The Melton School continues to innovate with its new series called Living Wisdom: Engaging, Soulful Jewish Learning. Each accessible six-part course has been designed for the Judeo-curious, opening doors for more learners to experience the “never stop seeking” Melton spirit.
“Living Wisdom is like a condensed master class that offers a top-notch Melton-level curriculum in a more accessible format,” says Executive Director Rabbi Rachel Bovitz. “The contemporary, open-minded approach will appeal to learners of all ages and affiliations, regardless of background or level of Jewish knowledge.”
The nine Living Wisdom courses explore timeless Jewish topics – prayer, God, holidays – with fresh eyes, quoting sources from 2nd-century sages to present-day rabbis representing diverse voices, and drawing upon each individual learner’s personal connections to history and tradition.
Courses cohere around themes such as, “OMG, Can You Believe?!” (a discursive deep dive into depictions of God and challenges to faith), ”Members of the Tribe” (a quest to discover personal meaning in being ‘chosen’), “Soul’s Cycles” (a re-visiting of ritual’s meaning to us as Jews today) and “Love, Loss and Wisdom” (a survey of Jewish ways to confront pain and healing and understand the afterlife).
Five more courses will be released in the coming year, including “Pray It Forward” (an examination of the soul’s journey to gratitude through prayer and meditation) and “It’s a Date!” (a trip around the Jewish calendar that probes concepts of history and memory).
From the Jewish approach to grappling with tragedy and death to its embrace of miracles, celebrations and life, Living Wisdom empowers communities and individuals to discover, to connect, and to know their Jewish selves as never before.
International Director Rabbi Dr. Morey Schwartz says, “Learners all over the world want to engage with big ideas but are juggling many demands on their time. Living Wisdom gives everyone a space to explore and grow at an accelerated pace that remains deep and thought-provoking.”
Organizations interested in offering Living Wisdom courses to their communities should contact Jody Litwack: [email protected]. Individuals that wish to sign up for courses directly should visit meltonschool.org/learn/melton-courses.
