Raleigh Graduation Reception
Raleigh Greenway Path
Raleigh Skyline

September 11th takes on new meaning

Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina and home to 240,000 people, is the largest city in the metropolitan area known as the Triangle. Raleigh has been called the "park with a city in it" because of its award-winning parks, greenways system, and open space spread throughout the city. The Capital Area Greenway is a system of public recreation trails located along rivers, creeks, and streams that connect many of Raleigh's parks.

The Raleigh Jewish community is relatively small, consisting of approximately 5,000 people or 1,500 families, and quite transient. Only a small percentage of the Jewish families in Raleigh have been there longer than one generation. About half of these families are affiliated with one of the four area synagogues.

In 2001, three women from the Raleigh Jewish community heard about FMAMS at the General Assembly and felt their community was ready for the school. They brought the idea to the Federation and while the Federation thought it would be a nice thing to have, was unable to fund the program. The grassroots organizers had tremendous spirit and amassed sufficient funding to start the school. The Mini-School opened on September 11, 2001, an auspicious day -- needless to say.

The Mini-School has a presence everywhere in the community. It is one of the few programs which attracts students from each of the four synagogues in the Raleigh area. At Purim, Melton students have put on plays, and they are present en masse at Hanukah and Yom Ha'atzmau'ut celebrations at the JCC. Just about everyone on the Federation board and staff are either currently enrolled in Melton or have recently graduated. Each of the synagogue religious school directors have graduated from Melton as well.

"Melton has made a monumental impact on Adult Jewish learning in the Raleigh-Cary area," says Judah Segal, Executive Director of the Raleigh Cary Jewish Federation. "It has become in vogue to be in a Melton class and it is not uncommon for a cocktail party discussion to be about a Melton lesson. Jewish learning and Jewish issues have become a more common part of Jewish decision making."

"Are you taking Melton?" is a commonly heard question around town these days. In a nutshell, Raleigh's Jewish community has been inspired and motivated with Melton joining the adult education options. There is an excitement about Jewish learning that never existed before. The "push" for adult education in the community is stronger than ever.

The teachers include a (non-pulpit) Rabbi and an Israeli tour guide who excels in history. Both are very young and incredibly knowledgeable. We're pleased that 45 students will start Year 1, 40 will continue in Year 2 and 44 just graduated with over 30 continuing in the graduate classes.

The students range from stay-at-home moms, working men and women, and retired folk. Their ages range from the twenties to the eighties. What is most amazing is the consistent attendance at the Raleigh-Cary Melton school. It is clear that many of the students have made Melton a priority in their lives and move other appointments around in order to accommodate their Melton schedule.

Every year there is a Havdallah which is very well attended. Raleigh also hosts one of two community wide "Taste of Melton" classes as well as several smaller and less formal class get-togethers. This year, one of their teachers became engaged to be married and a couple, who are second year students, hosted an all Melton engagement party at their restaurant.

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