Over a month, Over the moon

By Angela Gluck Wood, London, UK

The Faculty Seminar was without a doubt the most potent of my experiences as a Melton teacher-and ranks with the most engaging sessions of Jewish learning.

You know how it often is with conferences and courses that you enjoy: they worked well, they end on a high and you're glad you were there-really you are-but then you get caught up in all the returning rituals and routines and, without realising it, some of the learning starts to get lost.

Not with the Faculty Seminar on Har HaTzofim just over a month ago. I'm still buzzing with all that I gained from it and what I learned has become part of me. I'm the better for it and that means my Melton students will be better off.

Looking back, there are many clues to its success. It was beautifully organised and ran smoothly, with lots of attention to detail. As participants from several countries, we had a wealth of expertise and experience to share and, between us, represented a range of perspectives. That was stimulating in itself. The subject matter was vast and we found ourselves changing gear many times-which kept us very much on our toes.

Above and beyond all that, there are two other aspects that make this a literally out-standing phenomenon. One was the sheer quality of the presenters-it was both humbling and ennobling to sit at the feet of so many 'Abba Ebans' of Jewish education. They were not just knowledgeable and articulate: they were truly inspirational.

The other aspect that makes it especially memorable was the strong focus on identification and empathy, on both questions and quest. There were songs and stories, for example, and wonderful tiyulim that made stones speak.

It was over a month ago-and I'm still over the moon!

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