Me'ah

Welcome to Me'ah, a two-year intensive adult Jewish learning program of Hebrew College and Combined Jewish Philanthropies' Commission on Jewish Continuity & Education.

If you're like many American Jews, you probably ended your Jewish education shortly after turning 13. Whether you attended Hebrew school or day school, loved it or hated it, you've since lost touch with Jewish learning. You may not have had any formal Jewish education at all.

But as you've matured and enjoyed personal and professional achievements, questions about your Jewish identity have surfaced: Who am I? What is my history? How did the Jewish religion and culture develop—and what does it mean to me? Me'ah answers these questions with substance, from multiple perspectives, enabling you to find your place in the continuum of Jewish life.

Program of Study

You'll be immersed in reading core Jewish texts, grappling with concepts representing the historical, cultural and political movements from four eras—biblical, rabbinic, medieval and modern. For approximately 100 hours of class time (Me'ah means "100" in Hebrew) over a two-year period, you'll have a chance to read, think and open your mind to new ideas.

An invigorating journey, Me'ah offers not only an opportunity to grow as a literate student of Jewish life, but also a powerful means to join a growing community of learners—bringing knowledge and insight into your personal life and community as you build your understanding of what Jewish texts and ideas meant historically and what they mean for Jews today.

Over 2,500 Graduates

Starting with two Boston-based classes launched in 1994, Me'ah has grown dramatically to more than 30 classes across the United States, with over 2,500 graduates. This pluralistic program was developed and launched by Hebrew College in partnership with Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Boston's federation, and continues to be supported by federations in numerous communities.

Many graduates have chosen to pursue their Jewish learning after Me'ah. Parents in Me'ah are often inspired to intensify their children's Jewish education and reexamine their family practices. Others are motivated to assume leadership roles in the community.

 A Faculty of Scholars

The high caliber of instruction—equivalent to a university-level course—makes Me'ah the most unique Jewish adult learning program in the country. Instructors are accomplished scholars in Judaics, with advanced degrees, communication skills geared for adult education, and the ability to adapt their own strengths and approaches both to the Me'ah curriculum and to a range of learning styles.

Join the "Conversation"

Through reading and analyzing core texts and ideas, the Me'ah program helps you develop a framework for understanding Jewish culture and civilization. Before each class, you'll prepare assigned readings, including passages from both primary textual sources and supplemental scholarly materials that reveal the richness of Jewish literature. These sources are at the heart of the Jewish "conversation"—a conversation that stretches over 3,000 years as Jews have interpreted and re-interpreted the central texts that define the Jewish tradition. In Me'ah, you become part of that conversation.

Year One covers Hebrew Bible and rabbinics—delving into the core texts that form the basis of Jewish beliefs, behaviors and community. Year Two focuses on the medieval and modern Jewish experience, drawing from primary sources and exploring the distinguishing social and cultural themes of those eras. You'll study the major works and ideas of each period within their unique historical context and discover their interrelationships