No voice and exams

Hey well in the end I was with out voice completly for ten days and had hardly any for more. I can now speek again although making a lot of noice is still someway off. I am in the middle (well near the end now) of mid-terms and frankly feel completly examed out.

I still have Biblical History to do, Hebrew seems to be a continus flow of examinations. I haven't had any back yet so really really don't know how they have gone. I also have a number of essays (and sigh) reflections to write but that must all wait until motizi Shobbos.

Friday night service

Well I have now led my Friday night service along with Nancy my Cantor, she was amazing and i think that the service was really beautiful (more her than me really). I ended with a priestly blessing which is something that I have missed since getting here (other people have also missed it). And with Nancy's help I introduced some British Reform tunes.

But on Saturday and even more so on Sunday i had no voice at all. Now quite late on Sunday night (I am about to go to bed ahead off another school day) I cannot even wishper. Sigh I feel fine thought so its not that bad.

News

Again I have left it ages without posting and a lot has happened and time is short. We had our Northern Tiyal up to the Galil to the Kenarit (Thats lake Tiberus to those not in the know). We went to Kiryat Shamona, and Tel Hei (both the momument and college). Right up to the boarder with Lebanon to a Moshav, and my group went way up into the Golan to very near the boarder with Syria. We also went on a 'night safari' where we saw owls, and Israeli swomp cats (and no thats not a joke), large birds and smallier birds.
We also got one, rather short chance to swim in the Keneret. Of course we went to Tel Dan and saw the archelogical reamains there, which I have to say are really very impressive also Tel is very beautiful. However it was so hot especial given where we were and how late in the year it is.
By the time I got back I was feeling pretty horried and flet rubbish on Friday but did all the useal Friday things but basically took things easy...on Saturaday I headed off to the Conservative Synagogue on Argon Street. I really enjoyed the service and the sermon it was great. Afterwar i went for lunch with a couple of other HUC stendents...We had Sunday off but by then I felt dreadful really really ill. So I headed off to the health centre, with the help of the amazing and wonderful Emily and they took one look at me and put me on a drip. So i felt much better but not great. I went in the next day but didn't go on our next Tiyal. At the moment I am getting ready for my service tomorrow.

TW3

Hey boy am I glad that this week is over, it was not a fun one. Started with getting my Hebrew exam result (On my birthday) and it was the worst mark I have ever recieved in any subject for any exam at any level ever! So that was a fabtastic start to the day. Then I had the its my birthday but I am miles away from home, thing going on. I am also finding October to be a stressful month, I knew that it was going to be, because of various things al happening at once but it doesn't help to know. We have also had two tiyilim this week: One was a walking trip around a distict of Jlem called Rahava, up near George the 5th street. And the next day as part of Biblical History to Tel Aviv to Tel Gerzer and a musem. So I am very tired indeed. I had a nice quite party for my birthday as befits a 32 year old but it was fun and a bright spot in an otherwise pretty horrid week. I am going to do some cleaning and Hebrew homework (now there is a surprise) before heading over to Laura's for shabbat. Hopefully next week will be a bit better. fingers crossed. BTW TW3=that was the week that was.

Started well.

Hey today started well but went down hill fast. :( woke up early enough to get a bit of extra study done and some work and then headed into school. On the way I met a friend who I knew worked for part of the year in JLem so that was nice, and the morning service at HUC was great it was led in a style i like and the drash was great...and I wasn't even that concerned about the exam i had coming up, I had revisied hard for it and new most if not all of the new vocabuary I need for it. Then I sat the exam, and let us say that I don't think it went well. Although I am hoping it wasn't quite as castrophic as i fear it may have been. It was the kind of exam where you want to get up in the middle and scroow your exam paper into a ball and though it into the bin on the way out, and then keep going to the air-port and then away from here to alomst anywhere. (I am not feeling quite that down right now but still very very grummpy.

Then I had a class on second temple history i dont think that i took all that much in because i was still a little hept up after exam. Then we had a Biblical History Tiylal to the Israel musem...which would have been good if I had not been so very very tired.
We had a Tiyal yesterday as well. As part of Israel Seminar to Tel Aviv, which was interesting. We went to the cemitary which I liked because i always enjoy them and Tel Aviv Old Cemitary is an especially good one. I also liked Bialik's house and the walking tour and it was so so nice to get to the beach even if only for a few minutes and to be able to dip ones toes into the sea. lovely.

Long time no posting

So sorry that I have left it such a long time with out posting anything. A whole month and a lot has happened. Most of it Hebrew work :)
My classes are going well, I am not sure that Modern Hebrew is going as well as it could be but there you go. My other classes are History of Zionism, Second temple History, Biblical History, Biblical Grammar, Bible and the Israel Seminar and I think that all of them are going okay. I as have two Teruma projects and so far I am enjoying both of them. We have also had the Yomim norim...the days of awe. I found these good but homesick making at the same time. However Yom Kippur is amazing in Jlem the streets are free from cars and full of people walking home after Kol Nidra. And of course childern on rollers and bikes.
Then before Succot the streets are full of people selling lulavim and etrogim...amazing!

Laura and I then went to England...I stayed with Mum and Dad and after one night Laura headed off to London...I went to the dentist (So yeah no tooth pain!) and went down to see Laura in London for Monday and little bit of Tuseday. We met up with two of my very best friends (Daisy and Mandy) and did some sightseeing, which is something that I wouldn't normally have done and it was nice to have the excuse so to do.
Then it was back home and off to synagogue of the evening of Simchas Torah...lots of dancing and singing. Before we fly back home to Israel...It was nice to be back in the UK and to get a chance to chatch up with at least some of my friends (I will have to met with more next time) and to speek with both my big sisters and to see my little Nephew and Rebecca. Am now back in the hussel and bussel of Jlem and the stuff of life (bills and buying household stuff) and work. But hey in a few hours its shobbos! I will try and post againg before too long but no promises.

firstday at school

Today was the first day of our propper school year. As its Wednesday we started with Israel seminar. This was just an introduction to the course and a group text study/reflection on our relationship with Israel. As well as looking at what we are going to be doing during the course. The assesment will be by two essays (ten pages each), not sure what that is in words I tend to think in words when it comes to essay lengths . But any way it wont be a problem...we also have to keep a journal and hand in a number of our reflections on the course, there are as well, as is to be expected required readings. Tomorrow we start Hebrew all over again and then next week there will be Bible and Bibical Hebrew.

Brake

My short brake is almost over, which is a shame but i am ready for the term to begin for really, and it will be very nice indeed to do something other than Modern Hebrew. In fact we do lots and lots of things so i am going to be rather busy. We start tomorrow with Israel Seminar and then things go on from there.
My hoilday included quite a bit of cleaning, which isn't too bad because I quite enjoy it and the flat needed/needs it. And getting ready for semester tomorrow. But I did get to hang out with Laura, we went to the Old city, which I hadn't really been to the whole time I've been here. (I know I have gone to the Kotel twice, once on Tish ab Av and once with women of the wall) but this was a propper trip we did go to the wall again. And around the Jewish area and then the Shuk and some of the Muslem part and finally the Chirstain section. Before we headed to King George the 5th Street and did some book shopping. Today I am just resting and doing a very little cleaning. Although I did have to get up early to go for my LD Hebrew lesson Yossi says that I am getting better but I am still finding it very hard work.

A short brake

At the end of the Ulpan and before we start our Fall Semester (which looks like it is going to be both interesting and very hard work) we have a short, and I mean very short brake. Friday is Friday here, although it is filled with the stuff of life: Cleaning and wahing and generally getting ready for shobbos, this Friday was quite stressful because we had to going down town to try and sort something out, which cut into what little time we actually had. The Vice Prinicle of our College was in Israel so he came to Friday Night dinner to see how we (all the LBC Students were doing and to general say hi and make sure that we are getting everything we need.), that was really nice and we had a plesant meal together earlier we went to Kol HaNeshamah, and I went there the next day also for Shabbat Mornng. In the evening Laura came over and we had the traditional Saturday night meal (leftovers) and we had a fun evening I have persuaded Laura to learn chess. (I love chess) and we had our first game. We also went for an evening walk, not far but we got some beautiful views of the oldcity, from two directions. And then today some more cleaning of the apartment (Which is looking really raher nice at the moment.) And later I will do some work before heading out to meet up with Laura again.
I am starting to really really love it here and to appericate quite how lucky I am to be here. Although I will almost certainly need reminding of that at a later date when I am struggling to keep my head above water workwise. But at the moment all is good and things are going well. :)

End of summer Ulpan

At last the summer ulpan is over, not that that is the end of my studying modern Hebrew, and I will in fact miss my Ulpan teachters Tammy and shelly. In the end my overall score was 90%, which was made up from attandace and participation in class, homework, quizes, tests, and the final examination. I am happy with my overall result as i can now go on into the accademic year proper.
Yesterday we had a serisis of seminars on aspects of the yomim norim. (the High Holy Days), which were, at least for the most part interesting. Now i have to clean the flat and get ready for shabbat. And then we get a nice if short hoilday and i may actually get the oppintunity to explore Jerusalem. I am also pleased to say that it is cooler in Israel than it has been.

Another weekend

Well, its almost shabbat which is nice but I have quite a busy one this week. At least all my homework is behind me. which is great and sort of got the odd jobs we needed doing done. Just about to head off to Har El synagogue. But it is just too hot here in Jerusalem today. I find it almost unbearable. Its something like 108 today which is just horried. I am hoping that it will cool done soon. Apart from that there isn't all that much to report on.

Hebrew, and Hebrew and Hebrew oh My.

So we have finished the 5th week of Ulpan, which is good...but there is the 6th week to go. Today we had accademic orintation which was a bit intense, and our time table looks a bit full. I don't think that it will has hard as it seems at least I hope it wont be. There is lots and lots Hebrew, Classical Hebrew and Biblical Hebrew and Prayer Book Hebrew so lots and lots of Hebrew (oh My)...I am a bit behind with my Hebrew but I am going to have a really push forward with it tonight. (Its not actually that bad as I have only got two bits left to do.) Plus some flash cards to make.

I had a nice date with Laura yesterday we had pizza on Emek and then we went to her house and did lots of study.

I am quite glad that as a class we will do soming else other than modern Hebrew. But studying Modern Hebrew with Laura is much more fun than studying it my own. Anyway I had better go and get on with studying.

Exciting times

Well another Jerusalem Shabbat is over, and another week of kita alef is about to start. I am now hafeway though my Summer Ulpan course and i think that it is going really well. This week a group of us went to Sir Hadasha (a Modern Orthodox) synagogue in Emek. I really really enjoyed it and think that i will probably go back there to do Kabalat Shabbat. We had a really nice Shabbat dinner at our flat.
I feel that I am getting the hang of being in Israel in general and in Jlem in particular. But it does have a habit of fooling me into thinking that I am back in western Europe and then reminding me that No I'm not I'm in the Middle East.

But i don't know why I am going on about this when the big news is that I am now going out with a wonderful young woman called Laura. She is in my kita (class) for modern Hebrew and is going to be a Cantor. Its early days, but it certainly makes being away from home in a strange place much nicer.
We have only had a couple of dates (0ne was for sushi). But its great and exciting and I'm really happy. :)

We are having a heatwave here so it was 104 degrees F. Today which didn't make for a great shabbat shalom. Hopefully I blog more oftern, but cannot make any promises.

Almost there

So hey my first fall week as an HUC student is behind me and I have almost been here twenty days although not quite and I am almost there with getting things sorted out. There are still a couple of outstanding things, some of them quite improtant to get sorted out ASAP, but maybe with a little bit of luck it will all be done and dusted by the end of July most of our year are off to Tel Aviv. I don't really have the time or the money to go so me, Naomi and Emily are hosting a shabbat dinner here in our flat for a few of the people from our kita, (go kita Alef!), I also had my first extra Hebrew lesson to today and was told I am a solid Kita Alef student which is nice. I am really looking forward to shabbat but have a tone of homework for Sunday and lots of Tropping notes to learn.
So Shabbat Shalom from Jlem

Ulpan and HUC

So Hey I had my exam, and i am much improved not quite there yet but I am now on the main HUC Ulpan programe, which is great but I kinda miss Ulpan Or, and I really miss Reut my teacher there. Orintation was really intense at HUC but we have started the summer Ulpan and i am settling in okay, still not used to being anywhere so hot or working so hard so I am really tired nearly all the time. Its nice in the flat and most of the things i need to get sorted are getting there albeit slowly, but then i haven't been here long yet just over two weeks.
I really like almost everyone on the various programs here, and there is nobody i actaully dislike. Tomorrow we are having a mini-Jerusalem day as our ti'al (trip) and i am going on one that involves rock climbing, not that i have done that in a long time. But generally things are fun here.

Getting to Isreal, and lots of Hebrew

So I am now in Israel! The flight was ok and after a longish taxi ride I reached the apartment Naomi and Emily where already there. I was feeling rather ill after all the travelling and the heat here. The flat is lovely though and I think that Abu Tur is fantistic. The next morning I had six hours of Ulpan starting fritst thing so I headed off feeling sharted. Reut is a fantastic teach and I have made lots and lots of progress in just the few days Tuesday, Wednesday and Thrusday...tomorrow is Friday and I only have lessions in the morning. In addition to lots and lots of Hebrew I have had meetings both at HUC and elsewhere. So things are really busy and I am so tired!
But it is totally briliant to be in Jerusalem...it is so lovely...and even in the midist of my business I have found time for a few moments of enjoyment (Maybe 35 in total) but even that small amout makes me want to stay here for as long as possible. I have also been so lucky with my flatmates...Naomi and Emily are simply the loveliest people that you could ever want to meet. And I am sure that we are going to surport one and other and become amazing friends.

More on Hebrew

So I am making me an amazing amount of progress with my Hebrew. Ruet is an amzing teaching and we have rushed though and though lots of material, both book one Safer sheli kita alef and safer pu'al alef sheli (my first Hebrew verb book), I have even started reading simplified news papers. I still don't know if I will am going to have done enough to pass my exam. I have however done most of my preparations i am bouncing between really excited and horribly nervious. Up and down, up and down, up and down. Its very tirying. But whatever happens I have learnt a lot of Hebrew and am looking forward to going to Israel and meating Naomi and Emily in the really world and being in our flat.

Modern Hebrew Vs. Biblical Hebrew

Although generally speaking my ability to learn Modern Hebrew is added by my really rather good Biblical Hebrew there are times when it is not a help and may even be a hindrance. For example when I am struggling to form a sentence and pluck a word from the Tanach (Hebrew Bible) or the Siddur (daily prayer book), this can be wrong and funny enough to make my tutor laugh out loud this happened when i wanted to say return, or more prosaically came back and I used the word HaShoove, this did indeed make the native Hebrew speakers laugh, although I should say that they know what I meant. I caused more confussion with PoKard for visit, again after a short pause they know what I meant.
There are also constructions of the Verb that seem to have fallen by the wayside. I think the effect of all of this on my Hebrew must indeed be funny, kind of like a six year old who suddenly switches into Shaskpirian English. It does cut the both ways as i find things like Toshafot meaning side orders, rather than comments on Rashi's comments on the Talmud rather funny too.

Hebrew

So I am now in the middle of my Ulpan-Or (Hebrew at the speed of light) course, only the skype one I don't actually do the intensive one2one course until I am actually in Jerusalem. My GDL teacher is called Ruth, or maybe I should say ^morah shi korim reut.^ anyway she seems really nice and I am making progress but I am still not sure that i am going to be able to make enough progress in the time that i have. Everybody else seems more sure than I am. But I keep making my afformation statemate and we shall see what happens in the end. I still have lots of things to organise and lots of goodbyes to say.

Up date post exam

Sorry about the long gap in posting but things have been "busy and interesting", I got the results of my Hebrew exam which were around 50%, in a way I was quite pleased about that i thought it a tribute to my exam technique if nothing else. Sadly, however, this was below the pass mark so I had a bit of a problem. And it coursed me to really lose a lot of self-confidence, I had never previously failed any examination before.
I am now feeling a somewhat more sanguine I have booked on an Ulpan-Or course via skype, which will run before I go to Jerusalem, and then a two week intensive when i get there. All this happens before my HUC Ulpan program can start. It is not quite the gentle start to my stay in Israel that I would have chosen but I guess I wont have any time to feel scared. :)
I am more or less sorted out now, although I still have many things to get finalised before I can head off with a clear conscience. My A2 student visa has come, and the flat thing is all but sorted out too. When plus side of all this little problems is that I have become friends, and I would say good friends with my two flat mates to be Naomi, and Emily. In fact now that Emily has gone out to Jerusalem ahead of schedule its going to be sad not to be able to chat with her.

General thoughts

I really, really, really dislike the word training. I am prepared to tolerate its use in the context of computer training at university (where I am not really learning to understand how computers work or indeed there fully potential), however in almost all other cases of learning I much prefer education, which at least for me implies a more personal connection with the subject(s) being studied. It is a personal thing, in almost all cases I think people teach themselves. This brings me to the reason why I am posting this here I have noticed that people tend to talk about ‘Rabbinic Training’, indeed I think I have probably fallen into this trap myself. Now I know that there will be some actual training say in the area of Layning (chanting the Torah), however I frimly believe that we should talk about rabbinic education (we are after all not monkeys. I also thing that it is a process of self-education with our teachers acting as facilitators rather than as instructors who simply push facts and skills into us.

Things move on again

So things are really moving on at a pace. I have signed the lease on the flat in Jlem and sent off the signed contract by post as well as wiring the depost to my landlord. I also feel that I am getting to know my flatmates to be although only via Facebook and texts and emails. I still need to get my visa sorted although I have all the documentation that i require so it should be relatively straightforward to sort it out. (That said nothing else has been as easy as i had hopped it would be). As I write I still haven't heard from LBC about either the finanices or the results of my Hebrew exam. I am hopeful that all that will change this week.

Kartiss matoss (Plan tickets)

So I have now brought my plan tickets for the first part of my trip to Israel. So barring major (and I mean major) volvanic activity I should be in Jlem from the first week of July onwards. I am quite happy with price I got although as always it was higher and alot higher than the quoted price. But things are coming together. And I am trying not to think about the whole exam thing.

Hebrew Exam

Well I have now sat my Hebrew exam. I sat it at synagogue in a quite side room with various people making sure that it was conducted under exam condisions. I had forgotten how much I dislike doing exams. It was also made harder because I hardly ever write in long hand anymore, I nearly always type at a computer so just writting longhand has become a great strian. Basically the exam was in three parts one on comprehension (including a biblical componant), a grammar section (30%), and a writting composition (30%). Well good news first I think that Biblical text bit went well, and I guess that although the short story I wrote was OK, (although rather odd), I am not sure about the grammar part it should have really been my strong card, but the comprehension section was a bit of a nightmare (at least I feel it was in retrospect) I think there were seven passages and only one of them went really well, the other six were really hit and miss and I just hope I have done enough to pass the whole thing. I had unlimmited time in which to do it but had to leave somethings unanswered because I had been in there for ages (not sure how long but at least four and a half hours) and by the end had stopped making much sense in either Hebrew or in English.

My letter of acceptance and dates for Hebrew Union College has been sent to me from Jerusalem so when that gets here I will at long last be able to apply for my visa to go to Israel. So things are progressing along ok...Its just feel I didn't show myself off to my full potential in the exam and I even found the whole thing process of organising the exam rather stressful this is partly because I am finishing my thesis and organising going to Jerusalem stressful in and off itself. But in short I am glad, really very very glad that its about to be Shabbat, and that I have an amazing set of friends who have been amazingly supportative during my preparation for the Hebrew exam and afterwards.

Jerusalem

Hey things have changed and moved on again. I think that fingers crossed I have a place to stay in Jerusalem. Thanks to the amazing Emily :) if things work out how I hope they will and as things are planned at the moment, then there will be four of us sharing a really nice looking apartment in Jlem. So now all I have to do is get my visa, and plan tickets and of course pass my Hebrew exam.

Hebrew exam and J-lem

Well things are moving on at a pace at the moment. So I am revising away for my Hebrew exam which i sit in ten days time so there still is time (if not plenty of it), to do more revision. I have had one practice session over a past paper with Devorah (i think it went okay maybe even well) I am not worried about the grammar part of the exam as my Hebrew grammar is really pretty good. But some of the other parts are really very difficult.
I also may have found flatmates for when I am in J-lem they are really nice and i am hopeful it will all workout well. But even if it doesn't I am getting to know some of my future fellow students at HUC; and so far they're all really lovely and friendly. So I am starting to go from nervious to excited. :)
Apart from that I am working away on my thesis, which is really taking shape, although it is hard for me tell whether it is anygood or not (I think its okay-good but not great). There are still lots of little and not so little things to get sorted before I move to Israel and start on my rabbinic course but at the moment I am in a good place. Re-starting meditation as help there I think.

Changes

Well things have really changed and in a big way; the first thing is that I have found out that I was wrong when I thought that my course started in September in Jerusalem I have now found that it starts in July and early July at that. On the 12th but i really need there before-hand, I will probably get there on around the 6th of July. But anyway this means that I have to finish or nearly finish my thesis by then, since I found out I have been working like a mad thing...I also have a lot of things to sort out for when I am actually there; like accomodation and study books as well as tickets et al...the other thing I have to do is to take the HUC Hebrew exam. I have organised to sit it later in May around the middle. But lots and lots of things are happening and I don't know whether I am coming or going. But I have a lot on and a lot to get sorted.

Things change and things stay the same

Well as the title of this post suggest things are changing yet at the same time are staying the same. I am still plodding along with my thesis, but it is really a case of plodding but I think that the home straight is at least within sight. I am also still building on the skills I will need when training to be rabbi (and when I am actual a rabbi). So practicing readings and keeping a tally of my skills and what I am good at and what needs improvement. A big thing is my Modern Hebrew which I really need to work on a because of the exam in June (and it has now been a while since my last exam) but mainly because I will need it for my year in Israel.

What has really change and I know I have mentioned this before is how be interact with me. Firstly people are refer to my as a colleague but more disturbingly (and this is something I know I shall have to get used to) is that people have started to come to me for advice. Which is odd because I am not even on the rabbinic program yet, so in reality I am just a PhD student and we are not noted for the quality of our advice.

I get a brake this weekend because I am off to York with some friends.

Gaining skills.

So I can no longer say next year I start to study to be a rabbi because it will be this year. Well next year still in the Jewish calendar in any case in September. So while I am struggling to finish off my thesis I am also attempting to gain useful skills for when I start my rabbinic training and for when I am rabbi. (I am also attempting to keep a record of them)...So when I read from the Torah, or take part in a service. I have to keep things to a minimum though because of the time pressures of my thesis. But I have agree to run a session at Manchester Limmud,,,which I am working on already even though it is someway off yet. And I have gotten involved with the Jsoc of my old university (Keele) I tell myself its preparation but its really for fun. Anyhow I am working on a Purim poster for them...I am also going to have to come to some decision about the three faiths summer school, I would like to try and go but its dates are very near to my leaving for Israel and the end of my thesis so I dont know if it will be possible in the indeed I shall have to wait and see.

Limmud

So I have been at Limmud (see my other blog) which I love and what little real Jewish knowledge I have is mainly due to Limmud I have really grown up there not just as Jew but as a person also. I have been going for a long time not sure if a started in 90 or 91 don't think it was as recently as 92 but it may have been in that time I missed one year so even if it was 92 when I first went then this was my 17th Limmudim. And I guess that if you go to that many there is something almost inevitable about deciding to go ahead and become a rabbi. This post is about how going to Limmud is how it fits in with the start of my rabbinic training. It was as always wonderful that goes without saying. But there were some differences. One was there was an opportunity to meet with the people who are going to be my teachers and fellow students, this also applied to people from HUC Jerusalem. But also i went to more sessions on jewish leadership and more stuff for community workers than I think that I would have done normally. Also even though I don't know how they knew that I was going there people came up and asked me about the interview process because they were thinking of applying. Well now its back to the thesis writing.