THE CONCEPT:
An international consortium of schools offering a university quality program for the busy adult to achieve a basic, but comprehensive, foundation of Jewish literacy. There are schools in over 60 cities in the United States, Canada, The United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa.
Portland Melton is sponsored by MORASHA: The Jewish Community Education Alliance. You can learn more about the Melton Mini-School worldwide at www.fmams.org.il.
THE CURRICULUM:
Designed by scholars from the Melton Centre for Jewish Education at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the curriculum presents primary Jewish texts in English to convey Jewish practices, ethics, history, ideas, and values.
THE STRUCTURE:
Classes meet for two hours once a week. The two-year Melton program consists of 30 weekly classes each year. There are no prerequisites, grades, or exams. Graduates receive a Certificate of Jewish Studies from Hebrew University and are eligible to participate in an optional seminar in Israel, all Melton graduate courses, and alumni events.
THE GOALS:
- To teach the common roots and experiences of pluralistic Judaism
- To convey core and meaningful Jewish knowledge appropriate for all forms of Jewish commitment
- To stimulate reflection and critical thinking about Judaism in a non judgmental, interactive setting
- To bring relevancy to Jewish learning in the contemporary world
- To inspire informed, independent Jewish learners to explore and to define what Judaism means
Melton Board
Mimi Epstein, President
Arthur Steinhorn, Treasurer
Judith Kahn
Neil Benaroya
Barbara D. Cohen
David Douglas
Jordan Epstein
Michael Horenstein
Mark Kalenscher
Hank Kaplan
Jenn Director Knudsen
Karen Labinger
Advisory Board
Mark Berkovitch
Renee Holzman
Eliana Temkin