The Melton Research Center revolutionized Jewish religious education in the 1960s by pioneering an inquiry-based approach to teaching Genesis through three interconnected volumes. At the core of this ambitious project lies Nahum Sarna's scholarly *Understanding Genesis*, supported by Leonard Gardner's innovative *Teacher's Guide* and Louis Newman's *Student's Guide*. Through Socratic methodology and structured group dialogue, these materials challenge students to uncover multiple layers of biblical meaning while developing ethical reasoning skills. Sarna's volume delivers excellent scholarly analysis incorporating Near Eastern comparative materials, though occasionally adopting an apologetic stance. Gardner's contribution stands out as a pedagogical breakthrough, offering forty-five detailed lesson plans, despite coordination challenges with companion texts. While Newman's student guide provides valuable supplements, it struggles with consistency and integration. The materials rest on three foundational principles: that Torah study can balance reverence with critical analysis, that inquiry-based learning strengthens both comprehension and moral judgment, and that such sophisticated approaches can succeed even with young learners. Despite their limitations, these materials represent the most comprehensive modern attempt to make biblical education both authentically Jewish and relevant to contemporary students.