Leon Weissberg , Boca Raton, FL Mini-School
June 06 Israel Seminar
Melton Israel Seminar
I took the opportunity of two extra days after the teacher exchange program to join with the Melton seminar. The seminar is a two week program for Florence Melton Adult Mini-school participants & graduates studying texts by touching the land of Israel.
My first encounter with these 28 Melton students is on Friday night for Shabbat. To my surprise one of our Boca snowbirds was on this seminar – Cynthia Herz. Although she’s a New Yorker she has her name tag reading Boca Raton. What a great site!
We went to the Kotel but not before a wonderful discussion and preparation of Kabalat Shabbat at King David’s Tomb. A quick stroll to the Kotel provided all the participants with a very meaningful Shabbat experience. Dinner back at the Dan Panorama made for a wonderful Melton Shabbat. Each participant was asked to present their interaction with the strangers in the street to get a sense of the people. Some were invited into the homes to respond to the interview.
On Sunday I went with the bus on a “tiyul.” We went to visit Caesarea. Prior to entry into the site Chaim Haronovitz, the Melton scholar, took the opportunity to orient us about the building of Caesarea by studying various texts that mention Caesarea. It was quite a dramatic perspective to discuss elements of Post-Biblical work and its relationship to Caesarea. The participants were thoroughly engaged and seemed to be eager to interact and respond to guided questions. There is no doubt that this method of learning is outstanding. It’s difficult to forget a place that you’ve been while reading about it from our text sources. Chaim is an excellent presenter of information and has been wonderfully challenging the participants with guided questions.
I’ve spoken to a number of participants. They have each indicated how incredibly successful the program has been to date. Some of the participants had graduated many years prior but decided to join the seminar this year as a refresher and as a wonderful Israel learning experience.
This day’s visit is certainly worthwhile. On this particular day the group traveled. On previous days in Jerusalem the group went out into the neighborhoods and stopped people to ask prepared questions about being an Israeli, being a Jerusalemite. Listening to the participants relate their accounts was actually quite inspiring. They really had wonderful conversations with their interviewees that gave them a different text of Israel. One based on people in real situations discussing their real issues and concerns about the state and the land.
We visit the site of Tzipori for a revealing discussion a la Melton of what the significance of the various mosaics and synagogue components reveal. The participants are very engaging and definitely offer input into the discussion. Melton does not give answers but provides opportunities for discussing questions. The Melton program certainly has a great deal to offer an Israel experience. It’s not just visiting sites – but it’s being engaged at each site exploring what the Jewish world of the time must have been like.
The next morning in preparation for a journey to Tzfat, we engaged in an incredible discussion of Lecha Dodi, the kabbalat Shabbat perm that was written in Tzfat in the 1550’s. It was an amazing presentation of the concept of being at the lowest point Tiberius (200 meters below sea level) to the highest, Tzfat. Once again we see how the Melton program prepares the participants for an understanding of the tension Jews addressed during different periods of time.
This short trip with Melton was quite an experience. It is apparent that the participants as Melton students already have an understanding of how Melton works. Text study is an essential component of the Melton program. Needless to say, text study in Israel is a monumental approach to touring the land. Sitting in the Caro synagogue and reading some of his ideas takes learning to another dimension… and when it’s done in an engaging, meaningful, Melton way it’s extraordinary.
