The Melton School

The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning is a global network of 60 community-based schools that offer adults an opportunity to gain Jewish literacy in a non-denominational, intellectually-stimulating learning environment.

The curriculum, created by scholars at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, explores the texts of Jewish tradition, both ancient and contemporary. Join us for spirited dialogue, meaningful study, and the opportunity to gain a profound understanding of what it means to be Jewish.

For questions or more information, contact Rachelle Weiss Crane, Melton Director, at 214-239-7128 or rweisscrane@jccdallas.org.

The Curriculum

Jewish Medical Ethics: A 21st Century Discussion
Year One

Jewish Medical Ethics: A 21st Century Discussion

The Rachel Wasserman Scholars Curriculum

Within the field of ethics, one of the most challenging frontiers is medical ethics. While contemporary medical knowledge preserves life, modern advances have raised moral and ethical dilemmas related to the sanctity and dignity of life – issues whose scope was unimaginable a generation ago.

A new ten-lesson Melton course on Jewish Medical Ethics explores what Judaism has to say on a number of challenging issues, including human and animal cloning, surrogate motherhood and multiple parents, genetic identity, and assisted suicide/aid in dying.

Author Rabbi Dr. Elliot Dorff is a world-renowned expert on medical ethics and Professor of Jewish Philosophy at American Jewish University. He is the author of thirteen books including: Matters of Life and Death: A Jewish Approach to Modern Medical Ethics (Jewish Publication Society, 1998), and co-editor of twelve books including The Oxford Handbook of Jewish Ethics and Morality (Oxford University Press, 2013) and Contemporary Jewish Ethics and Morality: A Reader (Oxford University Press, 1995).

The new course has been dedicated by Toni Sandler of Boca Raton, Florida in memory of her beloved sister, Julie Gail Berger.

Click to Learn More About The Rachel Wasserman Scholars Curriculum

The Rachel Wasserman Scholars Curriculum provides an opportunity for continued study for graduates of the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning. Building on the two years of text-based study of Judaism, the Scholars Curriculum focuses on a deeper examination of selected Jewish texts, from the Biblical to the modern. The Scholars Curriculum invites Melton School graduates to an engagement with Jewish texts that has shaped Jews and Judaism for millennia.

Sundays, Feb. 2 – Apr. 5
10 – 11:30 am

Members: $225
Non-members: $275
Text book: $50

Instructor: Laura Seymour
Location: Aaron Family JCC

For more information and to register, please contact Rachelle Weiss Crane at rweisscrane@jccdallas.org or Adina Weinberg at aweinberg@jccdallas.org.

Year One

The first hour, Purposes of Jewish Living (Laura Seymour), concentrates on the ultimate purposes of Judaism and the development of the covenant with G-d as revealed through the Bible and other sacred texts. The second hour, Rhythms of Jewish Living (Debra Polsky), focuses on the ideas, beliefs and practices that shape a Jewish life. It examines tradition and ritual observances connected to the Jewish calendar, along with life cycle events.

Honu Frankel Chapter of The Florence Melton Adult School Alumni Association

We celebrate Honu’s life and commitment to high quality adult Jewish education by honoring her memory and her love of learning. Honu’s family worked closely with Rachelle Weiss Crane and Annie Glickman to create this lasting tribute. The funds contributed provide for tuition assistance, faculty development, guest speakers and other important initiatives in Dallas, all of which will sustain the Adult School for years to come.

To become a member online of the Honu Frankel Chapter of The Florence Melton Adult School Alumni Association of Dallas, please contact Rachelle Weiss Crane at rweisscrane@jccdallas.org.

Testimonials

“Just wanted you to know how much I enjoyed listening to all your wisdom in the [Melton Foundations] class. The book is good and you are great! I really look forward to our next class.”

“This was my first involvement with the Melton School but it won’t be my last…definitely succeeded in giving me a better understanding and appreciation of how to interpret, apply and continually learn the core values of Judaism…and apply to current everyday family life.”

Fall 2020

Fall 2020

Members of the Tribe

In this short six-session quest, we’ll dive deep into a fundamental, challenging question for Members of the Tribe: “What is the overarching purpose of Judaism?” Together, we’ll examine aspects of what might be considered the Jewish mission, a blend of practices that distinguish us as Jews, and what to do with this idea of being called the “Chosen People.” Prepare to explore how Big Jewish Ideas and lessons from our history serve to enrich our collective actions as individuals and as a people.

Dates: Wednesdays | October 7 – November 11, 2020
Time: 10:45 am – 12:15 pm
Location: Zoom classroom
School: Melton Dallas
Instructor: Laura Seymour
Tuition: $179 [Includes textbook]

Exploring a Forgotten World: A Social History of Medieval Jewry as Revealed in the Cairo Genizah

This ancient-era version of reality TV gives you a front-row seat to the drama, gossip, legal transactions, and other daily intrigues – straight from the Middle Ages. This course brings to life an exotic era in Jewish history, revealing the inner thoughts of real-life characters and exploring the daily interactions and behaviors of Jewish men, women, and families living along the Mediterranean more than 1,000 years ago. All of this has been uncovered through the discovery of a collection of worn-out scraps, text fragments, and documents from ancient times. Come along for a journey of intrigue and adventure!

Dates: Tuesdays | October 6 – December 15
Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Location: Zoom classroom
School: Melton Program
Instructor: Debra Polsky
Tuition: $295 [Includes textbook]

For questions or more information, contact Rachelle Weiss Crane at rweisscrane@jccdallas.org.