SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II, NATIONAL JEWISH MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN GIVING INCREASING ATTENTION TO ADULT JEWISH EDUCATION. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN FOUR GENERAL CULTURAL-SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS--B'NAI B'RITH, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE, AND THE AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS--IS RECONSTRUCTED AND ANALYZED IN THIS STUDY. THE HISTORICAL TRADITIONS OF ADULT STUDY IN JEWISH LIFE BEGINNING WITH BIBLICAL PRECEPTS AND PRACTICES, AND THE ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF GENERAL ADULT EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES ARE DISCUSSED. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE IN ADULT JEWISH EDUCATION, IN THE HISTORY AND SOCIOLOGY OF AMERICAN JEWRY, IN JEWISH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONS, AND IN GENERAL ADULT EDUCATION IS INCLUDED. HISTORICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL, AND ECONOMIC FACTORS HAVE INFLUENCED THE INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN ADULT JEWISH EDUCATION. (APPENDIXES ARE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS STUDIED AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY.) THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FROM UNIVERSITY MICROFILMS, ANN ARBOR, MICH., ORDER NO. 67-14567. (AJ)