Join adults from all backgrounds for weekly, two-hour classes that take a non-denominational approach to Judaism. The Florence Melton School of Adult Education encourages interactive discussion between teachers and fellow students. For two hours per week, adult students both affiliated and non-affiliated can increase their Jewish education. For convenience, both evening and daytime classes are offered at the New Orleans and Metairie branches of the JCC. The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans supports this program.

Florence Melton School of Adult Education is a university-quality program of Judaic Studies imparting essential mastery of Judaism for the busy adult, which was conceived of by philanthropist Florence Melton in 1980. The first School opened in 1986. The school offers a systemic, written curriculum integrating Jewish practices, holidays, history, ethics, ideas and values using primary Jewish texts in English designed to deepen knowledge.

The curriculum was developed by renowned educators from the Melton Centre for Jewish Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is part of an international network of over 60 schools located in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Israel with over 25,000 adult student graduates worldwide.

The local greater New Orleans school, started in 2002, includes students ranging in age from mid-20’s to 70’s. Students come from Orthodox, Conservative, Reform denominations as well as those who are unaffiliated. Over 150 students have graduated from the Florence Melton School of Adult Education.