Bradley Shavit Artson
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Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson (b. 1959) is an author, speaker, and the Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California, where he is Vice-President.
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[edit] Education and career
Born and raised in San Francisco, Brad Artson holds the A.B. Degree from Harvard College, cum laude, in 1981. As an undergraduate, he served as the LBJ Intern for United States Representative Burton and was an intern for United States Senator Alan Cranston. Following graduation, Artson was a Legislative Assistant to the Speaker of the California Assembly for two years and was ordained with honors by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1988. He wrote his first book, Love Peace and Pursue Peace: A Jewish Response to War and Nuclear Annihilation while in rabbinical school.
For 10 years, Artson served as the Rabbi of Congregation Eilat in Mission Viejo, which grew under his tenure from about 200 families to over 600. During that period, his Introduction to Judaism course helped over 200 people convert to Judaism, and 10 of his congregants have entered the rabbinate in turn.
From 1998 - 1999, Rabbi Artson was a member of the Senior Management of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and served as the Executive Vice President of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. In 1999, he began his work at the University of Judaism. in addition to his work as Rabbinical School Dean and University Vice-President, Rabbi Artson is a Doctoral Candidate at the Hebrew Union College/Jewish Institute of Religion in Contemporary Jewish Theology, under the supervision of Rabbi Dr. David Ellenson.
[edit] Leadership
A prominent leader of Conservative Judaism, Rabbi Artson serves on the Leadership Council of Conservative Judaism. He writes a weekly Torah commentary that has over 13,000 internet subscribers. He is the author of 5 books, most recently The Bedside Torah: Wisdom, Visions & Dreams and Gift of Soul, Gift of Wisdom: Spiritual Resources for Leadership and Mentoring and he has written over 190 articles in several magazines. Brad Artson is a passionate advocate of spiritual depth and vigor, environmental ethics, social justice, inclusion of gays & lesbians, the human dignity of people with special needs, traditional mitzvah observance, and the efforts to apply an ancient and variegated tradition to contemporary spiritual and social needs.
Artson is on the faculty of the Wexner Heritage Foundation and speaks frequently for UJC/Federation communities.
[edit] Personal
Brad Artson is married to Elana Shavit Artson, and they are the parents of twins, Shira and Jacob.
[edit] Bibliography
- Gift of Soul, Gift of Wisdom: Spiritual Resources for Leadership & Mentoring (Behrman House)
- The Bedside Torah (McGraw Hill)
- It's A Mitzvah! (Behrman House)
- Making A Difference (Behrman House)
- Love Peace & Pursue Peace (United Synagogue)
- Jewish Answers to Real-Life Questions (Alef Design Group)
