Florence Melton Adult Mini-School
Former program of the Agency for Jewish Education, Co-Sponsored by
Jewish Federation of San Diego County and the Leichtag Foundation.

Registration now open for the 2012-13 school year!
Join the Great Jewish Conversation and embark on a fascinating 27-week
journey as you explore classic Jewish sources, investigate issues of
Jewish thought, practice and ethics, and advance our knowledge of Jewish
history. For more information, phone or email Noah Hadas (858) 362-1327
or noah@lfjcc.com.
4 Sessions Offered:
- WED, 1:30-3:45pm at Seacrest Village, Encinitas
- WED, 7:00-9:15pm at Temple Solel, Cardiff by the Sea
- THURS, 9:30-11:45am at Lawrence Family JCC
- THURS, 7:00-9:15pm at Lawrence Family JCC
Class Begins: WEDNESDAY Classes - October 3, 2012; THURSDAY Classes - October 4, 2012.
Tuition: $550 per person for the program plus $50 per person registration and materials fee. Scholarships are available. Couples and groups registering together receive a discount. JCC member price is significantly less.
| Melton is |
Melton has |
stimulating ...
informative ...
inspiring ... |
no tests ...
no homework...
no grades... |
The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, a project of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is an innovative concept for Jewish learners from all backgrounds, aimed at enabling Jewish adults to learn seriously about our heritage and culture in a challenging and inspiring course of study.
Melton's sophisticated, sequential curriculum was written by a team of scholars and educators at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It introduces the student to the classical heritage of the Jewish people and demonstrates its development into contemporary forms of Judaism while maintaining a pluralistic balance.
This is your opportunity to explore classic Jewish sources, investigate issues of Jewish thought, practice and ethics, and advance your knowledge of Jewish history.
The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture is proud to sponsor the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School in San Diego County. We invite you to join the nearly 20,000 adults in more than 60 Mini-Schools throughout the Jewish world, whose lives have been changed by this internationally acclaimed school of study.
Melton is endorsed by San Diego Rabbinical Association and supported by the Jewish Federation of San Diego and Jewish Community Foundation.
Melton students say...
"Melton strengthened and gave definition to my Jewish identity...I obtained personal insights as to what Judaism is and is not about...Melton has given us a way to renew our Judaism and share countless discussions together that have helped us grow as individuals and as a couple..."
Course Outlines
NOTE: Each course pair is independent of the other. They may be taken in either order.
Some of the Topics Discussed at Melton ...
The Purposes of Jewish Living
- The Chosen People - Why Us?
- What Happens After We Die?
- Why Do People Suffer?
The Rhythms of Jewish Living
- The Jewish Calendar and its Meaning
- Significance of Bar/Bat Mitzvah
- Conversion
The Ethics of Jewish Living
- The Worth of Human Life
- Kosher Money
- Euthanasia
The Dramas of Jewish Living
- Development of Judaism in Diaspora
- Formation of Askenazic Jewery
- Evolution from sacrifice to prayer and ritual
COURSE PAIR 1
Purposes of Jewish Living
Explore the meaning and purpose of life from a Jewish perspective. We present essential Jewish theological concepts as they unfold in the Bible, the Talmud and other sacred texts.
Rhythms of Jewish Living
Examine the elements making up the Jewish calendar as well as lifecycle events. Students study the central ideas, beliefs and practices that define Jewish life.
COURSE PAIR 2
Dramas of Jewish Living
This course looks at the dramatic developments, experiences and issues from different periods in Jewish history, as reflected in historical texts.
Ethics of Jewish Living
This course addresses the relationship between Jewish life and ethical behavior. It presents a text-based approach to Jewish ethical foundations dealing with issues such as justice, life and death, sexuality and community.
Israel Seminars (optional)
Explore and study Israel with the Mini-School!
The narrative of the land of Israel enriches all that the Mini-School curriculum addresses. Seminars are available in winter, spring and summer.
Click here to register online for these classes