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Graduation
Highlights
Nashville, Austin,
Buffalo
June 2003
Nashville
Graduation
by Janette Silverman
Nashville Mini-School Director
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Nashville
Graduation Photo
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Nashville's
Florence Melton Adult Mini-School's first graduation was a
huge success. We used the event to provide another study opportunity
for our graduates along with dinner, and invited Dr. Rachel
Dulin of Spertus Institute in Chicago to facilitate a discussion
about "Politics in the Bible", which was met with
great enthusiasm. Following the dinner and study, our guests
arrived - serenaded by Nashville's klezmer music sensation:
the Klezmer Kids. Following remarks by our Melton teacher,
Dr. Shai Cherry, Dr. Dulin provided a thought provoking study
and discussion for the larger group about Israel and the tie
of the land for us as Jews. Federation Executive Director,
Steve Edelstein became our official photographer.
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Austin
Graduation Speech
by
Neena Husid
Austin-based freelance writer
Jewish benchmark celebrations usually begin with a meaningful
quote from our sages. That said, you should know I don't intend
to interject one. For weeks and weeks we've used our forefather's
and, on the extremely rare occasion, our foremother's intellectual
output to fuel our conclusions about ethical, spiritual and
religious dilemmas. As well, we've used our history, and it's
origami of interpretations to move and inspire us. But tonight,
as a Melton grad -- and as the classmate bamboozled into being
the 'Monday night class' spokesperson -- I decided to depend
upon my own sagacity to frame this speech.
Yet,
as I struggled to create the perfect maxim to define our time
as students I found myself paraphrasing classmate Steve Gerson
who, on the last evening we gathered, did some borrowing of
his own from the Grateful Dead's late Jerry Garcia. "What
a long strange trip its been" Steve said, referring to
the epic of our people.
Certainly,
our trip as students hasn't been as long as the 5,000 year
plus Jewish journey. But, relative to the already jammed schedules
and multi-obligated lives of the adults who signed on for
this educational excursion, the voyage has been time-consuming
and arduous. Try to convince any of the working parents with
homework aged, hungry children who needed sitters to stay
while they traversed the distance to the J, the hike wasn't
long and uphill. As for the weirdness of the course content,
navigate the infamous tangle of Route R. After wrestling with
Radak, Rambam, Ramban, Ramchi, Rashi, Rav and Ridbaz the sometimes
strangeness of our scenery will become evident.
Already,
I've declined the wisdom of scholars and appropriated hippie
lyrics to elucidate what I believe to be the lessons of Melton.
So my next trick, using a cliché to expand on our classroom
adventure, won't surprise you. But it turns out that while
trite, it's true. It isn't about the destination near as much
as it is about the path chosen, and about those who accompany
you on that trail.
During
our two year adventure we've stopped at sites so breathtaking,
sunset over the Grand Canyon diminishes in comparison. Our
groups relentless and awe-inspiring discussion over the personal
flask of water one should drink to save their own life rather
than the life of their companion continues still. Our heated
conversation dealing with the proper care of indigents and
how exactly to administer needed aid was reminiscent of a
sweaty, bumpy bus ride with final delightful arrival at the
perfect azure sea. And our shared realization that as long
as there has been operating societies there has been gross
abuse and anti-Semitism was almost as grim and haunting as
a pilgrimage to the crematoria themselves.
Then
there were our Sherpas -- the expert guides and teachers who
led us through this journey as if vast Jewish knowledge and
resources where sewn into their genetic intellectual code.
They managed to get most of us, if not all, to a higher altitude
of thought where we became more mindful of each reasoning
breath we took. Expansive, funny, sincere, challenging, encouraging,
memorable, humane -- Dana, Neil, Zilla, Alan --- your made
the long trip worthwhile and stranger than it would have been
with just any ol' teachers. You led and you learned with us
too. You allowed us to witness ourselves not as remedial adults
in need of a refresher course, but as seekers in the true
Jewish way of questioning, questioning and questioning.
Honestly,
a childish nostalgia pushed me toward the Melton School. After
signing on, I gleefully anticipated being the annoying class
clown amidst the serious academic swirl of easily peeved Type
A personalities. Instead, I found myself adrift in the middle
of a wondrous expedition with fascinating and resourceful
companions. If they hadn't done and seen it all, they always
knew of someone who had. What our group brought to the class
in combined experience enlivened and informed every classroom
session. Resonating stories abounded about personal quests,
family sagas and religious indoctrination. Tales of repressive
Jewish upbringings; lax spiritual guidance; revealed Jewish
roots; decisions to convert, or not, all conspired to make
the strangeness of our trip meaningful in its unique oddness.
Still,
the sharing of a virtual cyclone of life-cycle happenings
over our time together -- and the support, caring and interest
-- with which we meet each of these events may be the best
recommendation yet for throwing together such a disparate
jumble of grown-ups. Our class saw and felt what we studied
-- birth, death, divorce, adoption, career shifts, ethical
dilemmas, economic downturns, an upsurge in anti-Semitism,
war and even the far-flung possibility of peace. Together,
we dissected Zionism, we mourned terror victims and we prayed
for the safe return of one another and of our closest family
and friends during their time in Israel. And there are simchas
to share on the horizon too -- a wedding, an adult Bar Mitzvah
and hopefully a much class-supported commitment ceremony too.
We
teased, we jostled, we interrupted but mostly we listened,
we sympathized and we learned. And I thank you for giving
me, one -- not the only one -- of the nosiest members of the
group the chance to journey with such rare and astonishing
fellow travelers.
Of
course no trip would be complete without it's sponsors. I'd
like to thank the J, and it's superlative staff and board
of directors for having the vision to bring this unique adult
educational program into our community. And to Aliza -- not
only did she give us 5,000 years as promised, she also rewarded
us with a long, strange trip of our very own.
Say
not, "When I have leisure I will study." Perhaps
you will never have the leisure. Mishnah
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Buffalo
Graduation Speech
by
Jordana Halpern Geist
Class of 2003
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Buffalo
Graduates 2003 |
Two
years ago I signed up for Melton. It was a bit of a whim. Leslie
Shuman Kramer had been talking to me about the course in glowing
terms. I had also started to get involved with projects at the
Bureau of Jewish Education and liked the people there. And then
one day, when my two sons, Jered and Benjamin – who I
often refer to as the first Jewish Vikings – were making
an extraordinary amount of noise, I thought – two and
a half hours a week to sit and think and learn about being Jewish,
away from the home – that’s a good idea. So I called
Evie and signed up.
It
turned out to be one of the better whims I’ve had. Being
part of Melton has truly been an experience of a lifetime.
Those two and a half hours every week have been an enormously
satisfying escape to a place of learning, where my brain is
challenged and where I’ve gained a better understanding
of what it means for me to be Jewish.
Part of my love for Melton has to do with the people with
whom I have been honored to share this experience. Amy Stromberg
calls us her Sunday School Friends. We all come from different
cities, backgrounds, affiliations and homes, and this has
added many different perspectives and traditions which have
been woven into the rich tapestry of our learning. When various
streams of Judaism meld ideas together, the results are quite
remarkable.
Over
the last two years we have studied the Rhythms, Purposes,
Ethics and Dramas of Jewish living. Each week we bandy about
ideas, contribute our perspectives, perceptions, and occasional
revelations. We are given such generous space to speculate
and figure things out that truly wonderful things happen.
We have gained new insights into things we thought we already
knew.
We
are so fortunate to have been guided through these two years
by Dr. Gerry Berkowitz, Gail Stolivitsky and Rabbi Mordechai
Friedfertig – three learned individuals who added color
and dimension to Jewish history and thought. As scholars,
they are the best and as teachers they are kind, open-minded
and patient. They are all great facilitators of great discussions,
and they have been so generous in their sharing of personal
stories and reflections that add so much to our understanding.
A
bit of history: The Melton program was developed by a team
of scholars and educators at the Melton Center for Jewish
Education of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and began
offering the program in 1988. It came to Buffalo 1997 at the
recommendation of a Continuity committee, with support from
the Jewish Federation. Since that time, it has been administered
by the Bureau of Jewish Education, under the brilliant direction
of Evie Weinstein. Our graduating class is part of 4600 learners
in 57 cities in the United States, Canada, Australia and the
United Kingdom.
The
program has become a vital part of our community services
and I think that as a community we should be very proud of
how Evie has developed and sustained it. Thank you also to
the Bureau of Jewish Education and of course, Cantor Mark
Horowitz, Mindy Ponivas and Rita Goldman. So popular and great
is the demand for this course by former graduates, that a
new Melton component on Islam has been developed, which begins
Sept. 7th and runs for eight weeks. Anyone here who is interested
in taking this course, or beginning the two-year Melton program
should speak to Evie as soon as possible.
For
those who have graduated, let’s not forget our obligation
to spread the word. Since biblical times, word of mouth has
always worked very well for our people, and it’s still
one of the best ways to promote the program. Tell your friends
and family about Melton and encourage them to discover this
precious secret. Remember to tell them there’s no homework
or assignments – most people are much more interested
after they know that part.
Before
I sit down, I want to share some comments from our class.
Dorothy
Golden wrote: Listening to the carefully prepared lessons
of our astute teachers and hearing the thoughts and opinions
of my fellow students raised my spirits and warmed my heart.
The history and ethics lessons gave me a clear picture of
where I came from and gave me a clearer picture of where I
should go. I felt cared about and nurtured.
Amy
Stromberg wrote: Melton is a place in my heart. The Sunday
mornings of the last two years have connected me to the Jewish
people in time and in space. By curriculum and study method,
I am joined to our people of the past few thousand years and
have moved along on a journey of trying to understand the
astonishing variety of our experiences and viewpoints throughout
our common history. By starting on this journey with our class,
I am embraced by the astonishing variety of our more recent
experiences and the values and attitudes of people I have
grown to respect and love. I can't wait to see what's coming
next!
A
few months ago, at the first Melton Alumni Event, Anne Holland
Cohen, a Melton graduate, said that she hasn’t had a
decent thought on a Sunday since completing the program. It’s
a real worry of mine as well.
I
think I can safely say that our class has truly enjoyed studying
together and getting to know each other. Over the last two
years we must have asked 1000 questions. We’ve laughed
together, and we have even cried together.
Like
many of you, I will truly miss Melton. I will miss the fabulous
recipes that Phyllis brings every week. I will miss getting
in trouble for talking in class with Amy and Robin. I will
miss the kindness of Florence and Dorothy who let me share
their books when I forgot mine. I will miss Carol and Brian
and Carol and Irwin and Sandy and David and Gert and Sam and
Frank and Hallie and Sherry.
I
hope we’ll have a chance to study together again sometime
soon.
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