In honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, Loyola Marymount University extends a heartfelt embrace to our Jewish students, faculty, and staff. Jewish American Heritage Month is an annual recognition and celebration of the history, culture, society, achievements and contributions of Jewish people and the Jewish community in the United States. In the spirit of inter-religious cooperation and dialogue, LMU reaffirms its commitment to honoring the rich, cultural, historical, and spiritual contributions of Jewish Americans, and the vital role Jewish students, faculty, staff, and alumni play in shaping LMU.
This commitment is reflected in LMU’s decades-old Jewish Studies minor, housed within the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts. This interdisciplinary minor has given students, both Jewish and non-Jewish, academic insight and experiences that explore Jewish history, culture, faith, and practice. Beyond the classroom, Jewish Studies promotes engagement with the Los Angeles and global Jewish communities through signature events, research, and even sponsored trips to explore Jewish history in Europe and Israel. The program also hosts an annual Kristallnacht observance, bringing hundreds of attendees to the Westchester campus for a program of culture and remembrance.
More recently, in 2021 a partnership was launched between LMU and the Academy for Jewish Religion California (AJRCA), bringing interfaith scholars together for transformative dialogue, collaborative teaching and learning, and community-building initiatives.
Jewish Student Life, the nexus for Jewish life on LMU’s campus, is also committed to building and strengthening the Jewish community by maximizing access points for Jewish engagement. Working closely with our Hillel student club, Campus Ministry, the Jewish Studies Program, and Student Affairs, Jewish Student Life provides opportunities for connection, collaboration and growth through religious, cultural, intellectual and social justice programming.
While creating a community in which Jewish students can celebrate their Jewish identity, Jewish Student Life also seeks to build bridges between all faith-based communities at LMU, embodying the third tenet of the LMU mission, the service of faith and the promotion of justice.
You can learn more about getting involved with Jewish Student Life and the Jewish Studies minor on their respective websites.
