Melton School of the Year goes to…

… The Louisville Melton School at Adath Jeshurun and their director Deborah Slosberg! Deborah received the annual Florence Melton Award, given for excellence in building a strong learning community, at this year's International Director's Conference. In a tribute that brought tears to many eyes, her husband, Rabbi Bob Slosberg, together with supporters, dedicated a new Melton course in her honor. (Watch the emotional video below.)

Eight years ago, Adath Jeshurun brought Melton back to the Louisville community, under the inspired guidance of Deborah Slosberg. Focusing on growth, Deborah built up the program, offering more than a dozen classes per year, with five Core Curriculum cohorts and a wide variety of Scholars classes to date. This year, more than 25% of her learners are new to Melton!

But whether a class is a learner's first or fiftieth, Deborah makes everyone feel welcome. She regularly picks up the phone to check in on her students and has recruited an exceptional faculty to guide them alongside her.

And the community is grateful. When Deborah's husband, Rabbi Bob Slosberg (rabbi of Adath Jershurun), heard that his wife was going to receive the Florence Melton Award, he immediately turned to local supporters to dedicate a new course in her honor and in honor of the local Louisville school.

The dedication quotes the Talmud: "Rabbi Ḥanina taught, I have learned much from my teachers. I have learned more from my colleagues than my teachers. But I have learned more from my students than from all of them."

Deborah was thrilled – she'd been asking her husband to arrange a dedication for years, though not on her own behalf! But in the end, it was her example that everyone wanted to celebrate.

It's no coincidence that Deborah's favorite course to teach is Shiviim Panim, "Seventy Faces of Torah." In her hands, we're sure every facet shines.