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Diversity of Thought and Experience
Through a variety of course offerings, the Center for Jewish Life and Learning provides enticing opportunities to explore diverse facets of Jewish thought and experience. Sometimes, the opportunities present themselves as ongoing classes available year-round. Other times, there are 10-week sessions devoted to a particular topic or area of study. The Center for Jewish Life and Learning also offers short-term "crash courses" in understanding the basics of Jewish heritage and faith.
Whatever your time commitment, intellectual interest, or study format, the Center for Jewish Life and Learning has an exciting class for you! Look at our classes and pick one, or several. You will be glad you did!
The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School
The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School is the largest adult Jewish education network in the world. The only prerequisite is a commitment to learn.
Everyone’s talking about the exciting adventure in learning known as “Melton.”
You’ve heard your friends rave about the classes and wondered what the buzz
was all about. Come see for yourselves.
- Join thousands of people around the world in this unique educational experience.
- Join dozens of fellow learners in Silicon Valley in a series of
classes at the JCC.
- Make new friendships and new intellectual and spiritual connections with Jewish education and tradition.
- Study with renowned educators from the Bay Area and learn from your
fellow students as well.
- No homework. No readings outside of class (unless you
want to).
Curriculum and Faculty
The Melton faculty is composed of superlative Jewish educators in our community. To reflect the diversity of our student population, Melton educators represent the major movements in Judaism: Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox.
Students meet one day a week throughout the academic year. There are no examinations and no homework. Text-based courses make up the core curriculum written by a team of experts at the Hebrew University's Melton Center for Jewish Education.
2010-2011 Schedule
Classes will not take place during the following weeks:
- November 22-26, 2010
- December 20-31, 2010
- January 17-21, 2011
- February 21-25, 2011
- April 18-29, 2011
- May 30-June, 2011
Melton 1st Year: Purposes & Rhythms
Purposes and Rhythms are the names of the first year Melton courses. The Purposes curriculum is an introduction to Jewish thought as the class explores 30 of the major theological and philosophical questions in Judaism. Rhythms is an exploration of the Jewish calendar, ritual objects and lifecycle events.
Fees: Members $500; Nonmembers $600
Mondays 10/4-6/27 9:30-11:45am
Instructor: Rabbi Joshua Fenton
Wednesdays 10/6-6/29 7:30-9:45pm
Instructor TBD
Foundations
A NEW curriculum for parents that provides a serious encounter with the core values of Judaism. The curriculum brings to life the master stories from our tradition and the messages they convey. This rich learning experience for adults will provide an opportunity for you to bring the Jewish conversation home to share with your young child. At a time in your family’s life when your child is beginning his or her own Jewish education, Foundations of Jewish Family Living offers you the learning, the language, and the confidence to be a teacher to your own children.
Fees: Members $325; Nonmembers $400
Tuesdays 11/9-5/10 9:00-10:30am
Instructors: Rabbi Leslie Alexander and Rabbi Joshua Fenton
Beyond Borders: Understanding the Arab-Israeli Conflict
This Scholars course provides students with a strong, text-based historical overview from the late nineteenth century through today. Course material is designed to encourage discussion and debate, and to challenge students to appreciate the basis of the conflicting historical claims made by all sides in the conflict. The complexity of the conflict forces students to grapple with issues of religion, culture, history, politics, economics, identity and survival—all reflected through primary sources, including newspaper articles, poetry, songs, government documents, speeches, photographs and memoirs. The 10-lesson course will provide students with new tools for understanding and critiquing texts and events as the conflict continues to unfold.
Fees: Members $150; Nonmembers $175
Mondays 11/8-2/7 9:30-11:00am
Instructor: Nehama Tamler
Denominations: Addressing the Challenges of Diversity
The explosion of diversity in contemporary Judaism is reflected in this fascinating study of Jewish Denominations. The course offers extensive insights into the historical and ideological development of the major movements, as well as the impact of such issues as gender, assimilation, Israel, and post-denominationalism on the movements and the Jewish people.
Fees: Members $150; Nonmembers $175
Wednesdays 11/10-2/9 7:30-9:00pm
Instructor: Rabbi Leslie Alexander
Jews in America: Insiders and Outsiders
This Scholars course provides students with the opportunity to consider the challenges of Jewish acculturation to American life, and the sacrifices as well as the contributions that have been made over the past 200 years. Lessons will explore such topics as the role of education, The Three Generation Hypothesis, Anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, the changing place of Zionism and the State of Israel, The Civil Rights Movement as a case study of distinctiveness and involvement, and other issues that address American and Jewish culture and identity. This 10-lesson course asks the question, “Is the cup half-empty or half full?” as optimists and pessimists debate the future of Jewish identity in America.
Fees: Members $150, Nonmembers $175
Mondays 2/14-5/9 9:30-11:00am
Instructor (Days): Rabbi Leslie Alexander
Wednesdays 2/16-5/11 7:30-9:00pm
Instructor (Evenings): Rabbi Joey Felsen
Teacher Enrichment Program
This 30-session seminar combines text-based learning and a professional teacher-training curriculum. The program is open only to professional Jewish educators. This program benefits not only teachers but also their students and, in the long run, the entire Jewish community. Investing in teachers as learners is investing in the future of the Jewish community.
Fees: $235
Mondays 9/13-5/23 7:30-9:00pm
Instructor: Rabbi Joshua Fenton
more information about Melton
Sages and Teachers
Speakers Series
This lecture series is open to the public--you don't have to be a JCC member to attend. For more information, contact the JCC's Center for Jewish Life & Learning at cjll@svjcc.org or 408.357.7492.
Click here for details.
Adult Education
Music of the High Holidays: Song of Repentance
A time for reflection and forgiveness, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are observed with special musical settings infused with emotion. These songs turn us inward and enhance our spiritual experience. We will hear liturgy from all branches of the Jewish community; Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrachi. This class will be taught by Mark Levy.
Fees: Members $5, Nonmembers $7
Mon 9/13 7:00-9:00am
Instructor: Mark Levy
The Bible in Art
This class will study some of the major biblical narratives through the visual arts, tracing their possible origins in ancient Near-Eastern mythologies and customs, and comparing how Jewish, Christian and Islamic artists depicted these stories in different ways throughout the ages. While the biblical texts do not change, the various interpretations that were given to the texts lead to completely different meanings over the generations, and modern artists continue and create their own personal interpretations, adding another layer of cultural meaning to the ancient myths.
Fees: Members $75, Nonmembers $100
Tue 10/12-11/2 7:00-8:30pm
Instructor: Yael Karmi
Well Versed (for Women Only)
Well Versed offers a luxurious exploration of selected texts from the Hebrew Bible that will deepen knowledge of the text and allow appreciation of the complex interplay between biblical stories and Western culture. In an intimate salon-type setting, Well Versed women engage in a close reading of biblical passages and relate them to contemporary literature, classical paintings, film clips or another art forms that share parallel themes.
No prior experience with Bible or text study is necessary, knowledge of Hebrew is not required and there is no at-home preparation. Bring a curious mind, a playful attitude, and an openness to a variety of interpretations. This group is for women from all backgrounds who have the desire to learn with and from others in a warm and welcoming environment.
Fees: Members $75, Nonmembers $100
Thu 10/14-11/4 9:30-11:30pm
Instructors: Nehama Tamler and Eileen Soffer
Jewish Humor: Nu, You Think That’s Funny?
A Century of Jewish Humor in America from Myron Cohen to Rosanne Barr, Jewish jokesters have had a disproportionate influence on 20th century American comedy. Hear and see vintage recordings and clips from vaudeville, borsht belt, TV and film and learn why and how Jews have made us laugh for a hundred years.
Fees: Members $45, Nonmembers $60
Thu 11/4-11/18 7:00-8:30pm
Instructor: Mark Levy
Novella Book Group
Don’t bite off more than you can chew and join the CJLL Novella Book Group; an informal discussion group led by San Jose State Jewish Studies Dept Coordinator Victoria Harrison. The three books to be discussed are Michael Kohlhass’s Heinrich von Kleist, Steve Stern’s North of God, and The Union Jack by Imre Kertesz.
FREE
Tues 10/5, 11/2, and 12/7 7:30-8:30pm
Instructor: Prof. Victoria Harrison
Introduction to Judaism
A course for anyone interested in exploring Judaism. We’ll explore Jewish history, ethics, holidays and the calendar, lifecycle events, and the Jewish canon and textual tradition. All materials provided. No experience necessary. All are welcome.
Rabbi Joshua Fenton
Fees: Members $55, Nonmembers $65
Mon 10/4-11/1 12:00-1:30pm
Instructor: TBD
Mon 11/8-12/13 7:00-8:30pm
Instructor: Rabbi Joshua Fenton
Hebrew Reading Crash Course
Have you always wanted to learn to read Hebrew? Have you tried, time and time again and failed? Join this 5 session course and learn to read Hebrew whether this is your first or fifth try. The Read Hebrew America is designed to give you the skills to make this effort a success.
FREE
Mon 10/4-11/1 7:00-8:30pm
Mon 11/8-12/13 12:00-1:30pm
Tue 10/5-11/2 12:00-1:30pm
Tue 11/9-12/14 7:00-8:30pm
Ongoing Classes
Musar Shmooze
Jewish Ethical Literature (Mussar), has been a guiding light to the Jewish people for centuries. Join us on Wednesdays as we explore right living, the ways in which study leads to practice, and the process of refining character. Explore the wisdom of the Chassidic Masters and discuss how the Giants of Chassidut inform our own lives today. In informal study sessions, we will investigate what the Chasidic masters have to say on a variety of topics. What is a meaningful life? Where is God in the world? All texts will be provided in English and Hebrew.
FREE
Wed ongoing 11:00am-12:15pm
Instructor: Rabbi Joshua Fenton
Thursday Torah Study: Parshat HaShavua
Classes Resume Thursday September 2, 2010
Every Thursday you are invited to a lunch and learn as we study the weekly Torah Portion. Through a close reading of the text and relevant Biblical commentaries, this class focuses on a greater understanding of the Biblical narrative and what it has to say to us today.
FREE
Thursdays, 12:30pm-1:45pm
Instructor: TBD
Our Teachers
The Center for Jewish Life and Learning’s teaching staff are among the finest Jewish educators in the Bay Area. Made up of Orthodox, Reform, and Conservative Rabbis and expertly-trained, experienced educators, our faculty is representative of our diverse student body. Our educators work hard to create opportunities and learning environments that are at the same time intellectually challenging while being open-minded and pluralistic.
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