What is Melton?
The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning™ engages adult learners in a life-enhancing study of Jewish texts and ideas that nurtures and deepens Jewish community worldwide. Through classes (both in-person and online) and travel seminars, Melton learners find Jewish texts and ideas accessible and relevant to their lives. They become part of a worldwide movement of committed learners who are empowered to enrich Jewish life.
To request additional information or inquire about scholarship opportunities, email sisham@adathjeshurun.com.
Upcoming Courses & Events
Where Are the Prophets When You Need Them? An Interfaith Exploration | An Original Course designed and taught by Dr. Melanie-Prejean Sullivan
Various dates in 2025-2026, beginning July 10; see registration page for full calendar
As we traverse a time of anxious uncertainty, what some are calling a “socio-political predicament,” we search for meaning and direction. Prophetic voices that could call our attention to important action seem to be silent. Authentic interpreters of the Divine seem few and far between. Where are the prophets when you need them?
This course is now full! Please email sisham@adathjeshurun.com to sign up for the waitlist.
Modern Living: Maintaining Balance, co-taught by Cantor David Lipp and Rabbi Scott Hoffman
Thursdays, July 10 through August 14, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in-person at AJ
Searching for ways to find balance in our lives is a recurring theme in modern living. From juggling jobs, to balancing commitments to family and friends, to being an active participant in our communities, and to eking out a few minutes of self-care, it is often hard to navigate the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Did you know that Jewish wisdom, from classical teachings to modern texts, offers invaluable insights and direction for so many of our contemporary challenges? This 6-week course explores Jewish attitudes toward the many competing foci in our lives and presents Jewish approaches to finding balance amid the intensity of day-to-day living.
This course is now full! Please email sisham@adathjeshurun.com to sign up for the waitlist.
Voices of the Land: A Century of Israeli Poetry in Song with Cantor David Lipp
June 17, July 15, and August 12 at 7-8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Experience a century of Hebrew poetry shaped by the dreams and tensions of Zionism. Each session explores one poet through musical performance and cultural context, tracing how language, land, and longing have shaped the Israeli soul. These poems offer not only a record of national transformation, but a soundtrack to its emotional journey.
June 17: The Poet Rachel in Song: Longing, Landscape, and Loss- July 15: Bialik in Harmony: From National Poet to Folk Hero
- August 12: Leah Goldberg: The Music of Elegance, Intellect, and Grace
Louisville Melton learners have been offered a 50% discount on this Melton International course. Please email sisham@adathjeshurun.com for the discount code.
Understanding Zionism: The Return to the Jewish Homeland with Rabbi Stan Miles
Thursdays, Aug. 21 - Dec. 11, 9:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
The story of Zionism is remarkable and without parallel. It is a story of a people exiled from their homeland, a people that despite having suffered from prejudice and oppression for 2,000 years, maintained a strong identity, never losing faith with the dream of an eventual return home. This course examines how these ancient dreams took on new religious, cultural, national, and political dimensions that actualized into the Zionist Enterprise--culminating in the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The story continues with questions around the meaning of Zionism today, its relationship with the Jewish people in the Diaspora, and some of the contemporary challenges it faces – most notably, the intense criticism of Zionism and the State of Israel, particularly in the aftermath of October 7, 2023 – inviting a deeper reflection on the values, resilience, and relevance of Zionism in the modern era.
With the current pervasive misrepresentation of Zionism seen today, this course presents a nuanced multi-faceted perspective based on primary sources, firsthand accounts, and official documents.
Join us to deepen your understanding of how and why the State of Israel came into being, and its significance for you personally and for the Jewish people as a whole.
Timeless Wisdom from the Books of Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, and Song of Songs with Rabbi Scott Hoffman
Tuesdays, Aug. 19 - Nov. 18, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., In-Person
Wednesdays, Aug. 20 - Nov 19, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Zoom
Delve into the mysteries of these ancient scrolls as they muse over the meaning of life, describe national suffering, and depict the power of love. In this 10-part course, selections of these biblical texts will be examined through the lens of commentaries – ancient and contemporary – as they uncover and untangle the complex and everlasting messages about our relationship to the Divine, Humanity and everyday life.
Jewish Answers to Life's Most Difficult Questions with Cantor David Lipp
Thursdays, Aug. 21 - Oct. 23, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., In-Person
Tuesdays, Aug. 19 - Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Zoom
This is your invitation to join the conversation as we grapple with some of life’s toughest questions, like “Why do good people suffer?”, “Is everything that happens pre-ordained?” and “Can’t God make a miracle for me?” In this six-part course, we’ll explore multiple understandings of these timeless questions through the eyes of the rabbinic sages as well as those of modern thinkers — including our own.
The course is based on “Where’s My Miracle: Jewish Traditions for Dealing with Tragedy,” by Rabbi Dr. Morey Schwartz, Melton’s International Director.
Jewish Journeys: Collective Memories Through Place and Time with Cantor David Lipp
Thursdays, Oct. 30 - Dec. 11, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., In-Person
Tuesdays, Oct. 28 - Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Zoom
Embark on a captivating exploration of Jewish history and culture, as we delve into the power of collective memory. This six-part course will take you on a journey through time and space, examining how our shared past shapes our present and future.
In this course, you will: Explore the hidden stories and untold narratives of Jewish communities in Greece, Spain, Morocco, Poland, and Israel; Delve into the rich tapestry of Jewish history, from ancient times to the modern era, focusing on key events and figures that have shaped Jewish identity; Examine different perspectives on Jewish history and culture and question the dominant narratives; Discover how memory is constructed, preserved, and evolves over time, and how collective memory informs the present and can inspire and empower us to build a better future; Understand the impact of collective memory on contemporary Jewish identity and its potential implications for the future.
Timeless Tales, Modern Sensibilities: A Deep Look at the Books of Esther and Ruth with Rabbi Scott Hoffman
Spring Semester, dates TBD
Discover contemporary meaning in timeless texts during this ten-lesson course on the stories in the Scrolls of Esther and Ruth. Explore themes of Jewish identity, gender, God’s role in human affairs, and comedy. Delve into the lives of these two heroic women who changed the course of history, leaving a legacy that influences our lives today.
"Amos 8:5 - Shekel (sheqel)" by zeevveez is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
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