A Message from
President Dr. Robert Wexler

If someone were to say, "I don’t believe in God, but I love being a Baptist," we would accuse that person of being illogical. After all, how can you deny the existence of God and still identify with a religion in which belief in God is the fundamental principle? On the other hand, if a Jew were to say, "I don’t believe in God, but I love being a Jew," that statement would make perfect sense, at least to other Jews.

Although the vast majority of world Jewry resides in either the U.S. or Israel, there are still a few million who reside in various countries around the globe. As American Jews, our connection to these people is not simply a matter of a shared religion.

While the affinity a Christian feels for Christians in other countries is generally based on a shared system of beliefs, for Jews, this affinity comes primarily from a sense of having a shared history and a common destiny.

Much of this edition of the E-Zine is devoted to Jews around the world. On both campuses of AJU we welcome students from a variety of countries. Just this past summer at BCI (Brandeis Collegiate Institute) we hosted Jewish students from India, Russia, Ukraine, Israel and Argentina.

Maintaining a diverse Jewish community on campus helps us teach our students one of the core values of American Jewish University: Jewish Peoplehood. We want our students to understand that they are part of a global people and to cherish the bonds of fellowship that connect Jews everywhere.

AJU is Abuzz
with the Start of a New Semester

Following a whirlwind week of orientation, school is officially back in session. During the last week of August, new students were taken on tours of the school and introduced to everyone from the nurse to the Vice President of Student Affairs. The week’s activities included bonfires on the beach, playing broom ball, miniature golf and sightseeing at the Getty. [ read more ]

BCI Brings Together
Young Jewish Adults from all Over the World

The Brandeis Collegiate Institute (BCI) is a program that gives young Jewish adults, ages 18-26, the unique opportunity to become immersed in the diversity of Jewish culture, to envision their own Jewish life, and to create community. [ read more ]

American Jewish University
Once Again Best in the West

For the fourth year in a row, American Jewish University has been awarded a Best in the West designation by the Princeton Review. The latest list can be viewed on their web site, PrincetonReview.com under 2009 Best Colleges: Region by Region, and in their book, "The Best Western Colleges: 2009 Edition."
[ read more ]

The Political Emergence
of the Los Angeles Persian Community.

by Saba Soomekh, Ph.D 

Iranian Jews’ involvement in global politics made them recognize that they make a difference in their local community. This is the reverse strategy of immigrant communities that first get involved on a local level and then move on to Washington and global politics. Once the community accepted that it would not be returning to Iran, and it became aware of its influence in the American political system, the people were encouraged and felt comfortable enough to get involved in local community politics. [ read more ]

AJU Students Leave
for Overseas Service Program

Twenty students from AJU and UC Santa Barbara Hillel left on August 14, 2008 for ten days of "hands on" service to the Jewish community in Lithuania. The students began their journey at a two-day conference in Estonia with other Jewish students from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. [ read more ]

The Safari

by Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson 

The Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies recently ordained Rabbi Gershom Sizomu who is the first black African rabbi serving in Africa. It was a remarkable historical event whose greatness I did not appreciate until I went to visit him in his home village in Uganda. [ read more ]

University Events

OCTOBER

16^th, 23^rd & 30^th: Jon Dobrer, Understanding the Media, 10:30AM to Noon

19^th: Talk Radio Panel with : Bill Handel, Thom Hartmann and Stephanie Miller, 2PM – 4PM

23^rd - 12/19^th :  Geller Contest Accepting Screenplays

26^th: Capitol Steps, 4PM, Brandeis-Bardin

28^th: Claudia Keller, The Heart Association, 10:30AM – Noon

NOVEMBER

2^nd: Saturday night at Grosingers, 7PM – 9PM

9^th - 12^th:  Celebration of Jewish Books

10^th: Huffington/Kristol Debate, 7:30PM – 9:30PM

11^th: Wolpe/Hitchens Debate, 7:30 – 9:30PM Wilshire Blvd. Theatre

18^th: Professor Laurie Levenson, 10:45AM - Noon

23^rd: People VS Joseph's Brothers, 10AM – 3PM, Brandeis-Bardin

More Continuing Education events

Support AJU

Platt Gallery Opening
"ART AND ADVOCACY" Exhibit,
Aug 17 - Nov 23.

Introduction to Judaism
An educational journey for those interested in learning more about Jewish history, life and culture