If you enjoy the opportunity to engage with stories of the Torah in a creative way, grappling with text in a rich and lively manner, then the new Melton course offering is for you.   

The Melton School Scholars Courses, “Shiv’im Panim: 70 Faces of Wisdom,” are designed to engage students through the study of 70 different Torah passages, throughout the five books of the Torah.  In each course, 10 selected passages are selected from one book of the Torah; participants encounter the development of varying interpretations of each passage, the influences of existing historical realities at the time of their composition, and the contemporary implications of these perspective on their own lives.  

The second course in the series is “Bereshit II: The Story of the First Jewish Family,” examines topics such as the Birth of Jacob and Esav, the Stolen Blessing, Wrestling with Angels, the Rape of Dinah and many more fascinating passages. Students are asked to seek multiple ways of understanding a selection of Biblical texts, consider the real-life implications of these various orientations, and to reflect on the different ways that these perspectives might challenge our understanding of the work.

This course, which will be taught by Melton faculty member Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh, begins on Thursday, June 8, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and will be hosted by Temple Emanuel, 12166 Conway Road.  This 10-session course will run through August. 

Tuition is $250, plus a book fee. Registration and payment is made directly through the Melton School at Events.org/MeltonStLouis.  A minimum of 15 participants are required to hold this course.  

Scholarship funds are available; for confidential scholarship requests or for additional course information contact Cyndee Levy, Director of the Center for Jewish Learning at the Jewish Federation, 314-442-3754 or [email protected].