Text and Thought
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Wrestling With Angels #1902
Day & Time: Thursday, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, 7 classes from 2/6 - 4/2
Tuition: Unit 2: $70
Location: Temple Emanuel, 12166 Conway Rd, St. Louis, MO 63141
Instructor(s): Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh
Number of Classes: Unit 2: 7 sessions
Class Dates: Unit 2: 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/5, 3/12, (no class 3/19 and 3/26), 4/2
Book Fee: Students should purchase Wrestling with Angels: What Genesis Teaches Us About our Spiritual Identity, Sexuality, and Personal Relationships, by Naomi H. Rosenblatt and Joshua Horwitz.
Course Description: How may the Book of Genesis speak to us today about the responsibilities of adulthood, the nature of leadership, the challenges of faith, the joys of sexuality, the role of values in building our character, and the empowerment of spiritual identity. This course will use the book, Wrestling with Angels: What Genesis Teaches Us About Our Spiritual Identity, Sexuality and Personal Relationships, by Naomi H. Rosenblatt and Joshua Horwitz, to discuss these topics and more.
Instructor Bio(s): Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh serves as rabbi at Temple Emanuel. In addition to the Center for Jewish Learning class that she teaches and hosts at Temple Emanuel, Rabbi Hersh is also one of our Melton faculty.
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Contemporary Jewish Writers #1908
Day & Time: Wednesday, 11:30 am - 1 pm, unit start dates: 2/26, 4/22
Tuition:
Unit 3: $75
Unit 4: $75
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Marcia Moskowitz
Number of Classes:
Unit 3: 5 sessions
Unit 4: 5 sessions
Class Dates:
Unit 3: 2/26, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, (snow day 4/1 if needed)
Unit 4: 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20
Book Fee: None
Course Description: This course explores contemporary Jewish writers’ perspectives on the characters and themes of modern society. Among our works this year will be novels by American writers Philip Roth, Michael Chabon, Nathan Englander, and Israeli writers Ayelet Gundar-Goshen and Amos Oz. Note: Each unit will stand on its own, so you may sign up for any or all.
Instructor Bio(s): Marcia Moskowitz spent 25 years teaching Advanced Placement English at Parkway West High School. Since retiring, she has led numerous classes on Jewish literature at Congregation Shaare Emeth and the Center for Jewish Learning. Marcia once again brings her expertise to the classroom this year with her extremely popular Contemporary Jewish Writers course.
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Searching for Meaning in the Great Stories of Our Tradition: Lunch and Learn #1909
Day & Time: 3rd Tuesday of the month, noon - 1:30 pm, from 1/21 - 7/21
Tuition: $15 per class
Location: Home of Cyndee Levy (address provided after registration)
Instructor(s): Cyndee Levy
Number of Classes: 7
Class Dates: 1/21, 2/18, 3/17, 4/21, 5/19, 6/16, 7/21
Book Fee: None
Course Description: Our discussions will focus on uncovering the hidden wisdom in stories from the Bible, narrative selections from the Talmud, as well as historic and contemporary Jewish commentary. A light kosher dairy lunch will be served at each session (reservations required).
Instructor Bio(s): Cyndee Levy is the Director of the Center for Jewish Learning at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library. She is a certified facilitator of Mussar. Her students enjoy the breadth of her Jewish knowledge, her personable style, and extraordinary culinary skills.
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Jewish Mystical Tales #1910
Day & Time: Thursday, 7 - 8:30 pm, unit 2 from 2/20 - 3/26
Tuition: $90
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Dr. Howard Schwartz
Number of Classes: Unit 2: 6 sessions
Class Dates: Unit 2: 2/20, 2/27, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2 (snow day if needed)
Book Fee: Gabriel’s Palace: Jewish Mystical Tales will be available for purchase at a discounted rate (if minimum threshold reached).
Course Description: Using texts from Gabriel’s Palace: Jewish Mystical Tales, selected and retold by Howard Schwartz, we will read and discuss stories of the Hasidic masters. New students welcome.
Instructor Bio(s): Dr. Howard Schwartz is Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and an internationally celebrated and award-winning writer and poet. He won the National Jewish Book Award three times and was also a winner of the Koret Jewish Book Award. He has written and edited dozens of works in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
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Interfaith Voices #1924
Day & Time: Thursdays with one Tuesday, 7 - 8:30 pm/9 pm
Tuition: $10 per class or $35 for the series
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Mufti Asif Umar, Pastor Trey Herweck, Maharat Rori Picker Neiss
Number of Classes: 4
Class Dates:
Thursday, 2/13, 7 - 9 pm
Tuesday, 2/18, 7 - 8:30 pm
Thursday, 2/27, 7 - 8:30 pm
Thursday, 3/5, 7 - 8:30 pm
Book Fee: None
Course Description:
Faith Roundtable: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam | Thursday 2/13
Mufti Asif Umar, Pastor Trey Herweck, and Maharat Rori Picker Neiss will open this series with an overview of their respective religious traditions through the questions: Where did we come from and who are we? What went wrong? How can we fix it? (Based on questions from the book, Now How Shall We Live, by Charles W. Colson and Nancy Pearcey).
Our presenters will then share their approach to scriptural interpretation and practice on the theme of hospitality and welcoming guests in three individual sessions:
Greater than Receiving the Presence of God: Welcoming Guests in Jewish Tradition | Tuesday 2/18
Maharat Rori Picker Neiss
Love Thy Neighbor: Christian Scripture on Hospitality | Thursday 2/27
Pastor Trey Herweck
Honor Thy Guests: The Great Tradition of Hospitality in Islam | Thursday 3/5
Mufti Asir Umar
Instructor Bio(s):
Mufti Asif Umar is Imam of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis.
Pastor Trey Herweck is lead Pastor and Elder of Refuge Church, St. Charles.
Maharat Rori Picker Neiss is Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis.
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Ezekiel: Voice of Exile, Architect of Restoration #1925
Day & Time: Tuesday, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, from 5/5 - 5/26
Tuition: $40
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Rabbi Lane Steinger
Number of Classes: 4
Class Dates: 5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26
Book Fee: None
Course Description: Ezekiel was a Kohen (priest) and a prophet who was active during the Babylonian exile. He envisioned the return of the people of Israel to the land of Israel, and his expectations and vision inspired the nationalists in Babylon and heartened Jews through the ages. We will read and interpret selections from the writings of this extraordinary prophet.
Instructor Bio(s): Rabbi Lane Steinger is Emeritus Rabbi of Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Community. A native of St. Louis, he formerly served as Regional Director of the Midwest Council, Union for Reform Judaism, and as a congregational rabbi in Michigan and Pennsylvania.
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Speech Ethics: Classic Jewish Thought on a Timely Subject #1926
Day & Time: Monday, noon - 1 pm, from 2/24 - 3/23
Tuition: $50
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Rabbi Seth Gordon
Number of Classes: 5
Class Dates: 2/24, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23
Book Fee: None
Course Description: The issues around proper and improper speech are as relevant in our times as they have always been. We will explore classic Jewish texts on this important topic.
Instructor Bio(s): Rabbi Seth Gordon is the Rabbi of Traditional Congregation. He was a co-founder of Aleph-Bet Jewish Day School in Annapolis, Maryland, and founder of the African-American Jewish Coalition of Anne Arundel County (Annapolis). He received his rabbinic ordination from Rav David Weiss Halivni in 1994 and has served on medical ethics committees.
Spirituality And Practice
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Harnessing the Imagination: Guided Imagery Through a Jewish Lens #1930
Day & Time: Monday 7 - 8:15 pm, from 4/20 - 5/11
Tuition: $50
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Carol Rose
Number of Classes: 4
Class Dates: 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, 5/11
Book Fee: None
Course Description: Imagery is a type of meditative and insight work based on Kabbalistic, Biblical, and liturgical sources. It is a method that combines the use of psychological and mystical teaching to help participants develop a practice suited to contemporary needs.
Instructor Bio(s): Carol Rose is a writer, spiritual counselor, and educator. She holds an MA in Theology, as well as degrees in Religion and Cross Cultural Studies. She received certification as Mashpi’ah (Spiritual Director) and Maggid (Preacher) from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and trained with psychologist, Madame Colette Aboulker-Muscat in the use of mental imagery techniques for healing, self-awareness, and personal growth. Carol’s poetry and essays appear in literary journals and anthologies in the United States, Canada, and Israel.
Hebrew Language
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Biblical Hebrew: Translating and Discussing the Book of Joshua #1912
Day & Time: Monday, 10 - 11:30 am, unit 2 from 1/27 - 4/6
Tuition: Unit 2: $150
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Rabbi Shulamit Cenker
Number of Classes: Unit 2: 10 sessions
Class Dates: Unit 2: 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, (no class 2/17), 2/24, 3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30, 4/6
Book Fee: None
Course Description: In this upper level Biblical Hebrew course, students will translate and discuss the meaning of passages from the Book of Joshua.
Instructor Bio(s): Rabbi Shulamit Cenker joined the St. Louis community in 2016 after graduating from the Hebrew Seminary of the Deaf and Hearing in Skokie, Illinois, and completing a post-ordination year of learning at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. She serves as a visiting rabbi with Agudas Achim Beth Israel congregation in Belleville, Illinois, and is a community activist.
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Conversational Modern Hebrew - First Level #1914
Day & Time: Tuesday, 6:30 - 7:30 pm, 8 classes from 1/7 - 2/25
Tuition: Unit 2: $80
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Ariel Kielmanowicz
Number of Classes: Unit 2: 8 sessions
Class Dates: Unit 2: 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25
Book Fee: None
Course Description: Students will acquire the necessary vocabulary and grammar for basic conversation and reading of Modern Hebrew. Students will read; listen to stories, songs, and dialogues; and participate in guided class discussions. Students must be able to read and pronounce Hebrew letters and words.
Instructor Bio(s): Ariel Kielmanowicz was born in Israel and grew up on a Kibbutz. He has an MA in the Social Sciences with a specialization in Organizational Behavior. Before his recent family moved to St. Louis, he worked for the Office of the Prime Minister in Israel. He speaks Hebrew, English, Arabic, and Spanish.
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Conversational Modern Hebrew - Second Level #1915
Day & Time: Tuesday, 7:45 - 8:45 pm, from 1/7 - 2/25
Tuition: Unit 2: $80
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Ariel Kielmanowicz
Number of Classes: Unit 2: 8 sessions
Class Dates: Unit 2: 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25
Book Fee: None
Course Description: Students will acquire the necessary vocabulary and grammar for basic conversation and reading of Modern Hebrew. Students will read; listen to stories, songs, and dialogues; and participate in guided class discussions. Students must be able to read and pronounce Hebrew letters and words.
Instructor Bio(s): Ariel Kielmanowicz was born in Israel and grew up on a Kibbutz. He has an MA in the Social Sciences with a specialization in Organizational Behavior. Before his recent family move to St. Louis, he worked for the Office of the Prime Minister in Israel. He speaks Hebrew, English, Arabic, and Spanish.
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Beginning Hebrew #1927
Day & Time: Wednesday, 7 - 8:30 pm, from 2/12 - 4/29
Tuition: $150
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Rabbi Shulamit Cenker
Number of Classes: 10
Class Dates: 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, (no class 4/8 and 4/15), 4/22, 4/29
Book Fee: Students should purchase Aleph Isn’t Tough, edited by Linda Motzkin and Hara Person, URJ Press, 2000
Course Description: This course introduces the letters and vowels of the Hebrew aleph-bet with the goal of developing the student’s ability to phonetically sound out any vocalized Hebrew text and learn basic vocabulary.
Instructor Bio(s): Rabbi Shulamit Cenker joined the St. Louis community in 2016 after graduating from the Hebrew Seminary of the Deaf and Hearing in Skokie, Illinois, and completing a post-ordination year of learning at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. She serves as a visiting rabbi with Agudas Achim Beth Israel congregation in Belleville, Illinois, and is a community activist.
History, Politics, and Current Events
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Jewish Current Events #1916
Day & Time: 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 10 - 11 am from 2/6 - 6/18
Tuition: $90
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Robert Cohn
Number of Classes: 9
Class Dates: 2/6, 2/20, 3/5, 3/19, 4/2, (no class 4/16), 5/7, 5/21, 6/4, 6/18
Book Fee: None
Course Description: Explore the news and events of the day through a Jewish lens, and enjoy a spirited discussion with the Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of the St. Louis Jewish Light.
Instructor Bio(s): Robert Cohn, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of the St. Louis Jewish Light and leader of the National Jewish Press, is a highly respected writer and commentator on a wide span of topics of Jewish interests.
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Galia and Milton Movitz, Senator John Danforth Israel Scholars Program for Adults #1917
Day & Time: Monday, 7:15 - 8:45 pm, from 11/4 - 2/10
Tuition: $180
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Rabbi Michael Rovinsky
Number of Classes: 12
Class Dates: 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 11/25, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16, 1/6, 1/13, (no class 1/20), 1/27, 2/3, 2/10
Book Fee: None
Course Description: Participants will be introduced to the history of Israel, beginning with the ancient and medieval eras through the development of modern political Zionism in 19th century Europe until the establishment of the state of Israel. The second part of the course will cover the relationship of the State of Israel to the Arab world, and we will seek to understand both the Israeli and Palestinian narratives of Israel’s history. The last part of the course will cover the historical relationship between Israel and the United States; the contributions of Israel to the world in the arena of medical and technological advancements; the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement; and the rise in anti-Israel sentiment on the university campus and around the world.
Instructor Bio(s): Rabbi Michael Rovinsky, is the Director of the Jewish Student Union (JSU). He is a certified mohel and consultant to mohels and doctors around the country. He has a BA in Education from Adelphi University, MBA from Johns Hopkins University, and Rabbinic Ordinations from Ner Israel Rabbinical College and Kol Yaakov Torah Center.
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Israel's Foreign Policy #1918
Day & Time: Thursday, 7 - 8:30 pm, 1/9 - 1/30
Tuition: $15 per class or $40 for the series
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Dr. Elai Rettig
Number of Classes: 4
Class Dates: 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30
Book Fee: None
Course Description:
This course will explore what drives Israel’s foreign policy and how Zionism, Judaism, trauma, and war influence Israel’s engagement with the rest of the world.
January 9: Is Israel part of the Middle East?
We examine the tension between Israel's geography and its desire to be part of the West and ask whether Israel is a foreign entity in the Middle East. We review Israel’s changing role in the Middle East, from a country under complete economic boycott to an integral part of an emerging Sunni alliance against Iran. We will also discuss the moral dilemmas that this alliance entails
January 16: Israel and Germany – In the Shadow of the Holocaust
We discuss the complicated relations between Israel and Germany, from the question of receiving reparations from Germany during the 1950s, to the influx of young Israelis living in Berlin in recent decades. We ask whether Israelis forgave Germany for the Holocaust and whether Germans forgive the Jews for Auschwitz.
January 23: Israel and Europe – Between Economics and Politics
The European Union is Israel's largest trade partner. Yet the politics between Israel and the EU have known highs and deep lows throughout the decades. We discuss Israeli foreign relations with the EU and several of its state-members, particularly France, UK, and the countries of Eastern Europe after the fall of the Soviet Union (including Russia).
January 30: Israel and the Developing World – Tikun Olam vs. Realpolitik
We review the evolution of Israel's relations with various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. We discuss the conflicting motivations driving these relations and the moral questions they raise.
Instructor Bio(s): Dr. Elai Rettig is the Israel Institute Teaching Fellow in Israeli and Environmental Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on the interplay between energy security and foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East and West Africa. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Haifa.
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Creating an Oral History #1931
Day & Time: Sunday, 1 - 3 pm
Tuition: Free
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Dr. Diane Everman
Number of Classes: 1
Class Dates: 2/2
Book Fee: None
Course Description: This presentation will discuss projects like StoryCorps (and its app) and the Veterans Oral History Project, as well as simple technologies for recording oral histories on one’s own. Preparation and sound quality will be among the topics discussed.
Instructor Bio(s): Diane Everman, Ph.D., is Archivist of the St. Louis Jewish Community Archives.
The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning
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Crossroads of Jewish History #1921
Day & Time: Wednesday, 7 - 8:30 pm, from 2/19 - 5/6
Tuition:
Unit 1: $200
Tuition is paid directly to Melton
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Dr. Robert Taxman
Number of Classes:
Unit 1: 10 sessions
Unit 2: Will be offered in the fall
Class Dates:
Unit 1: 2/19, 2/26, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, (no class 4/8, 4/15), 4/22, 4/29, 5/6
Unit 2 will be offered in the fall
Book Fee: $20 - $35 depending on selection of course reader
Course Description: This course explores the concepts of history and memory to understand how each has shaped Judaism today. Unit 1 begins in the biblical period and moves through the rabbinic era, the pre- and post-exile diaspora, the confrontation with Christianity and Early Islam, a look at early mysticism, and the emergence of Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities.
Instructor Bio(s): Dr. Robert Taxman is a retired physician whose zeal for Jewish history is equaled by his zest for teaching it. He served as the principal “history” teacher for the Melton Core program, and he has taught many well-received classes on Jewish history and archeology.
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Jews in America: Insiders and Outsiders #1928
Day & Time: Thursday, 7 - 8:30 pm, from 2/13 - 5/14
Tuition: $250 paid directly to Melton
Location: Temple Emanuel, 12166 Conway Rd, St. Louis, MO 63141
Instructor(s): Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh
Number of Classes: 10
Class Dates: 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/5, 3/12, (no class 3/19, 3/26), 4/2, (no class 4/9, 4/16), 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14
Book Fee: $30 - $45 depending on selection of course reader
Course Description: This course considers the American Jewish experience from several angles, including the immigrant experience, Jews as creators of American culture, American Jewish fiction, challenges of antisemitism and acculturation, representations of Jews in American culture, Jewish involvement in the civil rights movement, and more.
Instructor Bio(s): Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh serves as rabbi at Temple Emanuel. In addition to the Center for Jewish Learning class that she teaches and hosts at Temple Emanuel, Rabbi Hersh is also one of our Melton faculty.
Arts and Culture
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The Play’s the Thing: Reading and Discussion of Sarah Gancher’s play, “Seder” #1929
Day & Time: Wednesday, 7 - 9 pm
Tuition: $30
Location: MaTovu, 4200 Blaine Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
Instructor(s): Kathleen Sitzer
Number of Classes: 2
Class Dates: 3/4, 3/11
Book Fee: None
Course Description: Inspired by a true story, Seder is set in the early 2000s during a secular Hungarian Jewish family’s first-ever Passover seder. It is an intimate epic about how one woman survived the 20th century, from Nazism to Stalinism to the fall of the Soviet Union and beyond. We will read the play aloud and discuss the big questions that are raised, making our way through muddied moral and political waters.
Instructor Bio(s): Kathleen Sitzer, the Founding Artistic Director of the New Jewish Theatre, is a member of two professional actors unions, Actors Equity and SAG-AFTRA, and has performed for many theatre companies, including Theatre Project Company, the Black Rep, West End Players, St. Louis Shakespeare, and of course New Jewish Theatre. You may have seen her most recently in Driving Miss Daisy and Raging Skillet. Sitzer has an MA in Theatre from Saint Louis University.
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Fifth Annual Sholem Aleichem Concert: A Tribute to Theodore Bikel #1932
Day & Time: Sunday, 1 - 2:30 pm
Tuition: Free; registration required
Location: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 12 Millstone Campus Dr, St. Louis, MO 63146
Instructor(s): Will Soll, Joey Kenig, Roger Netherton
Number of Classes: 1
Class Dates: 5/3
Book Fee: None
Course Description: Will Soll will be joined by guitarist/singer Joey Kenig and violinist Roger Netherton in a concert celebrating singer and actor Theodore Bikel, who played Sholem Aleichem’s famous character, Tevya. The program will include Hebrew, Yiddish, and Russian songs, as well as a Sholem Aleichem story.
Instructor Bio(s): Will Soll is one of St. Louis' most passionate and prolific performers of Klezmer and Yiddish music. He performs in numerous ensembles, including Will Soll and the Youngers of Zion. He currently serves as worship leader and Torah teacher at Congregation Neve Shalom.
