On March 23, 2025, Stephen Wise Temple and Schools hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Aaron Milken Center for Early Childhood Education at Wise. More than 500 guests—including community leaders, donors, and key figures—gathered to mark this milestone. Designed in collaboration with Abramson Architects and Salt Landscape Architects, the $35 million center offers a dynamic learning environment that connects children and families to nature while fostering creativity and community. Supported by the Lowell Milken Family Foundation, it features modern classrooms, community and sacred spaces, and a dedicated Parenting Center.
For more information, visit: WiseLA.org/aaronmilkencenter.
STEPHEN WISE TEMPLE AND SCHOOLS USHER IN A NEW ERA OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Transformational Aaron Milken Center at Wise
Mountaintop Campus Designed to Inspire and Develop Young Minds in a Unique, Creative Setting
Made Possible by the Lowell Milken Family Foundation and Generous Donors
March 23, 2025 (Bel Air, CA) – Stephen Wise Temple and Schools marked an exciting milestone on Sunday, March 23, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the highly anticipated Aaron Milken Center for Early Childhood Education at Wise. More than 500 guests—including community leaders, generous donors, congregants, and close friends and family—gathered on the Wise campus to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Among the distinguished attendees were Lowell Milken Family Foundation Founder Lowell Milken, Senior Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, Head of School Tami Weiser, and key figures who also played a pivotal role in bringing this vision to life including Building Committee Chair Leandro Tyberg and lead architect Marco Marraccini.
Opening its doors in the coming months, the Aaron Milken Center at Wise will offer an innovative, nurturing environment where young learners and their families can grow together. Rooted in the educational philosophy of Wise’s visionary founder, Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin, the Center reflects a steadfast commitment to lifelong Jewish learning for all who seek it. It also stands as a meaningful tribute to Aaron Milken, the late son of lead donors Lowell Milken and Sandra Salka Milken.
“Early childhood education is the foundation of a child’s lifelong journey of learning and discovery. The Aaron Milken Center embodies our commitment to providing a world-class experience that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and community,” said Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback.
“The new campus of the Aaron Milken Center builds on parenting and early childhood education, physically, conceptually and professionally. It expands, enhances and enriches efforts to embrace children with the kind of attention and care, with the kind of love, that has everything to do with who they become,” said Lowell Milken.
A Vision Years in the Making
First conceived in 2018, the Aaron Milken Center was envisioned as a transformative early childhood educational and spiritual experience, housed in a state-of-the-art facility. With the guidance and generosity of the Lowell Milken Family Foundation, in collaboration with Abramson Architects, construction began in late 2022.
The scope and scale of the $35 million Center maximizes the breathtaking beauty and security of Wise’s mountaintop campus, blending dynamic learning environments with a profound connection to the natural world. It fosters growth and discovery while strengthening a sense of community among children, parents, and educators alike. The Aaron Milken Center at Wise is not just a new building, but a pillar of our community, representing our long-term commitment to investing in the future of our earliest learners.
Beyond classrooms, the Aaron Milken Center will feature community and sacred spaces, providing a warm village filled with Jewish values that will nurture young minds and foster lifelong connections. The space will also include a Parenting Center, designed for parents and their youngest children to experience and explore a diverse array of classes geared specifically toward each developmental stage.
A Bold Vision, A Lasting Impact
In late 2024, the “We Are” marketing campaign was launched to introduce the Aaron Milken Center at Wise to the community. Featuring the tagline “Nurturing young minds, fostering lifelong connections,” the campaign highlights the Center’s core values through thematic messaging such as “We Are Exceptional Educators,” “We Are Shabbat,” “We Are Your Sanctuary,” “We Are Future Leaders,” among others.
Developed in partnership with Greg Kestenbaum and his team at Creative Matters, Wise’s brand and marketing agency since the project’s inception, the campaign reflects the transformative impact the Aaron Milken Center will have on young learners and their families. With the unwavering support of the Lowell Milken Family Foundation and numerous generous donors, the Aaron Milken Center is poised to set a new standard for early childhood education, shaping the future of young minds for generations to come.
For more information and photos, please visit WiseLA.org/aaronmilkencenter
Press contacts: Amy Shelby, AShelby@WiseLA.org Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, RabbiYoshi@WiseLA.org Tami Weiser, TWeiser@Wise-School.org
