connecting through shared thoughts, personal stories, and a deep sense of responsibility to the Jewish people. What began as admiration for each other's courage and conviction slowly turned into a connection neither expected.

Continue reading their story below:
https://emma-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/959fb/45ce7bb629528f9a35805876cb867dae/Shir_and_Daniel_A_Tu_B_Av_Love_Story.pdf

During this challenging time for the Jewish people, we, at American Jewish University, are committed to our own reimagination leading to communal transformation.

In Judaism, transformation is closely connected to a return - to a place, a people or a state of being always with an elevated new identity.

There are profound moments in Jewish history when our future becomes a question rather than assumption. Moments when the continuity of our people, our culture, and our shared destiny cannot be taken for granted.

We are living in one of those moments.

We recognize our almost eighty-year rich history and the impact of our community's legacy institutions.

We also recognize that AJU and our peers were built for a different era - one where identity was inherited; community was locally anchored, and leadership followed predictable paths. Today, identity must be chosen, community must be built, and leadership must be formed intentionally to ensure a dynamic, flourishing Jewish future.

American Jewish University is wholeheartedly open and courageous. We are committed to:

▷ Making Judaism feel deeply meaningful, personal and powerfully communal for the next generation(s).
▷ Inspiring and training leaders with a love of Judaism, Israel and the Jewish people who can shape culture and reimagine institutions.
▷ Using storytelling, new media, technology and go beyond the traditional classroom experience to transmit Jewish meaning and experience.
▷ Creating a global institution for the Jewish people that fully embraces and reaches beyond our 2700-acre Brandeis-Bardin campus.

We cannot do this essential work without you. Will you join us DONATE -> https://aju.edu/giving/

Shabbat Shalom,

Jay Sanderson
President and CEO
American Jewish University

What does it mean to carry memory forward?

A new review highlights "The Survivor in a Tuxedo: Tracing Elie Wiesel", a powerful new documentary exploring Wiesel's life, legacy, and enduring moral voice.

AJU Distinguished Professor and Director of the Sigi Ziering Institute, Dr. Michael Berenbaum, served on the film as executive producer, historical consultant, and interviewee, offering his insight into Wiesel's extraordinary impact on Holocaust remembrance, Jewish identity, and human responsibility.

We're proud to celebrate Dr. Berenbaum's contribution to this important film. Read the review below:

The Survivor in a Tuxedo - a new documentary film about Elie Wiesel by veteran filmmaker, David Fisher The Survivor in a Tuxedo, Tracing Elie Wiesel is a new documentary, directed by David Fisher, a veteran documentary filmmaker, noted for hi...

Join us in celebrating AJU's Goldstine Distinguished Scholar, Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, on receiving the Women's League for Conservative Judaism's prestigious Mathilde Schechter Award!

For decades, Rabbi Artson has inspired generations of students, rabbis, educators, and Jewish leaders through his teaching and commitment to an inclusive view of Judaism. This well-deserved honor recognizes a lifetime of visionary leadership and enduring impact.

Read more about this well deserved recognition and Rabbi Artson's extraordinary contributions to Jewish life at the link below:
https://aju.edu/news/ajus-rabbi-bradley-artson-receives-womens-league-for-conservative-judaisms-prestigious-mathilde-schechter-award/

BCI 2026, AJU’s immersive Jewish leadership experience at the Brandeis-Bardin Campus, concluded on Sunday with a profound sense of community and gratitude. Over the course of the program, participants built enduring relationships, engaged deeply with Jewish learning, and contributed to a vibrant space grounded in reflection, education, dialogue, and Jewish purpose.

Thank you to our remarkable participants for helping shape another meaningful BCI summer!

We're hiring!

AJU is seeking a Director of Advancement Events & Foundation Relations to play a key role in advancing our mission through fundraising events, foundation partnerships, and meaningful donor engagement.

If you're an experienced nonprofit fundraising professional with a passion for relationship-building, strategic event planning, and philanthropy, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us in helping shape the future of Jewish life through education, leadership, and community.

Learn more about the position and apply through the link below.
https://bit.ly/3TjmC2M

⚽ Have you been watching the World Cup and wondering if there's a connection between soccer and Judaism?

A few years back, AJU produced a fantastic short documentary exploring how Jewish music became a part of the soundtrack of England's Premier League stadiums.

Dr. Dan Friedman and Jeremy Sassoon uncover the surprising Jewish roots behind some of football's most iconic chants and anthems, and discover how songwriters like Richard Rodgers and Neil Diamond helped shape the matchday experience for millions of fans.

Watch the video below and see how music, culture, and soccer come together in unexpected ways!

From Synagogue to Stadium: The Jewish Roots of Soccer Anthems Explore how music found its way into the stadiums ...

How does choosing Torah translate into championing Jewish education?

In his latest Jewish Journal essay, AJU Goldstine Distinguished Scholar Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson explores the enduring power of choosing Torah, not as an obligation for a select, professional few, but as a calling for every Jew.

Drawing on a shift in Jewish organizations towards prioritizing Jewish education and the story of Abraham answering "Hineni, Here I am" to God, Rabbi Artson reminds us that Jewish learning is a core value of our tradition and it belongs to all of us. By choosing to listen, learn, and grow, we strengthen not only ourselves, but the future of the Jewish people.

This vision is also at the heart of Rabbi Artson's work as AJU's Goldstine Distinguished Scholar: "My happy responsibility is to launch opportunities for Torah study across the breadth of Los Angeles. Stay tuned for gatherings where we can explore, dive deep, debate and grow in Torah together."

We're excited to share more opportunities to learn with Rabbi Artson in the months ahead!

Click the link below to read Rabbi Artson's full article 🔗

Hineni: Choosing Torah As always, we each have the power to choose to listen, to learn, and to grow, or we can shut our ears to that still, small voice. Are you listening? Are you willing? Are you here?