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FREE! Open to all

$10 off a J Spa massage or facial to the first 200 people who register!

Dynamic presentation by Dr. Hal M. Lewis, 9 exciting workshops, and special reception recognizing Nancy Klein, Cincinnati's founding Melton School director.

Explore nine engaging topics as the entire community comes together for an exciting afternoon of learning with some of the country's most popular presenters! We'll also enjoy snacks and conversation.

Throughout the day, a computer and the new Jewish Cemeteries Greater Cemetery website will be available for participants to find family members' burial records.  

Featuring nationally acclaimed keynote speaker Dr. Hal M. Lewis.

Keynote Presentation: 1:00pm

Made possible by a generous gift from the
Roslyn W. Gildenblatt Endowment Fund.

Dr. Hal Lewis - "What's Trending for Today's Jews?"

Session 1: 2:15pm

Choose 1 of these 4 workshops:
What Does the Torah Say? Is it Okay to be Gay?
How Does DNA Relate to Jewish Identity?
Are We American Jews or Jewish Americans?  Lessons from Abraham Lincoln 
Judaism on the Edge: New Expressions and Engagement

Session 2: 3:30pm

Choose 1 of these 5 workshops:
Freud: a Godless Jew?
One Nation, Two Hearts
Who is a Jew? Controversies Past and Present
A Look Into the Conflicted Soul of Israel
Purposes of Jewish Living, Prophets and Prophecy

Reception - 4:45pm - Recognizing Nancy Klein

1:00pm Keynote Presentation:

What’s Trending for Today’s Jews?

New trends are transforming our Jewish communities – the world today is not the one our parents and grandparents knew!  Approaches to education, communication, and what it means to be “connected” are changing faster than we can see. Join Dr. Lewis as he guides us through new ways to engage today’s Jews with our Jewish community.

Nationally acclaimed keynote speaker Dr. Hal M. Lewis is a highly respected former Cincinnatian, who is now the CEO of Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago. A master educator, Dr. Lewis has taught at the University of Illinois, Baltimore Hebrew University, and the University of Cincinnati, as well as our own Cincinnati Melton program.

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Session 1 Workshops: 2:15pm

Choose 1 of these 4 workshops:

What Does the Torah Say? Is it Okay to be Gay?

Everyone knows the story of Adam and Eve ... but what about Adam and Steve?  What is the Jewish perspective on their story, or the stories of others in the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community?  What are the various views and ways in which different Jewish denominations approach these identities?   This engaging workshop explores commonly held myths and misperceptions of the LGBT community, and includes a frank and friendly dialogue. 

Presenter Dana Benson is a second year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), who leads safe zone training to help people develop LGBT sensitivity. She is an especially popular speaker among Cincinnati’s Young Professionals.

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How Does DNA Relate to Jewish Identity?

Why are there so many Jewish comedians, Nobel Prize winners, doctors, and lawyers? How deep is the Jewish connection to Israel? Jon Entine, nationally bestselling author, illuminates one of today's most compelling topics: the connection between genetics and who we are.

Jon Entine weaves a fascinating tale, using DNA to reconstruct Jewish traditions. He has edited/authored 7 books on genetics, and is a senior research fellow at the Center for Risk & Health Communication and STATS (Statistical Assessment Service) at George Mason University, where he founded and oversees the Genetic Literacy Project.  He is also a regular contributor to Forbes and Yahoo, and was an Emmy-winning producer at ABC News and NBC News.

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Are We American Jews or Jewish Americans?  Lessons from Abraham Lincoln 

Shortly after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Jews found themselves caught on the horns of a dilemma.  Would they be American Jews or Jewish Americans?  During this fascinating workshop, the renowned Dr. Gary P. Zola explores this controversy, and gives you the opportunity to review some captivating documents related to this intriguing dilemma.

Dr. Gary P. Zola is Executive Director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA) and Professor of the American Jewish Experience at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR).  At the personal request of President Obama, he has served as a member of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad.  Dr. Zola was also the national organizer and chair of the congressionally recognized Commission for Commemorating 350 Years of American Jewish History.  In January, 2012, he received Cincinnati’s Martin Luther King Legacy Award from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

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Judaism on the Edge: New Expressions and Engagement

 From London to Los Angeles, exciting and creative new forms of Jewish community leadership, engagement and experiences are developing! In this cutting edge workshop, we explore the contemporary context of many new Jewish leadership and involvement opportunities.

Rabbi Steven Greenberg is a senior fellow at CLAL – the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership – widely recognized as a think tank and leadership training institute. Greenberg has led hundreds of leadership training programs, and won the coveted Koret Book Award for Philosophy and Thought. He is also a frequent guest on National Public Radio’s Fresh Air.

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Session 2 Workshops: 3:30pm

Choose 1 of these 5 workshops:

Freud: a Godless Jew?

Over the years, many scholars have considered the relationship between Freud’s Jewish identity and the development of psychoanalysis.  Freud himself notoriously asked “Why did none of the devout create psychoanalysis?  Why did it have to wait for a godless Jew?”  This workshop explores the variety of arguments involving Freud, Judaism, "godlessness," and the culture of psychoanalysis.

Presenter Norman Finkelstein is a widely respected poet and literary critic.  He has written extensively on modern poetry and on Jewish American literature.  He is also an English professor at Xavier University, and is currently a research fellow at the Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute.

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One Nation, Two Hearts    

What do our Jewish American and Israeli communities share in common? Where do we diverge? What does the future hold for the relationship between Israelis and Jewish Americans?  

Yair Cohen, Community Shaliach (Emissary) from Israel is primarily responsible for strengthening the bond between Israel and our local Cincinnati Jewish community, through education, advocacy and travel. Yair was previously the director of programming at Gesher, a non-governmental Israeli organization that focuses on developing a stronger Jewish identity.   

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Who is a Jew? Controversies Past and Present

The issue of "Who is a Jew?" is a vexing question in our age.  In antiquity too, both Jews and Gentiles struggled to define exactly which attributes and behaviors a person had to exhibit in order to be considered a Jew.   This workshop examines the alleged markers of being Jewish, the diverse manifestations of Jewish identity, as well as the role of Gentiles in determining Jewish identity, both past and present. 

Dr. Ingrid Epstein is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Judaic Studies at the University of Cincinnati. Her dissertation considered the marriage and divorce practices of the family of King Herod, as well as what the family's marital practices can tell us about Jewish identity. 

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A Look Into the Conflicted Soul of Israel

This interactive workshop examines the evolving poetic vision of Israel’s greatest poet, as his work relates to the voice of modern Israel.

Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, a Conservative rabbi, lived in Israel for 25 years where he served Congregation Eshel Avraham in Beer Sheva. He was also Director of Development for the Israel Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War.  Rabbi Perlman moved to Cincinnati last year, and is now the planned giving advisor at Cincinnati Museum Center.

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Purposes of Jewish Living, Prophets and Prophecy

Experience a "taste" of the Florence Melton Adult Mini School, and see what the buzz is about.  If you’re a graduate, come relive Melton again!  The transmission of Jewish values and priorities was a critical component in the development of Judaism. Lessons from the prophets provide us with insights about how Jewish values influence our everyday lives today, even in ways we don’t realize.

Rabbi Matthew Kraus, a Reform rabbi, has a PhD in Classics and founded the Jewish Studies Program at Williams University.  He currently is Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Cincinnati.

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Reception: 4:45pm - Recognizing Nancy Klein

Enjoy a special reception recognizing Nancy Klein, Cincinnati's founding Melton School director.

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