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A Message from
President Dr. Robert Wexler
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Everyone loves commencement.
And why not? The students love it because it represents
the end of anywhere from two to five years of intensive
attention to their studies. For the faculty and staff, graduation
signifies that we have successfully guided yet another class
of undergraduate and graduate students toward the realization
of their academic goals.
Most of all, everyone loves
commencement because it is associated with the optimism
of youth and the promise of young people using their knowledge
and creativity to build a better future for us all.
But you don’t necessarily have
to be young to be optimistic and creative. At commencement,
we awarded three honorary doctorates. Two of those so honored
were Judge Joseph Wapner and Guildford Glazer, both in
their 80's, who can compete with any 20 or 30 year old when
it comes to “thinking out of the box.”
Judge Joseph Wapner, star of
People’s Court, was the architect of the merger of the University
of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin Institute to form the American
Jewish University. This “radical” idea that two major Jewish
institutions could successfully join together is a tribute
to a man with vision.
Guilford Glazer, real estate
entrepreneur and philanthropist, is working on peace in
the Middle East. He has initiated far-reaching projects
aimed at strengthening the financial infrastructure of the
Palestinian Authority, so that any future peace agreement
might have a real chance to take hold.
We have tried to instill a life
long commitment to creativity and optimism in all of our
students. Why? Well, as one anonymous thinker put it, “It
is better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than
a pessimist who is always right!”
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AJU’S 58th
COMMENCEMENT
A Day to Remember
Joy filled the air as the graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, the David Lieber School of Graduate Studies, the William and Freda Fingerhut School of Education, and the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies participated in the 58th annual commencement exercises, held Sunday, May 18th at the Familian Campus.
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Ziegler School
of Rabbinic Studies
Class of 2008 Ordained
In a beautiful and moving ceremony
at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles on May 19th, the Ziegler
School of Rabbinic Studies held their ordination services.
These eight new rabbis each begin a new and exciting journey
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Commencement Address
as given by
Pulitzer Prize Winner, Jack Miles Ph.D
THE LESSON OF JOSEPH’S BONES
 Distinguished
faculty of the American Jewish University, honored guests,
accomplished graduates of the class of 2008, family and
friends: It is an honor and, I can in all honesty say, a
joy to be with you today on so happy an occasion.
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American Jewish University
Tops
Newsweek's List of 50 Leading Rabbis
With three of our rabbis making
Newsweek's list of the "Top 50 Influential Rabbis in America,"
the American Jewish University stands out as the only institution
to claim this distinction. The three AJU staff members so
recognized are our president, Dr. Robert Wexler at #3, the
Dean of our Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, Rabbi Bradley
Shavit Artson at #31, and our Distinguished Professor of
Jewish Philosophy, Dr. Elliot Dorff at #35.
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Camp Ohr
Lanu
For Special Kids & their Families
For five days this summer, a group of special needs kids and their families will be able to enjoy all that Camp Ramah in California has to offer. Ramah has long been providing summer camp to special needs children, but this is the first time that the experience is available to the entire family, thanks to a generous grant from the Jewish Community Foundation. Camp Ohr Lanu is designed to create a warm and loving community that enables the children and their families
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AJU Grad Students
Spotlight on Success
 
Over the past few weeks, American
Jewish University has been highlighting, through ads in
the Jewish Journal, students and alumni that as a result
of our graduate programs are enjoying successful careers.
We invite you to view these ads and share our pride.
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