Courses of Study
Core I: Rhythms of Jewish Living (30 Lessons) - What’s the point of living Jewishly? What ideas, beliefs, and practices are involved? This course examines a wide variety of Jewish sources to discover the deeper meanings underlying Jewish holidays, lifecycle observances, and Jewish practice.
Core I: Purposes of Jewish Living (30 Lessons) - Why do Jews believe as they do? What are the big questions of life and how do Jewish thinkers answer these questions? This course explores sources both ancient and modern in pursuit of answers to many of the major issues of Jewish thought and theology.
Core II: Dramas of Jewish Living Throughout the Ages (30 Lessons) - What are the lessons of Jewish history — from the earliest wanderings of Abraham to today’s turmoil in Israel? How do the turning points in Jewish history influence our lives today? This course investigates how the Jewish past gives meaning to the Jewish present.
Core II: Ethics of Jewish Living (30 Lessons) - How do Jewish teachings shed light on contemporary issues such as the environment, inter-personal relationships, end-of-life decisions, and stem-cell research? This course explores the wisdom of ancient and modern rabbis, scholars and thinkers, offering multiple Jewish approaches to conducting our lives in the communal and private spheres.
Foundations (Two 10 Lesson Terms) - Foundations of Jewish Family Living is a new curriculum for parents that provides a thought-provoking encounter with the core values of Judaism. The curriculum brings to life the master stories from our tradition and the profound messages they convey.
Scholars: Beyond Borders (20 Lessons) - This Scholars course provides students with a strong, text-based historical overview from the late nineteenth century through today. Course material is designed to encourage discussion and debate, and to challenge students to appreciate the basis of the conflicting historical claims made by all sides in the conflict. The complexity of the conflict forces students to grapple with issues of religion, culture, history, politics, economics, identity and survival—all reflected through primary sources, including newspaper articles, poetry, songs, government documents, speeches, photographs and memoirs. The 10-lesson course will provide students with new tools for understanding and critiquing texts and events as the conflict continues to unfold.
Scholars: Bereshit I (20 Lessons) - The stories take us from the universal tales of the creation of the world, the flood, and the Tower of Babel to the foundational tales of Abraham and Sarah, and the beginnings of the Jewish people. The themes of family and faith, honor and dishonor, passion and power provide a rich exploration of our people and ourselves.
Scholars: Jews in America (10 Lessons) - This Scholars course provides students with the opportunity to consider the challenges of Jewish acculturation to American life, and the sacrifices as well as the contributions that have been made over the past 200 years. Lessons will explore such topics as the role of education, The Three Generation Hypothesis, Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, the changing place of Zionism and the State of Israel, The Civil Rights Movement as a case study of distinctiveness and involvement, and other issues that address American and Jewish culture and identity. This 10-lesson course asks the question, “Is the cup half-empty or half full?” as optimists and pessimists debate the future of Jewish identity in America.
Faculty List
Dov Goldberg Ethics, Rhythms (AM)
Ellie Miller Purposes, Drama, Foundations, Bereshit I, Jews in America
Jonathan Reitman Beyond Borders
Steve Steinbock Ethics, Rhythms (PM)
Class Schedule
Subject Day / time Location Year I & 2 Tuesdays 9:30am Bet Ha’am Year I & 2 Wednesdays 7:00pm Maine Jewish Museum Midcoast Melton Ethics Thursdays 6:00pm First Parish Church Scholars: Beyond Borders Tuesdays 10:15am Bet Ha’am Scholars: Bereshit I Tuesdays 12:15pm Bet Ha’am Scholars: Jews in America Wednesdays 5:15pm Maine Jewish Museum
Registration Materials
2012-2013 BRUNSWICK Ethics Registration Form
2012-2013 CORE Registration Form
2012-2013 FOUNDATIONS Registration Form
2013 SCHOLARS Jews In America Registration Form2012-2013
SCHOLARS Registration Form
FOUNDATIONS Topics and Calendar
SCHOLARS BEYOND BORDERS Topics and Calendar
Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning Student User Group
Current students may access weekly roadmaps here. To access this information, you must be an enrolled student in the Florence Melton Adult Mini School and registered on the JCA website.