American Jewish University’s Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies celebrated the dedication of its centrally located campus on May 7. The event featured remarks from AJU and Ziegler leadership, as well as the hanging of mezuzahs.
Several members of the school’s leadership spoke at the event, including Dr. Jeffery Herbst, president of AJU; Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, the dean of the Ziegler School; AJU board chair Harold Masor; and Ziegler board chair Debbi Kaner Goldich.
“In the past, Jews have wandered from place to place, often out of desperation, often having been expelled from some previous place,” said Artson. “AJU’s history of going from campus to campus has been a remarkable demonstration that we don’t allow nostalgia to preclude our future. The Bel Air campus was a magnificent chapter in our history, but it’s a place, not our history. Here we are in the heart of Jewish life because we are committed to a Torah that is vibrant, traditional and responsive. I want to thank you all for sharing that faith and making this possible.”
Kaner Goldich emphasized that “the bricks and the mortar of this building are not what makes it a holy space. The learning of the Torah, and the teaching and sharing of that Torah by Ziegler rabbis, make this a revered space.”
Located near the Pico-Robertson neighborhood—the hub of Los Angeles Jewish life—the Ziegler School’s new location is within walking distance of kosher restaurants, synagogues and Jewish institutions. This strategic move aligns with its mission to cultivate a strong sense of community among students and provide a dynamic learning environment for future rabbis.
“This day is about an academic unit relocating, but it is also about AJU sustaining the rabbinic tradition of learning and training, which has supported our people for generations,” said Herbst. “AJU at 350 South Beverly Drive is the most recent manifestation of our commitment to rabbinical leadership and learning. This will not only be the home of the Ziegler School for years to come, but it will be an AJU campus. We plan to host the community here on a regular basis, and we hope you’ll make it your practice to be at 350 South Beverly as much as possible.”
