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(L) Melton graduating Thursday morning class. In the picture, teachers Rabbi Joel Mishkin (Rhythms), Melton Director, Rosa Mandelblum, Sue Huntting ( Purposes and Dramas) and Marden Paru (Ethics). (R) Monday Night class
The Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation’s Florence Melton Adult Mini-School handed out 27 Certificates of Jewish Learning from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem to the 2007 graduating class. The event was a wonderful culmination for the graduates who successfully completed the two-year program, which lasts 30 weeks each year.
The Thursday morning students, who met at Temple Sinai for the first 15-weeks and then Temple Beth Sholom for the second 15 weeks, received their diplomas on May 17. The Monday evening students, who met at the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation building for the entire two-year program, received their diplomas on May 21.
This year’s courses were “Dramas of Jewish Living,” taught first by Jennifer Singer and then by Sue Huntting, and “Ethics of Jewish Living,” taught by Marden Paru. “Dramas” explored the dramatic developments, experiences and issues from different periods of Jewish history, as reflected in historical texts. “Ethics” addressed the relationship between Jewish life and ethical behavior. It presented a text-based approach to Jewish ethical foundations dealing with issues such as justice, life and death, sexuality and community.
Year one classes were “The Purposes of Jewish Living,” which explores the meaning and purpose of life from a Jewish perspective was taught by Sue Huntting, and “The Rhythms of Jewish Living,” which deals with daily and cyclical Jewish experiences is taught on Thursdays by Rabbi Joel Mishkin and on Mondays by Rabbi Elaine Glickman.
Graduate Roberta Berson said, “Last year cemented what I already knew because it was all the traditions and rituals,” remarked graduate Roberta Berson. “This year was the highlight for me, just delving into the history.”
Lila Beychok-Boyer commented, “I was fascinated by the different frames of reference in terms of the course material. I am on this road now where I want to continue to study Judaism.”
“It whetted my appetite for more knowledge and more study. We got to bond as a group – it was a wonderful feeling,” said Judy Kreiss. “We would come in and it was like, ‘Hi family, how are you?’ That, too, was a great feeling.”
"I was thrilled when I received the postcard in the mail. It was exactly what I was looking for. As a cantor, I wanted to know more and the class was above and beyond my expectations." concluded Marci Vitkus.
Speech given by Marden Paru, Ethics Instructor
CONGRATULATIONS AND MAZAL TOV, MELTON GRADUATES 2007
It has been my pleasure to teach you Jewish Ethics this year;
We started down this road 30 weeks ago with a full curriculum to steer.
We studied many Torah texts, mishnayot and gemmarah excerpts
Regarding current topics informed by yesteryear’s scions and experts.
What did it all mean? What did you get out of your Melton courses?
A new way to look at Judaism? Introductory material from original sources?
Most of you admitted that your prior backgrounds were weak in content.
And now two years later you have earned the title of “being competent.”
If you still don’t know the answer to a Judaic question someone may pose,
You can sniff it out from your Melton Manual or Tanach by sticking in your nose.
You now know the pathway to being a Jewish insider.
You have earned your stripes; you are now so much wiser.
If Melton has taught you only one thing, I trust and hope it is this:
That learning never ceases and continues as a source of new bliss.
Jewish literature and culture is so rich in tradition and very erudite--
That we have to reread and restudy the basics to get it right.
I am sure you agree that your time in Melton has been well spent;
And that schlepping your heavy manual and Bible was only meant
To augment your studies and teach you the background sources
Which make up any past deficits of not having taken formal courses.
It is now up to you, what you do, with your new found knowledge.
You can continue with Melton graduate courses or establish your own college.
You can go on “Jeopardy” or some other quiz program to show off your stuff.
The one thing you won’t have to do is make up answers or bluff.
You were so smart to enroll in Melton with your commitment of time.
We congratulate you for your accomplishments which we sense were sublime.
Come back for more learning now that you are in the groove.
Judaic Studies is an art not to be found in the Louvre.
Sarasota is a small town compared to the larger communities up north,
But from Mount Sinai to Sarasota the good word still goes forth.
We trust that your experience here has been very satisfying
And that you accomplished your goal without really trying.
Chazak v’amatz, may you continue to grow in education.
We hope this is but the beginning of a wonderful part-time avocation.
A brachah auf dineh keppelah! A blessing on your head!
Be proud of your high JQ (Jewish Quotient); you are now so well-read.
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