Intro to Judaism Syllabus

All students who would like to access the syllabus to Introduction to Judaism with Melanie Weiss, M.A. should click here! Enjoy!

Introduction to Judaism Online: Class 1

The first in a series by Beth Israel Congregation Education Director, Melanie Weiss M.A.

Jewish Law Class Tonight at 6 pm!: The Status of Non-Jews in our Families and Synagogues

The prophet Ezra who was not a fan of Keruv.

Tonight we will have Jewish Law Class at 6:00 pm at Selah Tea Cafe.  We will be discussing the topic of keruv, or "outreach" to non-Jewish members of our families in our synagogues.  This piece was written by the Maine rabbi Harry Z. Sky.  Looking forward to an animated discussion!

You can access the short text in advance here.

Stories from Colby College Hillel

Five students from the Colby College Hillel board have shared their stories about why Colby Hillel matters to them.  Our Hillel may be small, but it is certainly mighty.  Take a moment to hear about the impact that Jewish life at Colby has on their lives.  And if you haven't already, take a look at our most recent newsletter with wonderful contributions from current students and alumni.

   Gabi&Jane '16

       Ben '15

    Laura '15

       Jacob '13

Waterville Jewish Leadership Initiative

We excited to announce a new program for the 2013-2014 academic year.  We have received two generous grants that allow us to choose 2-3 students for a Jewish leadership program next year.  Students will work with Rabbi Isaacs and Beth Israel Congregation Education Director, Melanie Weiss, as Hebrew School teachers and social entrepreneurs in Waterville.  Students will be paid for working on all of the following projects:

1) Teaching Hebrew school with the Beth Israel Congregation (BIC) staff.  Hebrew school is on Thursday afternoons, 3:30-5:30 pm at the Alfond Youth Center.

2) Curriculum development with the BIC staff that endeavors to make Hebrew school more engaging, substantive, and fun.  Each student is expected to write 2 new lesson plans a semester.

3) Participating in advanced Jewish learning with Rabbi Isaacs for 3  1-hour workshops a semester (dates to be determined based on schedules of students,) on subjects of students' choosing.

4) The creation and execution of one Jewish program for the greater Waterville community, that brings new depth and creativity to the local Jewish life.

5) Outreach to new students.

Students do not need to be currently involved in Hillel for this program.  If you are interested, please contact Rabbi Isaacs by June 1, 2013 in order to receive an application.

Shavuot at Beth Israel: A Night of Learning

Beth Israel Congregation Shavuot 

Learning, Eating, and Celebrating Together

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm

(Kelsey Street Entrance)

Schedule for Beth Israel Congregation Tikkun Le'il Shavuot

 Potluck Dairy Dinner (please bring dairy dishes and desserts!)

A short skit by Beth Israel Congregation Hebrew School

Melanie Weiss, M.A: Contemporary Reflections on the Book of Ruth

Michelle Sears (Colby '13): Bringing Feminism, Halakhah, and Social Status Together: Women’s Ordination in American Judaism

Simcha Halpert-Hanson: The Power of a New Name: Choosing for Oneself

Dr. Robert Weisbrot (Colby College Professor): The Legacy of Clara Lemlich: Radical Jewish Woman in the US Labor Movement.

Charlotte Wiesenberg (Colby '13): The New Promised Land:Maine's Summer Camps for Jewish Youth in the Mid-Twentieth Century.

Miles De Klerk (Colby '13): Jews, Maronite Christians, and Food in Waterville's History

Rabbi Rachel Isaacs: Comparing Ezra and Ruth: An Intra-Biblical Debate About Intermarriage?

Waterville in Yiddish: Beth Israel Education Director Featured in the Yiddish Forward!

Our very own Melanie Weiss is covered in the Yiddish Daily Forward.  You can check out the article here.  How may times have Waterville, Maine and Colby College been written about in Yiddish?!

If you haven't seen the youtube video of her talk, here it is!

Mazal Tov, Melanie and Yasher Koach to Colby student (and Hillel board member), Jacob Marx '13 for organizing such an incredible conference!