Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning Fall Programs

This is a little self-referential, but elsewhere on the ShalomNova.org website, we talk about the Partnership (PJLL) and its many activities. In particular, take a look at the fall adult ed offerings.

Entitled Your "Intellectual and Spiritual Stimulus Package," It begins with a series of free talks by Dr. Erica Brown (you mean you never heard her or studied with her--she's a really great teacher). It includes the restarting of of several excellent and quite different multi-part adult education programs:

• The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School (Olam Tikvah, JCCNV)
  
• Me’ah (Agudas Achim, Olam Tikvah)
• Jewish Heritage Program (Gesher Jewish Day School)

The PJLL makes a big difference in providing high quality Jewish education in the area, including many opportunities in NoVA.

Resources for Adult Jewish educators

There are a few good books out there that everyone who teaches and/or organizes adult Jewish education programs should have read or at least skimmed. I'll mention a few of these over the next few weeks. If anyone has suggestions, please send them along.

First is: The Adult Jewish Education Handbook: Planning, Practice, and Theory
Latest edition is dated 2004 (not 1990 like it says in some places).

From the Behrmann House web page: "This comprehensive guide presents theory from the field of secular adult education in light of the questions and concerns of all aspects of adult Jewish education, including learning theory, curriculum, programming, planning, budgeting, and educational philosophy. Includes chapters on the history of adult Jewish education by Dr. Lois Zachary and Dr. Meredith Woocher, and on technology in adult Jewish education by Caren Levine."

Adult Ed Coordinators--Please Read

So the summer is almost over, Elul is almost here, and many synagogue adult ed programs are getting firmed up. Why not send me a note and have me publicize your program. We can link directly to your web site, or publish a special notice--whatever you'd like. The only requirement is that it be open to the public (not all synagogue adult ed programs are). Be sure your announcement identifies the following:

• Date(s), time and place of the program
• Cost to attend (identifying both member and non-member costs if appropriate)
• Subject (duh)
• Name of the speaker/leader

Any other information is welcome as well, of course.

By the way, this is a very good time for all adult ed program leaders to take a look at your own web sites. It's surprising how many adult ed web sites are out of date, by as much as a year.