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The
following articles about
Florence Melton Adult Mini-Schools
have been published in the media
-
Melton making a difference
New Jersey Jewish Standard
Published 30 December 2011 by Abigail Klein Leichman
JERUSALEM — It is no small task to provide fresh, accurate, and engaging adult-education material for 5,500 “wondering Jews” taking weekly classes at 49 Florence Melton Adult Mini-School locations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and now Hong Kong. The challenge is even greater because the Melton approach is trans-denominational. According to Yonatan Mirvis, director of Melton’s international headquarters at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the focus of the curriculum is the teachers. The genius of the Melton approach is that it gives us the ability to prepare courses for a teacher to make exciting for a student,” says Mirvis. “In the field of education, this is unique, as far as I know. This is the only curriculum-driven type of adult course not for professional development or credit. There are no evaluations or exams.”
-
Foundations of Jewish Family Living course offered in Colorado
Intermountain
Jewish News
Published 2 September 2011
Parents of Jewish children in Colorado will have a new opportunity this fall to enjoy adult education designed just for them.
- Exploring their Jewish lives in Portland, ME
The Portland Press Herald
Published 26 July 2011
One calls it a conversation on a local and international level. Another calls the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School curriculum transformational. Yet another calls it a safe place to be Jewish and share things about herself.
- Palm Beach, FL, Commission to start Mini-School
Palm Beach Daily News (see also TCPalm site)
Published 31 January 2011
The Lorraine & Jack N. Friedman Commission for Jewish Education of the Palm Beaches, in Florida, has announced that it plans to launch a local Florence Melton Adult Mini-School. “We are solidifying a consortium of synagogues and agencies that value Jewish education and will be our partners in bringing Melton to the greater Palm Beaches," said CJE President Norma Schulman-Waltzer. "We look forward to beginning our ‘Taste of Melton’ demonstration classes soon.”
- Education Initiative at the Jewish Museum of Australia
J-Wire, Jewish Online News from Australia and New Zealand
Published November 2010
Melbourne’s The Jewish Museum of Australia (JMA) has announced its new Adult Education Program as part of a move towards elevating education to one of its core functions…and has discontinued its Melton program. The Jewish Museum of Australia and The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, a project of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have agreed to end their partnership that brought Melton to Melbourne in 1996.This partnership will end next month.
- Pittsburgh Florence Melton graduates form alumni association
The Jewish Chronicle (Pittsburgh); article by Toby Tabachnick
Published 4 November 2010
With more than 1,000 local graduates of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School in the Pittsburgh area, starting an alumni association seemed like a logical step. So that’s what the school did. The newly formed Pittsburgh Melton Alumni Association, which consists of graduates of the program over its 16 years of existence here, will join Judaic scholar Jonty Blackman for “Dinner and Drash,” as its kickoff event, Sunday, Nov. 7
- Sue Parker Gerson Recognized for Her Work in the Denver Community
Intermountain Jewish News (Colorado); article by Andrea Jacobs
Published
22 October 2010
Our own Sue Parker Gerson was recently recognized by the Intermountain Jewish News as a VIP, and a wonderful profile on Sue and her work in the Denver community was a feature story. She speaks with both her local Melton director and her Melton Regional Director kipah. Sue describes the importance of Jewish study in a community with many options, and emphasizes the value of a Melton education. She says: "Every Jewish opportunity is a portal, and once you go through that portal, all of a sudden you're in a palace where you have all these rooms and resources. Find out more about Sue's background, how she met Bernie, and the inspiring perspective that makes this educator a VIP in her own community, and in the Melton network.
- Letter to the Editor from Judy Mars Kupchan, FMAMS North American Director
The Jewish Week (New York)
Published
26 October 2010
We are always pleased to see articles on the importance of adult Jewish learning, and the recent piece focusing on the newly packaged Context was no exception (“ A New ‘Context’ For Adult Ed,” Oct. 1). While the article included mention of learning programs that make up “the competition,” all of us engaged with the sacred work of Jewish education in any framework know that our only real competition is whatever people do when they are not learning Jewishly....
- Melton in Portland, OR, draws unaffiliated into community
Jewish Review (Portland, OR); article by Paul Haist
Published
15 October 2010
The director of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School in Portland has identified data demonstrating that participation in the Melton program can be associated with increases in Jewish engagement, leadership and philanthropy. Sarah Liebman said she found that participants in the two-year program of study increased their annual gift to the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland by 258 percent by the time they graduated from the program.
- Vancouver's Betty Nitkin is honored for her years at Melton
Jewish Independent, British Columbia, Canada; article by Olga Livshin
Published
2 July 2010
On an unusually sunny morning last month, Vancouver’s Florence Melton Adult Mini School held a double celebration – a combined 2010 graduation ceremony and a goodbye party for Betty Nitkin, the first director of the school. Although Nitkin stepped down as the director a year ago, the party in her honor was postponed until this year’s graduation. In the eyes of many Vancouver Jews, Nitkin’s name is inextricably linked with the Melton school. Her enthusiasm for adult Jewish education brought the school to the city in 2005. Nitkin came to Vancouver with her husband and children in 1968. At that time, she felt that her own Jewish education was not sufficient. “A friend asked me about celebrating Chanukah, and I told her about the candles and the miracle, but what else? There was more, and I didn’t know.... We all should know not only how to observe our holidays but why, where it all originates. We should know the history and the ethics.”
- Louisville Melton Adult Mini-School Continues to Develop New Learning Opportunities
Jewish Community of Louisville; article by Shiela Steinman Wallace
Published
19 March 2010
Through much of history, the Jewish community has nurtured and taken pride in a commitment to lifelong learning. When the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School came to Louisville in 1999, our Jewish community embraced this tradition with this robust and engaging opportunity for adult Jewish learning. With the changes in our organized Jewish community and limited resources, the program closed down for a semester last year. But Melton students are dedicated to Jewish learning and through their determination and the commitment of the Jewish Community of Louisville, the program started up again, and the class that should have completed their studies last spring celebrated that milestone with a siyyum and graduation in January. A first year class is also underway.
- Dana Horowitz Receives Achievement Award from Melton International Directors
Columbusjcc.org
Center Scene
Published
Shevat / Adar 5770
Dana Horowitz, director of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School at the JCC, received an Achievement Award and certification from the Mini-School's International Directors at their 15th annual conference in Baltimore on Dec. 6-9. Pictured here are: Dr. Yonatan Mirvis, International Director, Florence Melton Adult Mini-School; Don Katz, National Board Member; Horowitz; and Judy Mars Kupchan, Director of the Mini-School's North American Division
- "Oh did I love Melton!" - young Kansas Federation leader Kristin Shultz
Kansas City Jewish Chronicle
Published 5 March 2010
The last person in Kristin Schultz’s family before her who was Jewish was her grandfather. In 1997, Schultz and her husband participated in the Genesis program for interfaith families and found their way to Congregation Beth Shalom through a program to encourage affiliation sponsored at the time by the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. At the synagogue, Schultz began to meet other moms involved with Federation. She signed up for the Women’s Division B’not Kehillah program to learn more about what the Federation does and to explore how she might fit in. The next year, she served on the B’not Kehillah planning committee, the next year as co-chair and the next year as Women’s Division co-vice president of leadership with Lisa Schifman. Through Women’s Division, Schultz was drawn to other activities in the Jewish community. At tovkc, the Federation program for socially conscious adults in their 30s and 40s, she found an outlet for her interest in community service as chair of an arts-themed series. At the Florence Melton Adult Education Program, she expanded her social connections as well as her knowledge. “Oh, did I love Melton!” she says.
- Melton teacher is first Orthodox female rabbi
Published March 2010
Rabbah Sara Hurwitz is the first Orthodox female rabbi and is a part of the Rabbinic staff at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, an 850-family Modern Orthodox synagogue in New York. Rabbah Sara Hurwitz serves as dean of Yeshivat Mahara"t, the first Orthodox school to ordain women. She graduated from Drisha's 3-year Scholars Circle Program and studied for 5 years under the supervision of Rabbi Avi Weiss. She received a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University. She also helped create JOFA's Gender and Orthodoxy Curriculum Project. Sara has lectured at JOFA, Drisha, the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, the JCC in Manhattan, Lights in Action, CAJE, CLAL, and at various synagogues across the United States. She was named as one of the Jewish Weeks 36 under 36, as well as a "top pick" in the Forward50 most influential Jewish leaders this year.
- Outstanding FMAMS Faculty Member Appointed Head of Jewish Museum
artsHub — The Australian Arts Portal
Published 2 March 2010
The Board of the Jewish Museum of Australia is delighted to announce the appointment of brilliant young scholar and curator Rebecca Forgasz as the next Director of the Museum, only the second appointment in the Museum’s 28 year history. Over the past decade, Ms Forgasz has been Exhibitions Manager at Public Record Office Victoria, the State Government archives. Rebecca has also been a lecturer in the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, an adult education program in Jewish studies originating from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and is regularly invited to speak at community and interfaith events on Judaism, the Bible and feminist issues. “After a lengthy and extensive search we are absolutely thrilled that Rebecca has won this prized position” says Negba Weiss-Dolev, President of the Museum’s Board. “Rebecca is an experienced curator and educator with long-standing personal and academic interests in Jewish studies and feminism, who in some senses is a product of the mentoring program put in place by recently retired Director Dr Helen Light.
- Jewish Agency Names FMAMS Board Member as Its New Director General
Jewish Philanthropy
Published 28 February 2010
Alan Hoffmann, a member of the FMAMS Board of Directors, has been named Director General of the Jewish Agency. Hoffmann was responsible for the establishment of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School at The Hebrew University.
He served as the Director of the Melton Centre at The Hebrew University, The Mandel Center at Hebrew U and thereafter as Director General of the Education Department of The Jewish Agency.
- Jewish Education: Creating Sacred Space
By Rhonda Lillianthal, New Jersey Jewish News
Published January 13, 2010
MetroWest CARES, the Committee Addressing Resources for Eldercare Services, is coordinated by United Jewish Communities with support from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey; CARES brings together professionals and lay leaders from MetroWest agencies that provide services to older adults. This month’s article on the importance of Jewish education for adults is presented by the Jewish Community Center of MetroWest, which serves as a vital resource center for MetroWest Community residents from early childhood through older adults, including those with special needs. The JCC provides health & fitness, sports & recreation, aquatics, art, dance, theater, music, and social as well as Jewish education programming.
- Florence Melton Award presented to Janis Zaremba
By Barry Schwartz, The Raleigh-Cary (NC) Jewish Federation News
Published January 2010
On December 7, at the Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center outside of Baltimore, Raleigh-Cary Melton School Director Janis Zaremba was awarded the inaugural Florence Melton Award. The international award, which is accompanied by a $500 check, was presented to Janis at the Melton Directors’ Conference by Don Katz, Vice-Chair of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School Corporation. Mr. Katz said, about the school’s founder, Florence Melton, “Her traits included inventiveness and ingenuity, stick-to-itiveness and persistence, never accepting negatives or a “no” answer and always finding the positives in any project.” He went on to say, “These traits certainly apply to the inaugural winner of this award.”
- Western Massachusetts’ "Jewish Movers & Shakers 2009" List Includes Melton Director
Jewish Ledger
Published January 11, 2010
Officials at the Western Massachusetts Jewish Ledger newspaper announced the list of the region’s "Jewish Movers & Shakers for 2009". Selected by the newspaper's editors, this year's group of 11 accomplished and dedicated business professionals and community leaders are being recognized for their leadership roles and the impact they made in the Jewish community in western Massachusetts during the past year.
- Local Melton Adult Mini-School Grads Pursue Advanced Studies at Jewish Federation
South Palm Beach County
October 2008
More than 65 men and women from their 30s to their 90s spent a morning studying torah, listening to live music and singing, as they kicked off this year’s Florence Melton Adult Mini-School alumni programming. Special guest lecturer Rabbi Morey Schwartz presented, "The Book of Jonah: How Many Second Chances Do We Get?” on the campus of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County on October 7.
The Atlanta Jewish Times Online
February 2007
Ron and Lisa Brill are dedicated to adult education in Atlanta and around the world.
-
Florence
Zacks Melton businesswoman and philanthropist, dies at 95
By
Matthew Marx The Columbus Dispatch
February 2007
Florence Zacks Melton, successful inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist
and advocate for Jewish education, died tonight in Florida. She was 95.
- Florence Zacks Melton, founded Jewish schools
By Mike Clary ,South Florida Sun-Sentinel
February 2007
At the age of 70, when many of her peers were long retired,
Florence Zacks Melton sparked a revolution in Jewish adult education that
has since spread around the world.
- Remembering
Florence Melton
The great champion of Jewish education, Florence Z. Melton, passed away
last week at the age of 95.
- 10-up
for Melton in Melbourne
By
Peter Cohn, Australian Jewish News, Nov. 16, 2006
February 2007
A visit by acclaimed US-based Israeli scholar and Jewish studies educator
Dr. Zohar Raviv will be a highlight of 10th-anniversary celebrations
for the Melbourne campus of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School next
week.
- She
helped put back a 'sense of wonder' in Jewish education
By Cynthia Dettelbach, Cleveland Jewish News
February 2007
Reprinted by permission of The Cleveland Jewish News
She never graduated from high school, but her name is synonymous with systems of Jewish education used all over the world.
The Florida Jewish News Online
February 2007
At 95 years young, Florence Melton is just as intense, intelligent and outspoken as she was a quarter-century ago when her pioneering concept for a Jewish adult education program was merely a glint in her eye.
Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle
October 2006
Students enrolled at the School for Advanced Jewish Studies this year have the chance to participate in a program that is being piloted in just three cities.
Jewish Review
September 2006
Devorah Spilman recently returned from a professional development seminar at the North American headquarters of The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School in Northbrook, Ill.
Chicago Jewish Community Online, by Wendy Margolin
September 2006
Florence Melton may be a nonagenarian, but she is one of the few people–or perhaps the only person to get inside the collective Jewish teenage mind.
Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, by Barbara Bayer
July 2006
They want to know because he is an expert on Jewish mysticism, and the group of books known as The Zohar is widely considered the most important work of Kabbalah, as the tradition of Jewish mysticism is known.
Westchester Jewish Chronicle, by Hilary J. Larson
June/July 2006
Louise Gottlieb is well-educated by any standard. In her 80's, the retired hospital administrator is a lifelong learner and holds a college degree, rare for a woman of her generation.
Washington Jewish Week Online Edition, by Adam Levin
June 06
A Jewish education is often said to be a lifelong quest. With the recent founding of an alumni association for graduates of the Florence Melton Adult Mini School of Greater Washington, that journey will be able to continue on as long as the mind hungers for knowledge.
Courtesy of Washington Jewish Week. For subscriptions call 301-230-2222
The 10th graduating class of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School in Tucson was honored at Congregation Anshei Israel on May 16. Graduates complete two years of Jewish education studies.
This fall the Portland center of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School will introduce the new Florence Melton Adult Mini-School Scholars Curriculum.
In town to promote the Melton Israel Seminars, that program's director lead a text study of the land of Israel to launch Portland's Melton Mini-school lunch and learn series.
Since September 2003, the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School at SSHS has been offering educational courses for adults seeking to expand their knowledge of Jewish studies.
Portland Melton Director Bonni Goldberg received a recognition of achievement award for International Director Certification 1 during the 11th Annual Directors Conference of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School held in Jerusalem Dec. 12-17.
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