Chancellor Uram Visits the West Coast

August 11, 2026

Chancellor Uram recently spent several days on the West Coast meeting with JTS alumni, longtime friends and colleagues, current and prospective partners, and leaders across the Jewish community. 

One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to Camp Ramah in Ojai. There, Chancellor Uram met with JTS students, alumni, and Ramah administrators to discuss the enduring strength of the #JTSRamahConnection and the deep partnership between two of the Conservative Movement’s cornerstone institutions. JTS Board Chair Alan Levine, and Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Randy Michaels celebrated Shabbat in Ojai, joyously surrounded by campers and staff. 

Alan Levine at camp
Chancellor Mike Uram, Randy Michaels, and others at camp

From camp, he traveled to Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, where he had the opportunity to engage with many local rabbis and cantors. Rabbis Erez Sherman and Nicole Guzik led a thoughtful panel conversation, exploring the future of the Conservative Movement and how JTS can be an even stronger partner to Jewish communities on the West Coast. Together, they reflected on the unique opportunity before us to help usher in a new era of growth, learning, and impact for Jewish life across North America. 

Throughout the week, Chancellor Uram also met with many distinguished Jewish leaders and thought partners in the great Los Angeles area.  

Another memorable stop was Milken Community School, where Chancellor Uram met with representatives from several Los Angeles-area Jewish schools to discuss pathways to Jewish leadership for the next generation and the many opportunities JTS offers students seeking to make a meaningful impact on Jewish life. 

The week was filled with meaningful conversations, renewed relationships, and new partnerships. Chancellor Uram was grateful to reconnect with so many JTS alumni and supporters and looks forward to continuing those conversations—both on his next visit to the West Coast and at JTS’s campus in New York. This trip reinforced the strong bonds between JTS and the Los Angeles Jewish community and the shared commitment to strengthening Jewish learning, leadership, and community—no matter the distance.