Ordination service.

Yesterday was the ordination service for Leah, Benji and Esther.  It was unsurprisingly very moving. But more about that latter. Before Sunday came Saturday (unsurprisingly enough) I didn't go anywhere for Shabbat morning I had been planning to go to Kol Chai with Emily but in the event Emily was really unwell so we didn't go anywhere.  Friday night I went to New North London Masorti Synagogue.
I always enjoy the service there, partly because I get just to be an ordinary congregant.  But the similarities with Shira Hadasha in Jerusalem and the almost Jerusalem like weather made me very homesick.

Saturday we went to celebrate Hannah's birthday with a murder mystery, 'death by chocolate' I played Dr Sigmand Fraud, it was a lot of fun. A really fun evening.

I have also started an eat well campaign this was the result of Emily and I realising how badly we have been eating.  This was both shocking and might explain how ill we have been feeling of late.  But now on to ordination.

This year ordination took place at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue. Hannah was kind enough to give Emily and I lift in, which made a real difference because of how difficult it is to get by means of public transport.

This is the third ordination I have attended since starting at rabbinical school one was at HUC and then last year at West London Synagogue.  I found this year very moving, the speeches by the ordains were very good. Leah's was a re-aprassal of her one at the last service. Linking her Bat-Mitzvah portion (Mattot-this weeks sedra) with her journey from the midwest and Classical Reform Judaism today, Benji's was also personal starting from his tenancy to leave planning routes and suddenly finding himself at a destination with his journey to the rabbinate, and Esther linked her complex and challenging Journey to her family history.

All three discussed the feelings and trepidation's of embraking on the next part their carers. Laliv gave the address which was prefect in tone and personal to each of the three canidates. All in all a lovely ceremony. In beautiful weather.