Reality Exceeds Expectations

Judy Meltzer FMAMS Director Baltimore, MD	Baltimore, MD

Baltimore is a city on the water which boasts an appealing inner harbor, replete with shops and restaurants. The ethnic makeup of Baltimore includes Greeks, Italians, Polish, Irish and others. There are several well-known museums and theaters, Johns Hopkins University and Hospital. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Baltimore Opera Company receives accolades each year.

The Jewish Community in Baltimore is unique owing primarily to restrictive covenants that no longer exist. Jews could not buy homes in certain areas, therefore they congregated in Northwest Baltimore in what has become known as the "Golden Ghetto". One of the major streets is known as "La Vie De Les Shules" because there are so many synagogues located within a couple of miles.

"Our Federation is very active and very successful," says Judy Meltzer, Director of the Baltimore FMAMS. "All the synagogues and Jewish Agencies plan and promote throughout the year, with some cooperative programming amongst the synagogues." Judy has a masters degree in Jewish Studies and came to this position following 18 years as Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Continuing Education at Baltimore Hebrew University.

"The Baltimore Jewish community now bears the imprint of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School," says Rabbi Joel H. Zaiman, Director of the Sponsoring Agency. " Serious adult learners know that Melton is the place to be." The Mini-School came to Baltimore because of Rabbi Zaiman's determination to seek out the best in Jewish Education. "Rabbi Zaiman's persuasiveness made it possible for us to begin a FMAMS in a synagogue and to maintain it as a totally pluralistic operation," says Judy. "Our expectations were, in retrospect, rather modest, and it's wonderful to see how the reality has exceeded our expectations."

There are 10 classes averaging 25 students of all ages. The faculty consists of Rabbis, teachers, a mathematician, and a retired school principal. For the past two years, the students at FMAMS have made a Hannukah gift to the New Song Health Center - a medical clinic located in a poor area section of Baltimore. Through the generosity of Melton students, New Song has purchased examining room lights, otoscopes and opthalmoscopes plus donated extra money to help the clinic in their good work.

"In over 30 years in Adult learning, I have never encountered a curriculum or school as superb as the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School," says Judy. "It is a great privilege to work with my Melton colleagues, my faculty, who are the best, and my amazing students."

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