American Jewish University Names New Rabbinic Advisor
Rabbi Stewart Vogel will lead recruitment and innovation efforts at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in People
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The American Jewish University has appointed Rabbi Stewart Vogel as senior advisor for recruitment, admissions, and rabbinic innovation. This move comes as the school prepares to reopen admissions for the 2027-28 academic year.
Why it matters
The appointment supports the broader goal of preparing future rabbis for complex organizational leadership roles in modern institutions.
The school is launching a modernized curriculum that integrates artificial intelligence and financial development training into its standard rabbinic education.
The players
Rabbi Stewart Vogel
He is an experienced congregational leader and the immediate past president of the Rabbinical Assembly.
Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
This is an academic institution that trains students for the rabbinate and is part of the American Jewish University.
American Jewish University
This is a Los Angeles-based institution dedicated to Jewish learning, leadership development, and higher education.
The details
Rabbi Stewart Vogel, who previously served as president of the Rabbinical Assembly and rabbi emeritus of Hamakom, will focus on cultivating new candidates. The Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies is expanding its offerings to include training in business management, communication, and critical thinking.
Timeline
Admissions for the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies are scheduled to reopen for the 2027-28 academic year.
Market Landscape
The school's curriculum pivot reflects a broader shift toward equipping religious leaders with corporate-style business and conflict resolution skills. This positions the institution to compete for students seeking professionalized training within traditional ministerial programs.
Prospective rabbinic students will see a significant expansion in the available training curriculum starting in the 2027-28 academic year. The school's shift toward business and tech-focused modules aims to improve the career readiness of its graduates.
The takeaway
Institutions increasingly prioritize professional development skills like conflict resolution and financial management to sustain religious leadership. Future candidates should focus on how these integrated business competencies can be applied to manage the complexities of modern nonprofit organizations.
Further reading
For more on industry appointments, visit the Los Angeles People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Jewish News Syndicate.
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