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American Jewish University
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American Jewish University
American Jewish University (AJU) is a private Jewish university in Los Angeles, California. It was formed in 2007 from the merger of the University of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin Institute.
AJU's academic division includes the Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership, 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. At its Brandeis-Bardin Campus, the university oversees Camp Alonim, Gan Alonim Day Camp, and the BCI Program, and also rents its facilities for events and film productions.
The University of Judaism was founded in 1947. The spiritual founder was Mordecai Kaplan, a Jewish thinker and philosopher whose goal was to create an institution representing the diversity of Judaic expression in the United States. The co-founder was Rabbi Jacob Pressman. 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 Robert Wexler (1992–2018) at the beginning of his tenure. Wexler was preceded in the presidency by Simon Greenberg (1947–1963) and David Lieber (1963–1992), and succeeded by Dr. Jeffrey Herbst (2018 to 2025). As of spring 2025, Jay Sanderson is serving as the university's current president.
In March 2007, officials from 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.
The American Jewish University's Familian campus in Bel Air, California was sold to the Milken Community School in 2024. It was home to the Gindi Auditorium, a 475-seat theatre, and the Ostrow Library, which housed over 120,000 volumes, electronic resources, and contained one of the West Coast's largest collections of Judaica.
American Jewish University's Brandeis-Bardin campus is located in Simi Valley, California and is home to Camp Alonim, the Brandeis Camp Institute Program, as well as a conference center and the House of the Book. AJU also operates a facility in Beverly Hills for its Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.
The Marjorie and Herman Platt Gallery and Borstein Art Gallery hosted many major exhibitions, both of Jewish art and non-Jewish art. Artists featured 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.
American Jewish University currently offers degree-granting programs through the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and the Masor School of Jewish Education and Leadership. Previously, the university provided in-person undergraduate programs through the College of Arts and Sciences at its Familian Campus in Bel Air. In October 2018, AJU announced the closure of its undergraduate program, which had awarded Bachelor of Arts degrees.
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American Jewish University
American Jewish University (AJU) is a private Jewish university in Los Angeles, California. It was formed in 2007 from the merger of the University of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin Institute.
AJU's academic division includes the Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership, 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. At its Brandeis-Bardin Campus, the university oversees Camp Alonim, Gan Alonim Day Camp, and the BCI Program, and also rents its facilities for events and film productions.
The University of Judaism was founded in 1947. The spiritual founder was Mordecai Kaplan, a Jewish thinker and philosopher whose goal was to create an institution representing the diversity of Judaic expression in the United States. The co-founder was Rabbi Jacob Pressman. 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 Robert Wexler (1992–2018) at the beginning of his tenure. Wexler was preceded in the presidency by Simon Greenberg (1947–1963) and David Lieber (1963–1992), and succeeded by Dr. Jeffrey Herbst (2018 to 2025). As of spring 2025, Jay Sanderson is serving as the university's current president.
In March 2007, officials from 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.
The American Jewish University's Familian campus in Bel Air, California was sold to the Milken Community School in 2024. It was home to the Gindi Auditorium, a 475-seat theatre, and the Ostrow Library, which housed over 120,000 volumes, electronic resources, and contained one of the West Coast's largest collections of Judaica.
American Jewish University's Brandeis-Bardin campus is located in Simi Valley, California and is home to Camp Alonim, the Brandeis Camp Institute Program, as well as a conference center and the House of the Book. AJU also operates a facility in Beverly Hills for its Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.
The Marjorie and Herman Platt Gallery and Borstein Art Gallery hosted many major exhibitions, both of Jewish art and non-Jewish art. Artists featured 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.
American Jewish University currently offers degree-granting programs through the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and the Masor School of Jewish Education and Leadership. Previously, the university provided in-person undergraduate programs through the College of Arts and Sciences at its Familian Campus in Bel Air. In October 2018, AJU announced the closure of its undergraduate program, which had awarded Bachelor of Arts degrees.
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