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A Message from President Dr. Robert Wexler
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As I write this, I find myself on a Continental Airlines flight making its way from Tel Aviv to New York. I am returning from a 10-day trip that included attending Shimon Peres' second annual President's Conference (also attended by AJUs Rabbi Bradley Artson), visiting our partners at the Young Judaea Year Course in Israel (also known as AJU in Israel), and joining a group of 17 other rabbis from Los Angeles on a (two and one-half day) mission of solidarity. (For me it was only a day and a half, since I cut class on the last day of the mission and spent it with my children, two of whom are now living in Israel.)
What was the highlight of the trip, besides seeing my children, of course? Well thats just the thing. There was not just one highlight. In fact, each of my three major activities had its own moment or moments of glory. The most quotable moment came at the President's Conference when Tel Aviv Universitys professor Asa Kasher pointed out that we Jews often create expectations for ourselves as a people that are unrealistic and sometimes even destructive. He used the well-know rabbinic distinction between Heavenly Jerusalem and Earthly Jerusalem. In Heavenly Jerusalem, he said, Everyone is an angel. Angels clean the sewers, and angels pick up the trash. Everyone is perfect and pure.
However, as Kasher reminded us, we mortal Jews and the Jewish State live only in Earthly Jerusalem, where human beings and regimes are capable of mistakes. So just maybe we should stop trying to judge ourselves and Israel by standards of behavior of which only the angels are capable. At the same time, all Jews do live, at least spiritually, in Earthly Jerusalem. So it is fair to expect us to maintain the highest ethical standards relative to our necessity for self-defense, a posture that still remains the sine qua non of our survival as a people.
On the plane, I have started to read one of Professor Kasher's most recent musings--its called Sefer Katan al Mashmaut ha-Hayyim, or A Little Book on the Meaning of Life. Rest assured, as soon as I finish reading it and figure out the meaning of life, I will reveal everything to you! But in the meantime... continue talking among yourselves.
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BCIE: AJUs Latest Innovation
American Jewish University began the Fall 2009 year unlike any other university in the country. All new undergrads were immersed for two weeks in discussions, lectures, creative expression and physical, emotional and social challenges in a program called the Brandeis-Bardin Intercollegiate Experience (BCIE).
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Lee Broekman Appointed Coordinator of Literature, Communication and Media Department
 Lee Broekman has had an amazing journey from AJU student to Coordinator of the Literature, Communication and Media Department. Since her freshman year, Lee has been mentored by Dr. Miriyam Glazer, the Chair of the department, who is currently on sabbatical.
Lee will serve as Coordinator until Dr. Glazers return. While Coordinator, she will meet with prospective students and their parents, advise students, work together with Dr Glazer on scheduling courses, interviewing prospective faculty, and designing the overall direction of programs for the department.
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MBA Department Launches Mentor Program
Kareem Dphrepaulezz and Richard Gunther come from two very different backgrounds, yet share the same passion to better their communities. How did Nina Lieberman, Dean of the MBA in Nonprofit Management Program, know that Richard, the only child of middle class Jewish parents, and Kareem, the last of fourteen children in a low-income Muslim family, would be a match for the departments' mentor program?
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Another Amazing Year from the Whizin Center for Continuing Education
The Whizin Center for Continuing Education, under the direction of its Dean, Dr. Gady Levy, has created an environment where you can achieve new goals for personal growth, study with experts and express your creativity while maintaining a strong and binding relationship with our community. All program information is available under Continuing Education at wcce.ajula.edu.
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New Students Bring New Energy
 American Jewish University is known for attracting distinguished scholars and gifted students who go on to impact the future of our society. One such student is freshman, Evan Herron, who has been involved with B'nai B'rith Youth Organization (BBYO) since he was fourteen and AIPAC since he was fifteen years old.
Evan took one year off between high school and college to serve as the international president of BBYO. During his tenure, he traveled to thirty-two states and six countries, selling the BBYO brand and recruiting for the organization. Under his leadership, BBYO grew four per cent; the first growth in membership in six years, and the largest growth in ten years.
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