The Conejo West Valley Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning welcomes you.
Learn with us and discover unique conversation and community.
Melton is where you come for the learning and stay for the community.
FOR THOSE SEEKING A MORE MEANINGFUL JEWISH LIFE
Join the Great Jewish Conversation. Discover other wisdom seekers. Experience learning with Melton.
Our Purpose: Melton engages learners in a life-enhancing study of Jewish texts and ideas that nurtures and deepens the Jewish community locally and worldwide.
What You Can Expect:
• An Engaging Curriculum: Developed by insightful scholars, taught by highly-skilled local educators, and reviewed by experts at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
• Interactive Classes: We encourage open dialogue and discussion between learners and educators as we approach every topic with curiosity and sincerity.
• Wisdom For Life: We make Jewish texts and ideas accessible, inspirational, and enriching for all learners.
• Jewish Community: Through Melton, you become part of a worldwide movement of learners that spans many continents. Our online learning and travel seminars create meaningful connections.
Reserve your space today! Register online now. Contact Pamela Rooks, Melton Director at pamela@templeetzchaim.org for more information about classes, or to get help with questions or payment concerns.
The Melton School offers a Foundations of Jewish Family Living course for parents and grandparents. Let us know of your interest. Never Stop Learning, Never Stop Growing.
ARE YOU SEEKING A MORE MEANINGFUL JEWISH LIFE?
Reserve your space today! Register online now. Contact Pamela Rooks, Melton Director at pamela@templeetzchaim.org for more information about classes, or to get help with questions or payment concerns.
engage in GREAT CONVERSATIONs AND forge DEEP CONNECTIONS.
Registration is now open for spring 2025 classes beginning april 1, 2025
*living wisdom: year of discovery begins march 23, 2025 Register today!
members of the tribe/ 6 sunday mornings/ 10am-11:30am / march 23, 30, April 6, 27, may 4, 18
in-person at temple etz chaim in thousand oaks and via zoom with Benzy kogen and michael raileanu $210 / includes user-friendly melton e-book / melton paper book extra NO HOMEWORK. GREAT CONVERSATION!
Dive deep into a fundamental, challenging question: “What is the overarching purpose of living Jewishly?” We’ll discuss the responsibilities, pressures, and misconceptions that come with being called “the Chosen People.” Together, we’ll learn the meanings behind rituals like kashrut, symbols like mezuzah, and why Israel matters so much. A deeper understanding of “the Tribe” informs and enriches both the nation’s collective actions as well as individual responses to life’s big questions.
Click to register for classes. https://tec-to.org/melton-registration
*Beyond Borders: The History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict Part 2 10 TUESDAY mornings / 9:30 AM -11:30AM April 1, 8, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 10, 17 Via zoom / With benzy kogen $360 includes user-friendly melton e-book / melton paper book extra
Explore the complexities of the past half-century of the Arab-Israeli conflict, from the War of Attrition, that began post-1967, to present tensions. Analyzing newspaper articles, speeches, poems, photographs, and maps, we will trace the more recent history of this entrenched struggle. How did we get from 1973’s Yom Kippur War to the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty? What was the value of the Oslo Accords? What has been the impact of more contemporary peace attempts? Together, we’ll leap into these complex topics, probing why a lasting peace between Israel and the Arab world has been so elusive and what developments might be next.
*Timeless Wisdom: the Books of Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, and Song of Songs 10 Wednesday mornings / 9:30 – 11:00 am April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18, 25 Via zoom / with Rabbi Shana leon $340 includes user-friendly melton e-book / melton paper book extra
Delve into the mysteries of these ancient scrolls as they muse over the meaning of life, describe national suffering, and depict the power of love. In this 10-part course, selections of these biblical texts will be examined through the lens of commentaries—ancient and contemporary—as they uncover and untangle the complex and everlasting messages about our relationship to the Divine, Humanity and everyday life.
*Jewish Storytelling Isn’t Child’s Play 6 Wednesday mornings, 10:00-11:30am Via zoom / with Jordanna flores April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28 $210
A cow in the house, feathers in the air and a cracked diamond. Together we will examine stories from our tradition and the values these stories teach us, deepening our understanding of their messages by engaging with commentary both ancient and modern. While looking at how these stories have manifested throughout Jewish history and culture, we will explore concepts such as Gratitude, The Power of the Mindset, Wit, Education, Tzedakah & Communal Responsibility, and Deeds vs. Actions, all the while asking, Where do you see yourself in this story? How does this story inform your own story? This course is designed by local faculty.
*Social Justice: The Heart of Judaism in Theory and Practice 10 thursday mornings, 9:30-11:00am Via zoom / with benzy kogen April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26 $340 includes e-book /Melton paper book extra
Confronting wrongs and instigating systemic change is no small order – but it’s an essential Jewish pursuit. This course highlights the Jewish call to action and provides a practical approach for achieving lasting change. Drawing from classic and modern texts, we’ll explore the communal connection that compels us to support the most vulnerable. While serious issues such as poverty, climate change and systemic racism may seem insurmountable, together we will discover strategies for local and global progress, providing a framework for taking a stand on issues of concern within one’s own community.
*Exploring a Forgotten World: A Social History of Medieval Jewry as Revealed in the Cairo Genizah 10 thursday mornings / 9:30 – 11:30 am April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26 via zoom / With Michael raileanu $360 includes e-book /Melton paper book extra
Discover an exotic era in Jewish history, revealing the inner thoughts of real people through the Cairo Genizah, a collection of 400,000 worn text fragments and documents buried for centuries. Interpreting evidence yields new insights into the daily interactions and behaviors of Jewish families living along the Mediterranean more than 1,000 years ago – and how similar they are to our own family dynamics, business ventures and communal concerns today. Join us for a historical journey of intrigue and adventure!
*Three Jewish Philosophers: Philo, Saadya Gaon, and Yehuda HaLevi 10 thursday evenings / 7 pm – 8:30 pm Via zoom / with Michael raileanu April 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26 $340
This course will bring together selections from the most important works by three Jewish philosophers of the Middle Ages. All students of Jewish thought should be familiar with these seminal writers: Philo, the leading writer of the Hellenistic Jewish community of Alexandria, Egypt; Saadya Gaon, known for his works on Hebrew linguistics, halakha, and Jewish philosophy; and Yehuda HaLevi, who is considered one of the greatest Hebrew poets, celebrated both for his secular and religious poems, many of which appear in our present-day liturgy. His most famous philosophical work is the Kuzari. This course is designed by local faculty.
Click here to register for classes:
https://tec-to.org/melton-registration
*Subsidies available / all interested learners are welcome. Please contact Melton Director, Pamela Rooks at pamela@templeetzchaim.org if you need assistance with registration or payment.
Melton courses include Melton eBooks. eBooks will be emailed to you before your class begins. You have the option to order a paper book for an additional cost of $50, includes shipping.
Come face-to-face with Jewish texts and discover the profound intentions that have been a part of Judaism and Jewish living from ancient times to the present day. Study the moments that have shaped our collective experience, defining who we are as a people. Journey into the heart of Jewish thought and listen to the influential voices of our ancestors, modern philosophers, theologians, and rabbis throughout the generations.
Have more questions? Need help figuring out if Melton learning is right for you?
Contact Pamela Rooks, Conejo West Valley Melton Director. Email pamela@templeetzchaim.org.
Learn the Rhythms of Jewish Living--What is the point of living Jewishly? What ideas, beliefs, and practices are involved? This course examines a wide variety of Jewish sources to discover the deeper meanings underlying Jewish holidays, life-cycle observances, and Jewish practice.
Learn the Purposes of Jewish Living--Why do Jews believe as they do? What are the big questions of life and how do Jewish thinkers answer these questions? This course explores both ancient and modern responses to many of the major issues of Jewish thought and theology.
Learn the Ethics of Jewish Living--How do Jewish teachings shed light on contemporary issues such as the environment, inter-personal relationships, end-of-life decisions, and stem cell research? This course explores the wisdom of ancient and modern rabbis, scholars, and thinkers, offering multiple Jewish approaches to conducting our lives in the communal and private spheres.
Learn the Crossroads in Jewish History--What are the lessons and dilemmas of Jewish history, from the earliest wanderings of Abraham to the modern experiment in Jewish statehood? How do the turning points in history influence our lives today? This course investigates how the Jewish past gives meaning to the Jewish present.
Travel with Melton
Explore Israel, Europe, and the Americas, gaining new insights and a deeper understanding of Jewish life, past, present, and future. Whether walking in the footsteps of our matriarchs and prophets, or grappling with major events of modern times, the learning, friendships, and beautiful memories created on a Melton Travel Seminar are simply unparalleled!.
For more information on Melton travel seminars, click here https://meltonschool.org/travel
donate locally to melton
Please consider making a donation to help subsidize learning and expand the great Jewish conversation in our community. Not everyone who wants to learn is able to pay in full. Donations are 100% tax-deductible.
*Subsidies available / all interested learners are welcome. Please contact Melton Director, Pamela Rooks at pamela@templeetzchaim.org if you need assistance with registration or payment.
Melton courses include Melton eBooks. eBooks will be emailed to you before your class begins. You have the option to order a paper book for an additional cost of $50, includes shipping.
Come face-to-face with Jewish texts and discover the profound intentions that have been a part of Judaism and Jewish living from ancient times to the present day. Study the moments that have shaped our collective experience, defining who we are as a people. Journey into the heart of Jewish thought and listen to the influential voices of our ancestors, modern philosophers, theologians, and rabbis throughout the generations.
Have more questions? Need help figuring out if Melton learning is right for you?
Contact Pamela Rooks, Conejo West Valley Melton Director. Email pamela@templeetzchaim.org.
donate locally to melton
Please consider making a donation to help subsidize learning and expand the great Jewish conversation in our community. Not everyone who wants to learn is able to pay in full. Donations are 100% tax-deductible.
Invite other members of the tribe in your community to experience Jewish Wisdom while engaging in Soulful Jewish Learning.
Never Stop Learning, Never Stop Growing
Have more questions? Need help figuring out if Melton learning is right for you? Contact Pamela Rooks, Director, by email at pamela@templeetzchaim.org.
Ask about our Foundations of Jewish Family Living Curriculum for adults who want to bring the conversation home to share with their children/grandchildren and friends. Learn the Master Stories and Jewish Values.
Please let us know if you would be interested in sponsoring Jewish Living Wisdom by emailing Melton Director Pamela Rooks at pamela@templeetzchaim.org.
Thank you for your participation in the ageless pursuit of Jewish wisdom!
Register now and experience the adventure of Jewish text-study
sign-up today; invite a friend
Everyone is welcome!
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