Middles are hard as well

All beginings are difficult as it says in the Talmud, but in there own way middles seem really hard also, in someways harder than beginnings, currently I find myself not lost in ocean of Talmud but lost in the forest of rabbinical school.  It now feels like I have been at this for a very long time.  And in some ways I have those days of sitting in my garden revising Hebrew like mad, before having meaningful conversations with my fellow incoming students seem a long long time ago. And indeed they were that was all happening in April and May 2010!, but it still feels as if I have a long way still to travel and I do. Two whole years.  It has taken so much to get to this point.  And the third year is not yet over.  It is almost over, but there is still much left to do.  So far I have done my Essays for Prophets, Liturgy, Piyyutim, Midrash (almost, I have a very good first draft but it still needs some work), Rabbinic literature intensive (well in hand but its horribly complex) then we reach the subjects which are less prepared and ready to go. Education interesting but I'm struggling, and Rambam which I still haven't really started yet.
So standing between me and the end of my third are: Whats left of classes, not many now. One presentation (on the 13th) I had a presentation yesterday as well.  Additionally I have some Jewish Care Norward placement visits.  Two full essays, one part essay and writing another.  Put that way it sounds like a lot.  However, it does feel as if I've turned out of the last corner of the lap and am on the home-straight even if there are two more years to go and 795 days.

Well I am teaching in a synagogue tomorrow and leader services at school and I have a lot to do before I can go to sleep so I had better get of this blog and go and do something.

799

So as of today I have less than 800 days to go until ordination. 799, in fact.  Today was a fairly typical Thursday, so because its Thursday it started out with Jewish Care (over at Jewish Care Direct).  This was interesting today (although it did get off to something of a rough start).
Although a really nice thing was bumping into my cousin Clear at Jewish Care.  Then it was back to LBC to have one of our reflective session.  Rather than doing it in a classroom or even the room or prayer we headed out into the LBC grounds to have the session there.
Then rather than working in the Library I picked up what I need and then headed home. Party just to enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.
Anyway essays to write, presentations to prepare, reports to write, and the like.

Today was a good day

Its amazing what a little sunshine and warmth can do to left my mood. But today has been a busy day and one filled with work but it was nevertheless a good day.  This was due two two factors. Firstly because it had breaks in it, yes actually breaks. And secondly because its sunny.
I slept until my alarm went off at 7am and then headed off to college, I normally wake earlier than this so this alone the little extra-sleep got the day off to good start.  The walk to school was much more pleasant than it has been in ages, the sun was shinning and the world of nature was waking, birds singing and butterflies and other insects abounded.
The morning service was led by a visiting rabbi who had come to talk to us about Rabbi Dr. John Rayner, this was very interesting and it was also a very pleasant service.  I then had quite a sizeable break (very nice and very rare) so I did some preparations in the library and then went and did my reading for class outside in the fresh air.
My next class was on Rambam and was very interesting, I feel that I am starting to get to grips with the some of his ideas.
After lunch (more time outdoors) we had one of our extended Rabbinic literature class.  We are looking at a fascinating section of Tractate Kiddushin, during class we also looked at how to use various on-line resources to help with writing our essays.
After that I went to the library and did some more work on my Midrash and Rabbinic literature essays.
I then came back to the flat and did some more work.  I still hope to get a relatively early night but I still have some preparation to do for Piyyutim class tomorrow. But today was a really gently pleasant day.

Move year markers

Well the year is proceeding though its marks, after Emily's birthday and Yom Hashoah (as mentioned in my last post) after that there was Yom HaZikkeron (not that this was really marked all that much) and Yom Haatzmiut. Emily led a great morning service for the students and in the evening I went to celebration at College, held for about four local synagogues.

I have been working away on assessments.  Although I haven't finished any more assessments I have made good progress on Rabbinic Literature (I am writing about disability and Jewish law: focusing in on the status of the Cherash).

I also feel that Midrash is proceeding okay to the point where I'll be able to start writing soon.  My other two essays (Education and Rambam are somewhat on the back burner for the moment.)

This weekend I was back home in Newcastle-under-Lyme for a flying visit. Partly in order to celebrate Aaron's birthday.

Looking forward next week is shaping up to be rather busy, although exceptionally so.  I am reading Torah on Monday and then there are the normal class with the normal class prep.  In the week after that I have a formal teaching thing on Revelation and then assessments really gear-up.  The date lines are for June 3rd.  But in addition to that I have two presentations: One for Rabbinic literature and one for Midrash.  After the school year is over and after ordination (which takes place in July) I am going to a conference on Synagogue music. A bit surprising for me but i think it should be both interesting and useful. But already I am kind of ready for this year to be over and done with.

Additionally I have turned at least part of my attention the High Holy Days which are ridiculously early this year. And as last year I am involved with the Limmud Chevarurta project.

So long and short I am very busy.

Emily's Birthday and other days

The year is moving though its marker points, as it always does, last week was Yom Hashoah and yesterday was Emily's birthday, although the celebrations are continuing today.  Yesterday after giving Emily her grifts and card we went and got a nice cake and some food for that evenings festivities.  Later  Josh D., came around and we went to Brent Cross before coming back to the flat.  Hannah and Haim came and we had cake, pizza and wine.  A very happy and fun evening :)
Latter today we are going to go out and have drinks as a further celebration.  At school things are still proceeding onwards.  Although I haven't finished off any further assignments I have come up/finalised my plan for my midrash essay (I am pretty happy with it).
I have also finished and sent off my research proposal for my rabbinic literature essay.  Title, Abstract and Bibliography...(I have sent off for a few further books to help with writing this essay.)  This really just leaves, the essays on Rambam and education to get under way.  So all in all I am happy with how school is progressing.
This years Limmud Chervatura Project is also starting to get off the ground.  This will be a lot of work but I am sure I will enjoy it as much this year as I did last.

Next week is Yom Hazikkeron and Yom Haatzmiut (the day of remembrance and Israel Independence day.) At this time I really miss being in Israel and it seems strange to think that it was two full years ago that I was marking these days in Israel.  The memory of the Yom Hashoah ceremony at HUC and then Yom Hazikkaron at the School in Rehavia are still very powerful.

Back here in London I think, finger crossed that spring may actually have come now. The birds are very actively building their nests and there is real warmth in the sunshine.

A full day back at school.

Today was my first full day back at LBC, for sometime it started with morning service which I led adding somethings because its Yom Hashoah.
After that we had a interesting class on the Amidah, reading it as literature.  After that came our Responsa and Codes class, where we were reading a CJLS responsa about Yom Hashoah.  Then, after a session about our up-coming essays, we had our Midrash class.  I always find midrash class rather difficult, I do not natural take to midrash.
All in all it was a tiring day.  I am home now and after a little bit of a rest I am going to work some more on my Rabbinic literature essay and then get an early night if possible as i didn't sleep at all well last night.
Generally speaking today was landing back in the rushing middle of my course.

Assessments-2

I guess this post should be called something else, because it does not refer to this semester's set of assessments but rather to last semester's, this is because i had my three essays from last semester returned today.  I passed them all which is what pretty much all I care about at this point. But here's how it went:

Psalms: 52% Meh
Liturgy: 65% :) (with some really nice comments)
Medieval Jewish world: 65% again :) and again with some pretty nice comments.

So I am content if not happy, and other then perfection no mark makes me happy. But the most interesting thing i find is that I really not all that concerned with my essays marks but rather with gaining practical skills. Maybe I have, and not before time, out grown the classroom.

A Day of Spring

One sunny day and our small garden has come to life.  The grass seems green and there are small buds on the trees. A number of small insects have appeared on the breaches of the bushes and tress.  This in turn has brought a number of birds (pairs of birds actually) into the garden.  Great Tits and Blue Tits, the crows are also showing signs of spring; carrying twigs and blades of grass.  I spent some happy if quiet moments just sitting out there in the almost warm sunshine enjoying not doing the work I should be, and a hint of spring.
The weather must have had, an effect on me as well because after I had gone to get some stationary, and to get some grifts and party stuff for Emily I decided not to go straight back to the apartment but rather have a morning out (in London proper), I ended up in the British Library where I had a look at their current exhibition (as it turns out it was its last day).  I then had a coffee in the court yard before just going for a walk around and about.
I then did head back but I enjoyed at least a morning away from the flat.  I have enjoyed passover but will be pleased when I can eat bread again tonight.

Assessments-1

Its time for one of my 'assessment' posts, early in the year I know but thats because this semester I have what can only be termed a ridiculous amount of essays.  Seven in all, as well as other formal and semi-formal assessments.
I haven't had anything like this volume since I was in high-school (and that gave me a serious case of the screaming ab-dabs!) oh Happy days.

Anyway I have already been working like a mad thing and have sucessfully finished three of them. So far I have done.

Prophets-this was based on my presentation last semester and it seemed wise simply to get on with it. I think that this is pretty good essay far from great but certainly good.

I have also written my Liturgy essay. (This is either mad or brilliant) so it will be interesting to get this one back when marked to see what side of the insane/brilliant line it will fall.

The final essay that I have written is for Piyyutim. This I think is a very solid essay boarding on very good. So all in all I am happy with these so far.  I am working hard on the background reading/research for my long essay on Rabbinic Literature its interesting but its also going to be hard work.  The other essays that need to be done are one on the Rambam (should be okay), on for education (not sure) and one for Midrash (I am feeling a lot happier about this one than I was even a few days ago).

Then I have the day to day preparations for each class, a report I need to write (largely in order to help future generations of rabbinical students but nevertheless really necessary).  The normal stuff of living/running the apartment, and continuing to act as one of the two gabbyim for the student-led morning services. Also all in all BUSSY!

The next point on the calendar is of course Emily's Birthday (as well as Yom Ha'atzmaut a little later in the month).

This academic year is starting to begin to draw to a close and I still have so much to do before it does. At the moment I am enjoying what is left of my Passover holiday (resting up, organisational stuff and of course academic work.)