The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning is proud to introduce What’s Mine is Yours, a unique curriculum designed in partnership with Matan specifically for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Melton Difference
Accessibility is a core tenet of Melton's mission. As we continue to pursue that mission, we pride ourselves on setting our faculty, and by extension, our learners, up for success. By providing various instructional tools, we support our faculty in creating an optimal learning environment in the following ways:
- Utilizing our extensive faculty resources, instructors are empowered to share Melton learning in a variety of ways that engage and inspire learners of diverse abilities.
- Each lesson provides instructors with detailed guidance and suggestions to create a comfortable learning environment, set the stage for text-learning, prompt discussion, and use images and videos to enhance the learning.
- We provide orientation and training for faculty to ensure the Melton learning experience is meaningful and accessible for their learners.
We look forward to continuing our work with Matan and expanding What's Mine is Yours to communities across the world, thereby making Jewish learning available to all adults. For more information about bringing this learning opportunity to your community,
Why Matan?
Matan brings deep experience in Jewish disability inclusion across the lifespan. With a long-standing commitment to adapting Jewish learning environments, Matan helps create opportunities that are both meaningful and accessible for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this partnership, Matan has:
- Adapted each Melton lesson to meet the needs of diverse learners using evidence-based practices in inclusive education.
- Developed lesson materials that prioritize visual supports, clarity, and engagement.
- Provided guidance to help instructors build a welcoming, accessible classroom culture.
Together, we’ve ensured that What’s Mine is Yours is not only rich in content, but inclusive by design. This collaboration reflects a shared vision: that every Jewish learner, of every ability, deserves access to deep and engaging Jewish learning.
Curricula Details
The What’s Mine is Yours curricula have been adapted from Melton’s Living Wisdom series. The curricula include modules of three lessons each and cover foundational Jewish concepts related to identity and meaning. Examples include:
- Press Pause: Shabbat and Beyond uncovers what makes Shabbat special and different than the rest of the week. Learners discover the connection between Shabbat and the World to Comeand how shabbat provides a taste and inspiration for creating a more perfect world.
- Living a Jewish Life: Finding Purpose Through Reflection examines some fundamental practices, customs, values and beliefs in Judaism. Learners reflect on their personal connection to different aspects of Judaism and explore the challenging question: “What is the overarching purpose of living Jewishly?”.
- Pour Out Your Heart in Prayer is an introduction to the meaning and purpose of prayer. Learners examine the overall concept of prayer, three main types of prayer—praise, request and thanks—and the significance of the place of prayer. Each lesson highlights one prayer (Modeh Ani, SheHecheyanu,and Shema) deepening learners’ understanding and appreciation of these central prayers.
- Sacred Cycles: The Jewish Calendar and High Holidays explores the sacred rhythm of Jewish time and how it shapes identity, values, and memory. Learners delve into the meaning and power of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, discovering how the rituals, prayers, and customs of the High Holidays invite reflection, renewal, and purposeful beginnings.
New modules are continually being developed.
