Ziegler Rabbinic Students Completed Summer Internships
Students at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies spent the summer of 2026 gaining practical experience in diverse roles.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Judaism
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Students at the American Jewish University's Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies served in various summer internships during 2026. These placements provided participants with hands-on training in leadership, pastoral care, and community organization.
Why it matters
These internships allow rabbinic students to translate their academic classroom learning into real-world professional practice. The roles help students develop critical skills in judgment, presence, and leadership within Jewish institutions.
Lily Gross completed a 10-week fellowship through the Young Religious Leaders Fellowship. Additionally, approximately 100 people attended a Tisha B'Av rally held outside the Los Angeles immigration court this July.
The players
Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
This is a prominent graduate program located at American Jewish University that trains students for the rabbinate.
Lily Gross
She is a student who participated in the Young Religious Leaders Fellowship for a duration of 10 weeks.
Joey Abeles
He is a student who served in a chaplaincy role at Cedars-Sinai medical center.
Josh Mendel
He is a student who worked as a Jewish and ritual coordinator at Eden Village West.
Marissa Street
She is a student who served as the solo clergy member at Shearith Israel in Atlanta.
The details
Students from the Ziegler School took on a variety of positions including clergy interns, educators, chaplains, and camp leaders across numerous states. Under the guidance of mentors at various Jewish institutions, participants applied their training to serve specific communities and congregations.
Timeline
Students completed their various internship placements throughout the summer of 2026.
A Tisha B'Av rally took place in Los Angeles during July 2026.
Culture Shift
These internships reflect a long-standing shift toward professionalizing rabbinic training through immersive clinical experience. This approach emphasizes the practical application of spiritual guidance over traditional theoretical study alone.
Residents in the Los Angeles area may interact with these students as they fill clergy and chaplain roles at local institutions. The programs often lead to increased community engagement and additional ritual resources for local congregants.
The takeaway
These internships serve as a bridge between seminary education and the daily requirements of professional religious leadership. Students who gain this experience are better equipped to provide pastoral support to their future congregations.
What happens next
Lily Gross is scheduled to begin a pulpit internship at Ohr Shalom in San Diego following the completion of her summer fellowship.
Further reading
For more on local community religious training, visit the Judaism section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Jewish News Syndicate.
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