Disrupting Jewish Institutions with AJU President Jay Sanderson
Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
Jonah Platt
4.9 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 15 January 2026
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of 30 Minute Mensches, Jonah sits down with longtime Jewish communal leader Jay Sanderson, recently appointed President of American Jewish University (AJU). Sanderson recounts a harrowing childhood marked by intense antisemitic violence while growing up in Boston public housing, including a near-fatal incident in which he was buried alive. That trauma ultimately propelled him toward a life of Jewish leadership after a transformative summer in Israel facilitated by the Jewish Agency, culminating in a pivotal childhood encounter with David Ben-Gurion.
The conversation traces Sanderson’s career running major institutions such as Jewish Federation of Los Angeles and Jewish Television Network, before turning to his vision for the Jewish future. Sanderson critiques the Jewish world’s tendency to focus narrowly on combating antisemitism rather than proactively planning for long-term vitality. This outlook led to the creation of the 2050 Institute, an initiative designed to address the lack of adequate modern training for Jewish professionals and lack of planning for the Jewish future.
Sanderson explains why he came out of retirement after October 7 to lead AJU, outlining an ambitious plan to reimagine rabbinic education, expand the Miller Introduction to Judaism program, and position AJU as a central pipeline for future Jewish leaders. Jay’s challenge for leaders of today to get off the sidelines, bring new blood and ideas forward, and actively shape what the Jewish experience should look like in 25 years.
Topics of the episode include
- Jay Sanderson’s childhood trauma and antisemitism in Boston
- A near-death experience and its long-term psychological impact
- A formative Israel trip through the Jewish Agency
- Meeting David Ben-Gurion at a kibbutz
- Leadership roles at Jewish Federation of Los Angeles
- The founding vision of the 2050 Institute
- Sanderson becoming President of American Jewish University
- Expanding the Miller Introduction to Judaism program
- Reimagining the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
Mentioned in the episode:
Brandeis-Bardin Campus of American Jewish University.
Jay Sanderson: President of AJU
Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Shalom, Kavarim, Banot, and welcome to another very special episode of the world's number one Jewish podcast. |
| 0:08.1 | I have to ask for a small favor. |
| 0:10.4 | As an independent show, we don't have a massive marketing machine behind us. |
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| 0:19.5 | So if you would be so kind, please take 30 seconds, |
| 0:24.0 | head over to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, find this show, and leave me a five-star rating and a short |
| 0:30.0 | written review. I love seeing all of your thoughtful and generous feedback. Some of it has even |
| 0:35.0 | made it onto the show and may again. And as of this recording, |
| 0:38.7 | we are just eight ratings away from hitting 500 on Apple. Crossing that threshold would be a huge |
| 0:44.3 | milestone for us. It's a small mitzvah on your part, but it really is the fuel that allows us to |
| 0:50.0 | keep these amazing conversations going. So thank you in advance. Unless you don't leave a rating, |
| 0:56.0 | in which case you're a butt head. |
| 0:57.0 | I think we have to reimagine what it means to be a rabbi, what it means to be a Jewish educator, |
| 1:02.0 | what it means to be a Jewish professional. |
| 1:04.0 | You saw really in your face anti-Jew hate. What does that do to a young person? |
| 1:08.0 | I was buried alive, almost died, fighting anti-Semitism. |
| 1:12.2 | Makes us loser. |
| 1:13.0 | We've been fighting anti-Semitism since we've been in existence. |
| 1:17.8 | Welcome back to being Jewish with Jonah Platt, 30-minute Menches. |
| 1:22.6 | Same vibe, same tribe, same tribe, shorter episodes. |
| 1:25.7 | My guest today is a Boston boy and lifelong steward of the Jewish |
| 1:29.7 | community. He's run major Jewish organizations like Jewish Federation, L.A. and the Jewish |
... |
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