WE'LL FIT
YOUR COLLEGE STUDENT
TO A T!
BACK TO SCHOOL
Current Opportunities
In Adult Education
A Smorgasbord To Satisfy Any
Hungry Mind
JENNIFER TAUB
Jewish News Intern
ewish education for
many adults amounts to
making Hebrew
flashcards for their pre-b'nai
mitzvah children, sitting in
synagogue on the High Holy
Days, and occasionally
reading a novel by a famous
Jewish author. Bewildered
adults watch their post-
confirmation children scrib-
ble the last of the thank-you
notes, cash in the bonds and
abandon their Jewish educa-
tion. And the door to
vicarious Jewish education
shuts.
Fortunately opportunities
for independent enrichment
exist beyond the teenage
years. Jewish adults can
study everything from the
traditional courses of Hebrew
language and the Ibrah to
"Judaism and Sexuality,"
"The History of the
Holocaust," and current
events.
Excited by learning is Celia
Goodman, a former Wayne
State University librarian
who has completed countless
courses at the Midrasha Col-
lege of Jewish Studies. "It's a
smorgasbord!" Goodman
exclaimed.
Urging any interested, yet
not involved, person to get a
course catalog, Goodman said
"The courses are always at-
tuned to current in-
terest." Born in Poland, Yid-
dish was the fist language she
spoke, yet she never studied
Yiddish literature until
Midrasha instructor Anita
Norich inspired her. "She's
the only one who motivated
me to read an entire book in
Yiddish," she said.
"When I went to college it
was a dream. I thought I'd be
lifted to a higher sphere. But
teachers are just human.
Once in a great while I found
a professor who inspired me!"
Such a dynamic teacher is
Midrasha instructor . and
University of Michigan
visiting professor Dr. Tikva
Frymer-Kensky.
Goodman was introduced to
Frymer-Kensky in a class
taught by Profegsor Jacob
Lasser on Law and Society in
the Ancient Near East, spon-
sored by Wayne State Univer-
sity. Frymer-Kensky gave one
lecture on law in ancient
Sumer. "She was fabulous!'
j
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At the Midrasha, Goodman
studied the Torah under
Frymer-Kensky. "It's a very
wonderful approach to the Bi-
ble. It gives you a higher
perspective!'
Surpassing any student's
expectations, Frymer-Kensky
who knew Goodman practices
the art of story telling in
libraries, women's organiza-
tions, the Detroit Historical
Museum, the Detroit In-
stitute of Arts, the
Renaissance Festival and
schools, referred her to cer-
tain texts concerning her
craft.
The Reform College of
Jewish Studies also offers
continuing education oppor-
tunities. Roz Block, a
religious school teacher at
Temple Beth El, recently
received her certification
from the RCJS. A strong
believer in the school's motto
"life-long learning," Block
has been taking courses since
the school's founding in 1967.
The strongest assets of the
institution, according to
Block, are that "courses are
taught on an adult level!'
Rabbis and teachers from
many temples lead courses,
displaying a variety of
teaching techniques. -
Robert Lask, the new direc-
tor of RCJS, said the college
is opening up another branch
to accommodate more
students. Courses are offered
Monday evenings at Temple
Emanu-El and Wednesday
evenings at Temple Beth El.
"Our goal is to bring the col-
lege to the people," to offer
more courses at many loca-
tions and ultimately to reach
seniors, he explained.
The most popular course is
typically "Introduction to
Judaism," yet a not-so-typical
course typically drew some
unusual responses from its at-
tendants. Block remembered
a course taught by Rabbi
Allan Blustein, chaplain of
Sinai Hospital, on "Jewish
Mysticism!' She said when
she walked by the class "you
hear reactions, joy, excite-
ment laughter!'
Such sounds of delight were
reactions to the unique course
material, according to Rabbi
Blustein. The curriculum was
"something new," the class
was small, but "they kept me
hopping," he said.
Jewish mysticism goes back
to pre-Temple days. Its pur-
Continued On Page 49