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.