American Jewish University (AJU) announced it will relocate the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies to the Pico-Robertson neighborhood.
The new location, at 350 S. Beverly Dr. (by Olympic Boulevard), will occupy 7,700 square feet of space and is currently undergoing renovations. When completed, the school is expected to open early to mid 2024.
“With this move, American Jewish University begins a new chapter for the Ziegler School, providing our students with innovative opportunities to flourish in the heart of Jewish life in Los Angeles, AJU president Dr. Jeffrey Herbst said in a statement. “We are paying close attention to the shifting needs of the Jewish community, our offerings, and our students, and making important changes that will enable AJU’s programs to thrive for generations to come.”
Last year AJU announced plans to sell its Familian Campus in Bel Air and subsequently accepted an offer from EF Education First, an educational organization that offers language learning and international degree programs. The sale price was undisclosed.
AJU said the decision was based on both the recommendations of an external Blue-Ribbon Commission that was convened by AJU in January as well as research of Los Angeles Jewish life and input from Ziegler students and faculty. The move was approved by AJU’s board of directors and its regional accreditor, the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
The new space will feature a library, private offices for tenured faculty, shared workspaces, classrooms, a conference room, and Beit Midrash, and will include a design allowing for collaboration and communal gathering.
The new space will feature a library, private offices for tenured faculty, shared workspaces, classrooms, a conference room, and Beit Midrash, and will include a design allowing for collaboration and communal gathering. According to the AJU statement, the new location “will immerse Ziegler students into the cadence of urban Jewish life and foster a rich Ziegler community.”
Currently the Ziegler School has an enrollment of 30 students. Its first graduating class was in 1999.
“The Ziegler School’s top priority is the success and well-being of our students. This strategic relocation will create huge benefits for both our students and faculty by increasing access to Jewish life,” Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Dean of the Ziegler School, said. “Relocating the program to Pico-Robertson will facilitate a more rich and dynamic learning environment, which supports our mission to provide our students with strong academic and professional training, personal spiritual enrichment, and a sense of community.”
