Illness and Hanukhah

I have been, its been rather horrid actually, but I am almost back to full health although my meds are giving me very vivid and disquieting dreams. I go home tomorrow and now I am so much better I am tidying my room so it is nice when I return I am also working a bit many on my education essay. But this Hanukkah is certainly less joyous than last but now I am getting better it can only improve.

But it has set me thinking one think I am learning as part of my rabbinic training (I may even have learnt it already) is not to approach new situations with to many preconceived ideas. So many of the things that I was dreading and not looking forward to at all turned out to be great and things that retrospect I would not have missed for anything. That applied in a big way to the whole YII. But in small ways too to classes and events. Ah but it cuts the other way too. Things that I was really looking forward to be it particular classes or events have been real disappointments. So I think I'll try in the new year just to see what things are actually like and try not to form ideas before hand. Who knows maybe that will make every thing both better and easier.

Well Happy Hanukkah to one and all.

End of the semester

The semester is almost over I'm first here in London and the third at rabbinical school. So what's changed; I think I know a lot more than when I started which is a good thing given the amount of time, effort and money invested even at this early stage. I am more open to new things both within and external to the Jewish world. And thanks to my time at HUC I have picked up some Americanism. Hence school, which courses so much confusion with my family and UK friends. I also now talk about stores rather than shops and the edge has come off my (rather posh) English ascent. We only have one more day of school left a catch up class for all the sessions we missed because of the haggim (So Monday is Wednesday) and then I'm off on brake. I have a few assessments to do (get ready for) but there is plenty of time and its nothing to onerous so that's okay. This semester has been a lot harder than last (although academically speaking its still far from difficult). I miss Jerusalem, a lot, and my HUC friends. Thank God for Facebook and Skype.
I have been having extra-reading classes because of my dyslexia...and I am enjoying the Bar-Mitzvah tutoring that I am doing. Really its working in the communities that I am enjoying most. It reminds me of why I am doing this. I am looking forward to Hunnakah and then off to spend some time with my family.

Better late than never

So I thought it was about time for a post in my much negated blog; so here goes. As my last post was on the second of October a lot has happened in the meantime. Firstly I had an amazing birthday, many thanks to Emily who is great at getting me to leave the flat and go do something fun rather than just work work work. Then it has almost all been about work but in various forms so I guess thats okay as a change is as good as a rest. Aside from class: Aramaic (very hard and lots to do), Meggilot (Whats to say), Chumash, Modern Hebrew (this is more having a chat than anything), Early commentators,(Hebrew Grammar, education Seminar, Rabbinic Theology (this is more philosophy than it is theology), Modern Jewish History and Talmud. Then we have classes on Practical Rabbinics and something called community and councling skills. So that makes for a very busy Adam.
I am also Bar-Mitzvah Tutoring I have started working in a Cheder (possibly two we shall have to see if that works out) and more often than not I am involved with the Friday night or Saturday morning Services somewhere.

This means that all in all i hardly get to enjoy being in London. Although I have had a chance to see a few movies and i already have my coffee shop great cakes. At the moment I am a little under the weather so I took a day off school (well a day and a half actually) those of you who know me will know that this almost never happens. I am feeling much better after a nice rest but have no voice at all. This happened last year and i have learnt from that experience and so am keeping silent i really want it to come back faster than it did that time. Anyhow that about fills everything in, I'm busy but am having some fun.