Rabbi Mendel Mintz is an active part of the Aspen community, where he serves as executive director of Chabad Community Center. The center celebrates Jewish history and tradition, combining it with modern-day Jewish teachings, according to Mendel Mintz. Recently, Mendel Mintz spoke with the staff of Interviewing Experts about the adult education courses offered at Chabad Community Center.

Interviewing Experts: Are your adult education courses geared toward converting non-Orthodox Jews to Orthodox thinking?

Mendel Mintz: Not at all. At Chabad Community Center, we strive to provide Jews with an open forum to learn about a wide variety of topics of concern to the Jewish community. Most of our participants are not Orthodox, actually.

Interviewing Experts: What is the focus of many of these courses?

Mendel Mintz: The Torah, the greatest gift to humanity, is at the core of all of our teachings.

Interviewing Experts: You teach your members to read Hebrew. How many lessons does that usually take?

Mendel Mintz: Our “Read Hebrew” course is six simple lessons that help participants learn this 5,000-year-old language.

Interviewing Experts: Does someone have to learn Hebrew?

Mendel Mintz: No, but the lessons can help someone better understand what we’re going over during services.

Interviewing Experts: It might also help if someone is planning a visit to Israel.

Mendel Mintz: Yes, definitely. It can help with everything from reading street signs to understanding menus in restaurants.

Interviewing Experts: But doesn’t a foreign language take a while to learn?

Mendel Mintz: Most do, but the basics of reading Hebrew can easily be learned during these six lessons.

Interviewing Experts: What if someone learned Hebrew in school?

Mendel Mintz: Our six-class lesson can be a great refresher course.

Interviewing Experts: How much does it cost to register for this course?

Mendel Mintz: Our Hebrew adult education class is only $50.

Interviewing Experts: What other courses do you offer at Chabad Community Center?

Mendel Mintz: We offer classes in mysticism, Jewish history, or any other subject someone might be interested in learning.

Interviewing Experts: Does someone have to be a member to enroll in class?

Mendel Mintz: No, classes are open to all , even if they’ve never visited Chabad Community Center.

Mendel Mintz welcomes visitors to Chabad Community Center, which is located in Aspen, Colorado. For those interested in learning more about Chabad Community Center, Mendel Mintz invites them to come by and check it out or visit the center’s website at www.jccaspen.com.