Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson

Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University. Rabbi Artson has long been a passionate advocate for social justice, human dignity, diversity and inclusion. He wrote a book on Jewish teachings on war, peace and nuclear annihilation in the late 80s, became a leading voice advocating for LGBTQ+ marriage and ordination in the 90s, and has published and spoken widely on environmental ethics, special needs inclusion, racial and economic justice, cultural and religious dialogue and cooperation, and working for a just and secure peace for Israel and the Middle East. A member of the Philosophy Department, he is particularly interested in theology, ethics, and the integration of science and religion. He mentors Camp Ramah in California in Ojai and was a founder of Ramah of Northern California in the Bay Area. He is also dean of the Zacharias Frankel College in Potsdam, Germany, ordaining Conservative rabbis for Europe. A Contributing Writer for the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, and a public figure Facebook page with over 86,000 likes, he is the author of 12 books and over 250 articles, most recently Renewing the Process of Creation: A Jewish Integration of Science and Spirit.  

Education and Career 

Born and raised in San Francisco, 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. During his last year at rabbinical school, he served as the part-time rabbinic intern at Bolton Street Synagogue in Baltimore. 

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, 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 (now American Jewish University). In addition to his work as Rabbinical School Dean and University Vice-President, Rabbi Artson received his D.H.L. at the Hebrew Union College's Jewish Institute of Religion in Contemporary Jewish Theology, under the supervision of Rabbi Dr. David Ellenson. 

His scholarly fields are Jewish philosophy and theology, particularly a process approach integrating contemporary scientific insights from cosmology, quantum physics, evolutionary theory and neuroscience to a dynamic view of God, Torah, Mitzvot and ethics. He is a charter member of the Society for the Study of Judaism and Science. 

Leadership 

A prominent leader of Conservative Judaism, Artson mentors Camp Ramah in California and helped found Camp Ramah of Northern California. For many years, Rabbi Artson wrote a weekly Torah commentary that had over 13,000 internet subscribers. He is the author of 11 books, most recently Renewing the Process of Creation: A Jewish Integration of Science and Spirit and God of Becoming & Relationship: The Dynamic Nature of Process Theology both published by Jewish Lights. He is a regular contributor to the Jewish Journal and he has written over 300 articles in several journals and magazines. 

He is also founding Dean of the Zacharias Frankel College at the University of Potsdam, Germany, ordaining Conservative/Masorti rabbis for Europe under the religious supervision of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. 

In 2008, Artson ordained Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, the leader of the Abayudaya Tribe and participated a rabbinic delegation to Uganda to install him as the first African rabbi in Sub-Saharan Africa. While in Africa he joined a Beit Din in converting 250 Africans from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Uganda. A regional chief bestowed upon him the African name Walusansa Salongo. 

Artson launched the Walking With … series, an annual series of books distributed free of charge and available on the AJU website as complimentary PDF files. In 2007 he produced Walking With God, in 2008, Walking With Justice, in 2009, Walking With Life, and in 2010, Walking With the Jewish Calendar. For the past few years he has also produced an annual Selichot DVD, Choose Life, a series of conversations with Rabbi Artson, Rabbi David Wolpe, Rabbi Naomi Levy, Rabbi Edward Feinstein, and Rabbi Sharon Brous. 

Rabbi Artson’s popular public Figure Facebook page (www.facebook.com/rabbiartson) has over 86,000 likes and features his videos, essays and articles, podcasts of talks and addresses he delivers, a weekly video chat about the weekly Torah portion, and distillations of Jewish wisdom helpful to living a more thriving human life. 

Artson has served on the faculty of the Wexner Heritage Foundation and continues to serve as a popular speaker and teacher. 

Artson is married to Elana Shavit Artson, and they are the parents of twins, Shira and Jacob.