Adults : Florence Melton Adult Mini-School

About Us What We Study Questions & Answers Registration and Tuition Location and Class Schedule Director/Faculty Course Guide Special Events/What's New Our Students Say... Links Snow Schedule and School Closing
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About Us

If you're looking for a comprehensive introduction to the basics of Judaism, we urge you to enroll in the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School. The St. Louis school opened in 1989 and is part of an international network of over 65 schools affiliated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem giving you the principles and foundations of Judaism. The course will give you what you've been seeking: a clear, comprehensive overview of Jewish belief, Jewish practice, Jewish history, and Jewish ethics. Classes are lively, engaging, and relevant to today's world.

The two-year Melton course is designed specifically for adults. Classes meet once a week throughout the academic year. You'll be asked to do a small amount of reading in preparation for each class, but you won't be burdened with homework or exams. Best of all, you'll work with an amazing faculty – people who know and love their subject-matter and how to impart it.

As a Melton student, you'll find that divergent views are treated fairly, that vigorous give-and-take is encouraged, and that all questions – no matter how challenging – are welcome. You'll discover how easily attainable – and how deeply fulfilling – Jewish literacy is.  And, like Melton students before you, you may well acquire a lifelong desire to learn “more.” In Judaism, happily, there's always more to learn.

For the first time the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School is being offered as an "off-site" opportunity, in addition to our regular site at CAJE! Congregation Shaare Emeth and United Hebrew Congregation have agreed to co-sponsor the Melton course at their facilities. We are very excited to offer this new opportunity and hope to create additional co-sponsorships in the future.

Note to Religious School and Hebrew School Teachers:
If you're working toward teacher certification, you'll find tht Melton and CAJL courses satisfy many of the requirements. See the Teacher Certification Program notations that are part of our course descriptions.   Graduation from the Melton program satisfies all Level 1 and Level 2 Judaics requirement. 

We've tried to make our course descriptions clear but brief. If you'd like more details, we urge you to call Cyndee Levy, Director of Adult Education, at (314) 442-3754.   She's easy to talk to, and eager to answer all your questions.

Note to Religious School and Hebrew School Teachers:

If you're working toward teacher certification, you'll find tht Melton and CAJL courses satisfy many of the requirements. See the Teacher Certification Program notations that are part of our course descriptions.   Graduation from the Melton program satisfies all Level 1 and Level 2 Judaics requirement.

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Click here to view or download the 2008-2009 Adult Jewish Education Course Guide. See page 8 for Melton information.

 

 


Visit the Melton Website

There will always be someone to answer your questons.  Visit the International Melton website at www.fmams.org.il.

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What We Study

First Year Courses

Rhythms of Jewish Living - What’s meant by the phrase “living a Jewish life”?  What’s the point of living Jewishly?  What ideas, beliefs, and practices are involved?  What is kedusha – and why does it matter?  These are the questions asked and answered in Rhythms of Jewish Living – the course that explains how Judaism takes the ordinary “stuff” of daily life and transforms it into the extraordinary.

Purposes of Jewish Living - Why do Jews believe and behave as they do?  Why is the word “covenant” central to Jewish existence?  What is the Jewish contract with God, and how does it affect the way Jews think and act?  These are the questions you’ll grapple with in Purposes of Jewish Living – the course that explains what’s distinctively “Jewish” about Judaism.

FACULTY
Rabbi Andrea Goldstein • Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh
• Cyndee Levy • Ofira Melnick • Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg

Click here to find out more about our amazing faculty.

Second Year Courses

Dramas of Jewish Living - How do Jews “make use” of their long and frequently tumultuous history?  How can those of us now alive utilize that history to make sense of our existence – and of the times in which we live?  What are the lessons of Jewish history – from the earliest wanderings of Abraham to today’s turmoil in Israel?   These are the questions answered in Dramas of Jewish Living – the course that explains how the Jewish past gives meaning to the Jewish present.

Ethics of Jewish Living - What does Judaism have to say about the way we should live?   What do Jewish thinkers – from our ancient sages to today’s commentators – tell us about conducting ourselves in both private and public life?  Can Judaism shed light on our thorny contemporary problems?  You’ll consider all these questions in Ethics of Jewish Living – the course that demonstrates the currency of a religion 4,000 years old.

FACULTY
Rabbi Seth Gordon • Cyndee Levy • Michael Raileanu • Robert Taxman

Click here to find out more about our amazing faculty.

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ATTENTION MELTON GRADS!

Graduates of the Melton program may return to audit any of the CORE Melton Couarses at a tuition rate of $50 per year.

  • Rhythms rewritten in 2008
  • Ethics rewritten in 2006
  • Dramas rewritten in 2004
    (We are now using the Heritage DVD-ROM in the classroom.)
  • Purposes scheduled for rewrite in 2010

Melton Israel Seminar - This is an experience--and what an experience!  Open only to Melton students, graduates and their adult family members.  There are seminar opportunites throughout the year that enable you to tour Israel as well as study Jewish texts with accomplished scholars.  Moreover, you'll meet and mingle with Melton students and graduates from all over the United States--as dynamic and engergizing a bunch as you're ever likely to meet.  For more information, contact Haim Aronovitz at (877) 729-2805 or locally contact Cyndee Levy at (314) 442-3754.

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Registration and Tuition Information 2007-2008

Discounts
You may choose one of the discounts for which you are eligible.

Spousal Discounts (for couples enrolled in the same course)
$100 per year for one spouse

Teacher Discounts (Teacher must be on faculty roster of a Jewish school)
TCP:             40% per school year
Non-TCP:     30% per school year

Teachers may be eligible for additional subsidies from their schools.

Jewish Federation Beneficiary Agency Employees
20% discount on tuition of qualifying courses for employees of:
Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Saul Brodsky Library, St. Louis Jewish Light, Jewish Community Relations Council, St. Louis Holocaust Museum, Jewish Community Center, Hillel, Jewish Center for the Aged, MERS-Goodwill.
Financial Aid
Confidential need-based scholarships are available. The Jewish Federation campaign subsidizes all Melton and CAJL courses.

Payment Information

  • Credit card payments will be accepted for full payment due at registration OR 2 installment payments due at registration and by February 1, 2009. 
  • Payments by multiple installments will be taken by cash or check.
  • Payment schedules can be arranged for quarterly (4 installments) or monthly (10 installments).
  • Initial installments must be made at registration and payment schedule must be arranged at that time.
  • Tax-deductible contribution to the program are graciously accepted to subsidize community sponsored students.

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Location and Class Schedule

LOCATION COURSE
CAJE  
12 Millstone Campus Drive YEAR 1 and YEAR 2
 

Tuesday Morning 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Class begins on Sept. 9

  Wednesday Evening 7-9 p.m.
Class begins on Sept. 10
   
CONGREGATION SHAARE EMETH  
11645 Ladue Road YEAR 1
  Monday Morning 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Class begins on Sept. 8
   
UNITED HEBREW CONGREGATION  
13788 Conway Road YEAR 1
  Sunday Morning 9-11 a.m.
Class begins on Sept. 7

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Questions and Answers

What is the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School?

  • A place where you and fellow adult can learn the basics of Judaism
  • A place to get answers to the Jewish questions you've always puzzled over
  • A place for free-wheeling, uninhibited conversation about topics that really matter
  • A place where your views will always be respected, and accorded the dignity they deserve
  • A place that believes – and proves – that it’s never too late to begin Jewish study

What does Melton do?

  • Helps you understand what’s special, unique, distinctive about being Jewish
  • Helps you fathom the boundless riches of the Judaic heritage
  • Makes sense of what “being Jewish” is all about

Who is Melton for?

  • Anyone who’s ever asked, “Can being Jewish make a difference in my life?”
  • Anyone who’d like to join the world’s longest-running and most scintillating conversation
  • Anyone who wants to feel more comfortable with the classic works of Jewish literature
  • Anyone who enjoys mind-stretching and brain-building
  • Anyone who craves the fellowship of other serious knowledge-seekers
  • Anyone who’s tired of the glib platitudes that often pass for wisdom in today’s world, and yearns for more serious – and more satisfying fare

Where is Melton?

  • Internationally, in over 65 cities
  • Locally, at the Central Agency for Jewish Education, 12 Millstone Campus Drive

About Our Local Site

  • Began in 1989
  • A two-year curriculum, 30 weeks each year
  • Two courses each year:
          1st year, Rhythms and Purposes
          2nd year, Dramas and Ethic
  • All course materials provided
  • Morning and evening classes available
    No homework, no tests
  • All classes recorded for your convenience
  • 700 graduates

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Our Students Say...

- "These two years of adult education have been among the most rewarding of my entire educational career."  

- "I now find myself thirsty for more information - wanting to study, challenge, analyze, discuss even further."

- "It has been a gift to study with teachers I respect."

- "I am a better person because of what I learned at Melton."

- "Melton has been a life-changing experience for me and my family."

- "It is incredible how much you can get out of a class."

- "Text based classes - a phenomenal way to study, discuss and interpret."

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Links

www.fmams.org.il  

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Snow Schedule and School Closing

OVERNIGHT SNOW FALL

When Parkway schools are closed due to snow or ice,
then morning Melton Mini-School is closed.

DAYTIME SNOW FALL

School closing will be decided by 4:00 p.m.

Cancellation announcements will be made on the following stations,
as well as, the CAJE School Closing phone line and on this website:
TV Channels: 2, 4, 5, 30
Radio Stations: KMOX 1120 AM

CAJE School Closing Phone Line: (314) 442-3775

Melton Mini-School closing will be referred to as the"CAJE Adult Education Evening Classes" and "CAJE Adult Education Morning Classes."

Efforts will be made to call program participants about school and class cancellations.

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