Adult Ed



Congregation Sha'are Shalom's Adult Education Committee coordinates and plans a variety of exciting and innovative programs for all members of our congregation and no-members as well. We offer a number of professionally conducted seminars and lectures on topics relevant to adult Jewish needs and interests, including interfaith marriage discussion groups.

Questions concerning adult education can be directed to: adult_ed@shaareshalom.org

Current Educational Programs:

FLorence Melton Adult Mini-School Classes at Sha'are Shalom - We'll be meeting again on Wednesday nights at 7.  Rabbi Bonny will be teaching the Jewish Ethics course. Therefore, it's time to register.  You can go online and register at: http://www.pjll.org/index.php?c=168&kat=The+Florence+Melton+Adult+Mini-School. 

For those who prefer paper, you can pick up a brochure and registration form in the synagogue lobby. Classes will start the week of October 15, after the fall holidays.

Congregation Sha'are Shalom has been selected as a new site for The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School (FMAMS) of Greater Washington, sponsored by the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning. Headquartered at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School is a two-year comprehensive Jewish adult education program, which focuses on major Jewish issues, life cycle events, history, and ethics through the study of original Jewish texts. Classes are targeted towards all Jewish adults seeking to increase their knowledge and understanding of Jewish issues, and no prior coursework is required.

Melton's Four Core Courses
Melton offers four core courses as part of a two-year program of study that will enable you to build a stronger foundation in Jewish knowledge and Jewish life. Our Melton staff members are master teachers who use the Melton curriculum to engage the class in meaningful conversations about the relevance of Jewish practice and identity. Each teacher is trained to guide the class through encounters with authentic Jewish texts.

Year One Program:
- Purposes of Jewish Living explores the meaning and purpose of life from a Jewish perspective as they unfold in the Bible, the Talmud, and other sacred sources.

- Rhythms of Jewish Living examines the elements of the Jewish calendar aswell as life-cycle events that form the central ideas, beliefs, and practices that define Jewish Life.

Year Two Program:
- Ethics of Jewish Living addresses the relationship between Jewish life and ethical behavior through a text-based approach to Jewish ethical questions, dealing with issues such as justice, life and death, sexuality, and community.

- Dramas of Jewish Living looks at dramatic developments, experiences, and issues from different periods in Jewish history as reflected in historical writings throughout the ages

Optional Israel Seminar
Melton graduates are offered the opportunity to attend an optional Melton seminar in Israel with students from around the country and the world, led by professionals from the Melton School at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Programs are offered in December and June of each year. Classes will be held on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm beginning on October 18 and running through May. Tuition for the program is $800 - scholarships may be available. For more information about or to register for the program, contact Michele Zuckerman at eddirector@sha-areshalom.org or call 703.737.6500.