
2026 AJU Gala Honoring Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson
May 19, 2026 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Stephen Wise Temple, 15500 Stephen S Wise Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90077, USA
Join Us at the 2026 AJU Gala
Honorary Co-Chairs
Elana Shavit Artson | Ilene and Dennis Berman | Debbi and Bob Goldich | Lirona Kadosh and Ethan Goldstine | Roslyn and Abner (z'l) Goldstine | Lela and Norman Jacoby | Rebecca and David Kekst | Ellie and Mark Lainer | Allyn and Jeffrey Levine | Barbara Mack and Norman Levine | Virginia and Francis Maas | Julie and Marc Platt | Karen and Larry Platt | Dr. Claudia and Sandor Samuels | Orna and Keenan Wolens
Honorary Committee - In Formation
Sara and David Aftergood | Rabbis Penina and Aaron Alexander | Danielle Natelson and Angel Alvarez-Mapp | Dr. Tamar Andrews | Annie and Scott Austin | Phyllis Beim | Raquel and Bryan Berkett | Marilyn Berkowitz | Melissa and Michael Berenbaum | Dr. Mayim Bialik | Suzy and Stephen Bookbinder | Harriet Rossetto and Rabbi Mark Borovitz | Rochelle Shapell and Lorne Buchman | Irma and Ben Breslauer | Ellen and David Braun | Rabbi Suzanne Brody | Carolyn and Rabbi Richard Camras | Rabbi Kerry Chaplin | Carol and Jerry Coben | Rabbi Dr. Aryeh Cohen | Rabbi Avram A. Ellner | Janet Farber | Rabbis Nina and Ed Feinstein | Rabbi Patricia Fenton | Melissa Aviva Frank | Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin | Elaine and David Gill | Rabbi Miriyam Glazer | Sandy and Bill Goodglick | Wendy and Pamela Goldman | Charlene and Rabbi Andy Green | Dr. Jay Greenlinger | Ilana Berenbaum Grinblat | Rabbis Becky and Joshua Hoffman | Emily Holtzman | Ari Kaiman | Rabbi Daniel Kaiman | Rabbi Cantor Malachi Kanfer | Rabbi Adam Kligfeld | Noam Kornsgold | Luis Lainer | Amy Latzer | Blair and Rabbi Nolan Leibowitz | Rabbi Susan and Jeff Leider | Nathan Leight | Sima and Rabbi Dennis Linson | Rabbi Danny A Lutz | Kenneth Magid | Theresa and Michael Maas | Angela and Jamshid Maddahi | Amy and Harold Masor | Laurie Levenson and Doug Mirell | Rabbi Anat Moskowitz | Hon. Sharona Nazarian and Dr. Daniel Nazarian | Stacy and Bryan Palbaum | Rabbi Cheryl Peretz | Rabbi Eve Posen | Debby and Dr. Bruce Powell | Rabbi Noam Raucher | Fredi and Rabbi Joel Rembaum | Dr. Nikki Rezzadeh | Helen and David (z'"l) Rifkind | Michelle Robinson | Jessica and Mark Samuel | Rabbi Rebecca Schatz | Dena and Irv Schecter | Temple Shalom | Rabbis Nicole Guzik and Erez Sherman | Carol and Jeff Simon | Bennett L. Spiegel | Michelle Starkman | Rabbi Brian Strauss | Ann and Rick Tavan | Anna Tenenblatt | Naomi Tilma and Rabbi Howard Tilman | Dr. Robbie Totten | Rabbi Dr. Rachael Turkienicz | Rodi and Rabbi Stewart Vogel | Rabbi Rachel Kobrin and Jeff Ward | Mindy and David Weiner | Gosia Szymanska Weiss and Adam Weiss | Melissa Balaban and Adam Wergeles | Helen and Richard Weston | Susie and Ron Wolfson | Rabbi David Wolpe | Diane and Michael Ziering |
ABOUT OUR HONOREE:

Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson will assume the role of Mordecai Kaplan Distinguished Scholar at American Jewish University effective July 1, 2026, following 25 years of service as the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and Vice President of the University.
A widely respected rabbinic scholar, educator, and public intellectual, Rabbi Artson has shaped generations of Jewish leaders through his teaching, writing, and moral leadership. He has long been a passionate advocate for social justice, human dignity, and inclusion, addressing issues of war and peace, LGBTQ+ equality, environmental ethics, disability inclusion, racial and economic justice, interreligious dialogue, and the pursuit of a just and secure peace for Israel and the Middle East. His scholarship and activism have consistently placed Jewish tradition in conversation with the most urgent ethical questions of our time.
A Professor of Philosophy, Rabbi Artson's academic interests center on theology, ethics, and the integration of science and religion. Beyond North America, he serves as Rabbinic Leader of the Abraham Joshua Heschel Seminary in Potsdam, Germany, ordaining Conservative/Masorti rabbis for Europe after founding the first such seminary there since the Holocaust.
Rabbi Artson is the author of twelve books and more than 250 articles, a frequent contributor to Times of Israel, and a contributing writer for the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. He also engages a global audience through public teaching and writing, including a widely followed online presence. He is currently completing a new book, The Water Wants You to Float.