Miller Introduction to Judaism Program

{{Short description|Educational institute based at the American Jewish University}}

The Louis and Judith Miller Introduction to Judaism Program is an educational institute based at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California. It has, since its founding in 1986, helped students explore their Jewish roots or prepare for conversion to Judaism.{{cite news|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/item/jewsbychoice_a_look_10_years_later_20060602|title=Jews-by-Choice: A Look 10 Years Later|last=Gray|first=Beverly|date=1 June 2006|work=Jewish Journal|accessdate=18 April 2013|location=Los Angeles, California}} Based primarily in Los Angeles, and throughout the United States, the Miller Program is available to people of any backgrounds find a home in the Jewish community.{{cite news |last=Rogers |first=Paul |date=4 October 2012 |title=Education Guide– Best of LA Education 10/4 : Best Of L.A. Classes |url=http://digitalissue.laweekly.com/article/Best+Of+L.A.+Classes/1200855/129002/article.html |accessdate=18 April 2013 |work=LA Weekly |location=Los Angeles, California}}{{cite news |last=Leider |first=Rabbi Susan |date=November–December 2010 |title=The Louis & Judith Miller Introduction to Judaism Program Comes to TBA in January 2011! |url=http://www.tbala.org/uploaded/KHA/Nov-Dec_2010_KHA_WEB.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092034/http://www.tbala.org/uploaded/KHA/Nov-Dec_2010_KHA_WEB.pdf |archivedate=4 March 2016 |accessdate=7 May 2013 |work=Kol Ha'am |publisher=Temple Beth Am |location=Los Angeles, California}}{{cite web |last=Benson |first=Rabbi Aaron |date=31 October 2012 |title=Introducing You to Introduction to Judaism |url=http://rabbiaaronbenson.blogspot.com/2012/10/introducing-you-to-introduction-to.html |accessdate=7 May 2013 |work=Rabbi Aaron Benson |publisher=Blogspot |location=Los Angeles, CA}}{{cite web |title=Schedules & Locations |url=https://www.aju.edu/miller-intro-judaism-program/course/schedules-and-locations |accessdate=7 May 2013 |publisher=American Jewish University |location=Los Angeles, California}}

The program is a comprehensive course that spans over 18 weeks and aims to equip participants with knowledge, practical skills, and insightful perspectives on Jewish culture. The program is led by a rabbi providing guidance to each individual, as they explore the history, present, and future of Judaism.{{cite web |title=Course Outline |url=http://intro.aju.edu/Default.aspx?id=9275 |accessdate=7 May 2013 |publisher=American Jewish University |location=Los Angeles, California}}{{Cite web |title=Intro to Judaism |url=https://maascenter.aju.edu/intro/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Maas Center @ AJU |language=en-US}} The Miller Program offers Shabbat services and dinners, a support group, and ongoing programming for alumni.

The Miller Program is under the direction of Rabbi Adam Greenwald.{{cite web| url=http://forward.com/specials/americas-most-inspiring-rabbis-2014/rabbi-adam-greenwald| title=America's Most Inspiring Rabbis| date=17 March 2014|publisher=Forward|accessdate=21 January 2015|location=Los Angeles, California}} Rabbi Greenwald is a "Rabbis Without Borders" Fellow with Clal, the Center for Learning and Leadership{{Cite news|url=http://rabbiswithoutborders.org/adam-greenwald/|title=Adam Greenwald|date=2017-04-05|work=Rabbis Without Borders|access-date=2017-06-12|language=en-US}} and is a recipient of the Covenant Foundation's Pomegranate Prize in Jewish Education.{{Cite web|url=http://jeducationworld.com/2016/11/five-emerging-jewish-educators-receive-2016-pomegranate-prize/|title=Five Emerging Jewish Educators Receive 2016 Pomegranate Prize – Jeducation World|website=jeducationworld.com|date=17 November 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-12}} Before coming to AJU and the Intro Program, Rabbi Greenwald served as the Revson Rabbinic Fellow of IKAR. Supervision of the Intro Program is provided by Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and Vice President of the AJU.{{cite web|url=http://intro.aju.edu/default.aspx?id=6276&tags=faculty|title=Bradley Shavit Artson, DHL, Rabbi|publisher=American Jewish University|accessdate=7 May 2013|location=Los Angeles, California}}

The program is endorsed by the Rabbinical Assembly of America, and by other clergy.{{cite web|url=http://intro.aju.edu/|title=Introduction To Judaism|publisher=American Jewish University|accessdate=18 April 2013}} Conversions performed under the auspices of the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program are recognized by the State of Israel for purposes of making Aliyah.{{cite web|url=http://www.schechter.edu/AskTheRabbi.aspx?ID=113|title=REFORM OR CONSERVATIVE CONVERSION|last=Susskind Goldberg|first=Rabbi Monique|year=2009|work=Ask the Rabbi|publisher=Schechter Institute|accessdate=18 April 2013|location=Jerusalem, Israel|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218205831/http://schechter.edu/AskTheRabbi.aspx?ID=113|archivedate=18 December 2010}}