The landscape of Jewish leadership in North America is entering a significant new chapter. At American Jewish University (AJU) in Los Angeles, the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies is undergoing a historic leadership transition. After 25 remarkable years of guiding the institution, Rabbi Bradley Artson is transitioning into a new role. Succeeding him is his long-time partner and student, Rabbi Cheryl Peretz, who takes the helm as the new Dean.
This transition represents not just a change in leadership, but a continuation of a shared vision. Together, Rabbi Artson and Rabbi Peretz have cultivated a generations-spanning legacy of openhearted, intellectually rigorous, and deeply loving Judaism.
Watch the official announcement: AJU President Jay Sanderson on the Ziegler Dean Transition (0:00 - 1:15)
1. "The Jewish Heart and Soul": Rabbi Brad Artson’s Relational Legacy
For a quarter of a century, Rabbi Bradley Artson served as the dean of the Ziegler School. Throughout his tenure, he did not merely lead from an office; he transformed how rabbinic training is experienced. Described as "one of the great Jewish thinkers of our generation," Rabbi Artson's leadership was characterized by profound intimacy and vulnerability. When giving sermons, he would famously walk off the Bimah to stand eye-to-eye with his congregants, demonstrating a Torah that is direct and accessible.
Colleagues and students note that he "loved people" and was a "relentlessly positive and deeply empathic" mentor. His inclusivity expanded the school's reach, allowing for innovative curriculum changes and a broader, more welcoming admissions process.
Now, Rabbi Artson is moving into a new position where he will serve as the "Jewish brain, the Jewish soul, and the Jewish heart" of the entire American Jewish University, helping to put AJU's story out to the wider Jewish world. He will also hold the title of Goldstein Distinguished Scholar and work with AJU’s 2050 Institute to focus on the future of Jewish life.
See the community's tribute: A Legacy of Intimacy and Vision (0:30 - 1:30)
2. "Shalom hakol, Shalom": Leading with Resilient Love in a Fractured World
At his transition dinner, Rabbi Artson delivered a powerful and deeply moving address, grounding the school’s future in Jewish history and hope. He recalled a scene from the Mishna where young priests (kohanim) in the ancient Temple, eager to cleanse the altar and start anew, slept in side rooms next to the altars so they could begin their work before sunrise. When they met, they greeted each other with a distinct formula: Shalom hakol, shalom—"peace, everything is peace".
Rabbi Artson noted that these young priests were not naive. They spoke of peace in a world that was actively falling apart around them—quaking under the weight of Rome's military violence, pomp, and power. For Artson, shalom hakol, shalom is a stubborn challenge:
"Our love will be more resilient than their hate. The grandeur of our vision will rise above their brittle pettiness... shalom will be because of us, not because we accept the way things have always been or even the way things are, but because we are stubborn enough to be heirs to the promise."
He reminded the audience that Judaism is rooted in a cosmos created by "superfluous love"—an energy that has always marched toward freedom. This unyielding love and vision is what first attracted him to AJU, and what he challenges the next generation of leaders to carry forward.
Watch Rabbi Artson's full, moving speech: The Stubborn Insistence on Peace (0:10 - 2:30)
3. A 27-Year Symbiosis: Rabbi Cheryl Peretz Takes the Helm
The transition of the deanship to Rabbi Cheryl Peretz is the culmination of a deeply collaborative, 40-year relationship. Their paths first crossed when Rabbi Artson was the Resident Advisor (RA) in Rabbi Peretz's undergraduate dorm. Years later, when Artson became Dean, Peretz joined the staff. Though she originally intended to stay for just one year, she found the partnership so fulfilling that she remained for 27 years, working symbiotically alongside him.
Rabbi Peretz describes their partnership as one of mutual support and intellectual growth. While she playfully humbles herself next to his intellectual stature, she highlights how their strengths complement one another: his grand philosophical focus paired with her fine-tuned attention to detail.
Having graduated from the Ziegler School herself, Rabbi Peretz steps into the role with an intimate knowledge of its culture, a deep respect for the tradition, and a strong personal commitment to its students.
Listen to Rabbi Peretz reflect on their symbiosis: A Partnership Built Over Decades (0:00 - 1:50)
4. Fostering Constructive Conflict: Navigation in a Polarized Era
As the Ziegler School looks toward the future, it faces a Jewish world increasingly marked by polarization. Drawing on a philosophy she learned from her mentor, Rabbi Artson, Rabbi Peretz views crises not as dead ends, but as opportunities to lean into constructive, rather than destructive, conflict.
Under her leadership, the school remains firmly committed to Zionist ideals as a core ideology, while actively resisting the creation of intellectual echo chambers. When students and faculty diverge on complex political issues regarding Israel, Rabbi Peretz advocates for curiosity, deep education, and dialogue:
"If we just shove people out who disagree or who are outside the bounds, then we're just creating echo chambers... the goal needs to be to show curiosity to and ask questions and to try to understand, but also to help everyone on all sides be able to ask the question of how can I entertain the possibility that what I think may not be the only way to think."
To put this into practice, they co-created an Israel summer intensive program, designed to expose students to a diverse variety of voices, arts, culture, and politics, helping them become well-rounded, thoughtful advocates.
Additionally, Rabbi Peretz embraces the evolution of Conservative Judaism to meet modern needs—such as the post-pandemic adoption of Shabbat technology to reach congregants who cannot physically attend synagogue—while insisting that the core tenants of "intellectual rigor, passion for Jewish living, and love for God and people" must never be diluted.
Watch her address institutional polarization: Resisting the Echo Chamber (2:50 - 5:20)
5. Cultivating the "Complete Rabbi": Ziegler’s Practical Curriculum
The modern rabbinate demands more than theological scholarship; it requires practical, emotional, and leadership skills. Rabbi Peretz emphasizes that the Ziegler curriculum is meticulously designed around two core areas:
- Classical Jewish Thought: Deep study of rabbinic, medieval, and modern texts.
- Practical Rabbinics: Comprehensive training in pastoral counseling, psychology, professional development, and public speaking.
Students ground this academic knowledge in real-world residencies, working directly under the tutelage of experienced rabbis to build these essential clinical skills. Recognizing that not every graduate is destined for the pulpit, the school actively exposes students to diverse paths—including academic scholarship, education, and community leadership—to help them identify where they can be most successful and fulfilled.
Understand the modern rabbinic curriculum: Training the Heart, Mind, and Pastoral Presence (5:20 - 8:00)
Looking to the Future
Supported by the lay leadership and AJU President Jay Sanderson, this transition positions American Jewish University to remain a leading force in developing the next generation of rabbis, educators, and professionals. By keeping a singular focus on the future and cultivating creative pathways for individuals to explore Jewish life, the Ziegler School is prepared to guide North American Jewish communities for decades to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment