Continuing the spirit of Rabbi Paley’s theme for 5786: Through a New Door – Welcoming What Comes next, we are thrilled to be opening a new door on deep, rich adult learning. At Temple Shalom, we believe that Jewish learning is a lifelong journey, one filled with wonder, joy, and opportunities to explore our traditions, values, and community. It is our mission to encourage wonder, joy, and the exploration of Jewish tradition as a way to create a holy community, meaning, and lasting memories throughout a lifelong journey. Through our programming, we cultivate the practice of asking and answering BIG questions, using Jewish wisdom to navigate the complexities of modern life.
That’s why we are so excited to announce a new partnership with the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, a globally respected leader in adult Jewish education.
Beginning this May, we will launch our very first Melton course: Jewish Answers to Life’s Most Challenging Questions
This course is an invitation to wonder, wrestle, and learn with our holy community.
Together, we will explore some of the most enduring and difficult questions that human beings have asked across time:
- Why do good people suffer?
- Is everything meant to be?
- Do people die before their time?
- Why is there so much evil in the world?
- Can God prevent bad things from happening?
- What is a miracle—and what is not?
These are not easy questions and Judaism doesn’t offer easy answers.
Instead, what our tradition and the Melton approach offer is a rich tapestry of voices. In this six-part course, we will encounter the wisdom of rabbinic sages alongside modern thinkers, engaging multiple perspectives and bringing our own voices into the conversation.
We are living in a time when many of us are carrying big questions about suffering, uncertainty, justice, and hope. At Temple Shalom, we are committed to building and sustaining a kehillah kedoshah / holy community where we can bring our full selves into learning: our doubts, our experiences, our questions, and our search for meaning.
This course reflects our core values:
- Wonder – embracing the questions that stretch us
- Joy – finding connection and meaning through learning
- Friendship – building relationships through shared conversation
- Holy Community – creating sacred space for honest exploration
This May course is just the beginning. We look forward to offering additional Melton courses in the Fall and Spring, creating ongoing opportunities for deep, thoughtful adult learning at Temple Shalom.
Whether you are someone who has long engaged in Jewish study or someone who is just beginning to explore, this is a space for you.
Come with your questions.
Come with your curiosity.
Come ready to learn not only from the texts, but from one another.
Learn more and register here: Melton Classes in Temple Shalom – Temple Shalom
