Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh

Vice President for Jewish Engagement, American Jewish University

Rabbi Tarlan Rabizadeh is Vice President for Jewish Engagement at American Jewish University, where she directs the Maas Center for Jewish Journeys, oversees the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program, the Partnership Project (Marriage for Life), and supervises the AJU Community Mikvah. A dynamic leader in the Jewish community, Rabbi Rabizadeh blends tradition and modernity to create meaningful, accessible Jewish experiences. Raised in Los Angeles’s Persian Jewish community—often affectionately called “Tehrangeles”—she brings a deep commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and cultural nuance to her work. Her goal is to make Judaism relatable and accessible while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. She sees herself as a teacher more than a preacher, and as a translator—building bridges and creating community. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Boston University and a master’s degree in Jewish education and Hebrew literature from Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion, where she was ordained. Her previous roles include Director of Student Life at UCLA Hillel, Senior Jewish Educator and Jewish Emergent Network Rabbinic Fellow at The Kitchen in San Francisco, and faculty member at Milken Community High School.