Really the end of 4th year

I have now finally and fully done with the 4th year. Last week I had my final presentation at college it was on a community based use of a megilah, and if it did not go as well as it might have it did go and I am sure that it was good enough to pass.
I have also had my last rabbinic tutorial of the year. So I am basically done. There is still the matter of Kol Bo (weeks one and two) but this does not require me to do much other than turn up and pay attention, that is it is not assessed.
I also have one or two things left to do at my fourth year placement but this things are basically fun and I am looking forward to them.

Then in early July the current 5th students will be ordained and I will become a 5th year student myself.  looking back apart from year one (which of course was in Israel) i find that years two, three and four have kind of mixed together in my memory and if I really want to sort out when something happened then I have to go though this blog to work things out.

But looking back on the 4th I again feel that i have grown and changed but find myself uncertain as to when exactly this happened.

I am going to spend the summer working of my rabbinic thesis as far as possible as well as gaining community experience. I am looking forward to my 5th year placement (Watch this space).

And for now that about it.

Last Day of the 4th Year

Today was my last class as a 4th. All I can say about this is wow. It feels like it has simultaneously happened very slowly and very fast. Today was quiet light after an informal morning service and pleasant chat with a few of my fellow students all we had was our last reflexive class. Yesterday however had been quiet tough double rabbinic literature and spirituality. In fact I am feeling really tired as this has proved to be a long hard semester.  Earlier in the week Emily and I had our presentations for Spirituality class, which I think went very well.

Also for once I do not feel overloaded with work and assessments although I am still busy. I have two essays to write one for rabbinic texts and one for spirituality. Additionally we have a presentation for Megilot Class and then that is is it.

Tomorrow I head off for LJ Bienniel and I am both looking forward to it because i think its going to be great fun but I am also dreading it. (Because I am very tired and the last thing I want to do is go off and be active for a weekend).  I am also going to be do a session at it.

After that we have the annual college dinner in about a fortnights time. As I've mentioned here in earlier  posts I am once again involved in the Limmud Chevaruta project (and I will need to start making some real traction there soon.)

Then there is the MRJ Biennial latter in the year and the two weeks of Kol Bo on either side of it. (So that is going to be one tough fortnight. Then its Ordination of the current 5th years and then that's the year fully over. So at the moment I feel I am in the slightly uncomfortable place of no longer an active 4th but certainly not a 5th year. (I will want to wait until it is confirmed that i have successfully pasted all my 4th year stuff before I will feel that.).

Anyway I felt like i owed you guys an update.  And now I had better get back on with packing for Biennial.

Passover, Emily's Birthday and the Continuing 4th year.

So how I always forget how hard the second semester is, even in a year when it is not overloaded with classes. It seems to drag on and on and on.  At the moment I am back home in Stoke because its Passover, or will be the 1st night Sader is tonight. But the semester did go right up till the end. In fact we still have a week of classes left after the Peasch holidays. Plus some catch-up classes.  Fortunately the assessments this semester are relatively light. I have a fairly major essay for Rabbinic Texts, a major presentation of Megilot, a presentation (and I think a report) for spirituality and finally a report for Tikkun Olam.

Then there are both of Biennials to attended, one for LJ and one for the MRJ. Kol Bo in the summer and the LBC Day of Celebration and finally Ordination. And then my Fourth Year is over. It somehow seems like a lot and like a little simultaneously. And i have as always taken things for limmud, which somehow I also always manage to forget how much work they will actually be. Although I am sure I will enjoy them as well.

As busy as the year has been I have managed to see a few friends. Matthew and others and last week it was Emily's birthday, which is always a lot of fun.

My extra reading lesson continue, and I am pretty sure that they are making a difference which is great. I am also continuing to meet and train with my personal trainer and I am sure this is making a difference. Last week was the first time that we have been able to properly train out of doors. Because the weather was finally nice enough.

Oh I almost forgot that one marker on the year that is still left is the College Dinner.  Anyway this is just an update and really a very profound one at. Things are carrying on much as they have before. And as of today I have 447 days to go until ordination.

First week back at school

This past week was my first one back at school so I now have a much better feeling for what shape the semester is going to take. Overall I am pretty upbeat I only have a small number of classes admittedly ones that are going to take rather a lot of work. I will just need to sort out in my mind what the assessments look like for this coming semester and then I will really have a feel for how things are going to play out.

I am still really enjoying my placement down at KLS which is good as I shall be going there rather a lot in the next few weeks entering a busy patch.  I am also still enjoying Personal Training I can really start to feel positive effects.

I also think that working on Hebrew Vocalisation is starting to pay dividends. So all in all things are good.

I have come back home to stoke for the weekend but I was struck down by my periodic motionless motion sickness so i lost a whole day so I am feeling both a little week and achy as well as behind already with my work. (Not that I really am mind.)

So steady as she goes. 1/12 of my 8th semester is under my belt. Oh and I have 518 days to go.

Assessments, training (PE) and other things

It feels as if the year has really gotten going now.  I am back in the flat in London although Emily is still away in Canada so its a little lonely.  Yesterday (Friday) I had my first training session with Danielle of the new year. I found it all a little harder than before the brake although nothing like as bad as I expected. Embracingly I forgot to give her her money. We both remembered only after we had gone our separate ways on the Tube. She was cool about it and I'll give her double next time we meet which will either be monday or Tuesday.
I also forgot to put my anti-nusia bracelets on, and only remembered I wasn't wearing them right at the end and I wasn't sick once. (Now there is an improvement).
In all seriousness I am so much fitter now than when I started and its only been a short time.  We moved where we meet to Parsons Green because of the weather so much rain and thunder and winds. But its not really cold at all C.F., with USA and Canada.

Then after training it was back home for a shower and a change of outfit and off the synagogue FPS., it was the evening before a Bar-Mitzvah and the boy although very nervous gave a truly exceptional D'var Torah.

Rabbi Rebecca was in good form and it was also nice to meet up with Kathy again and catch up.  I have also been working away on my assessments I have done quiet a few of them but still have four remaining so I need to a) Finish Liturgy (not to bad but I really want to do a good job with this one.) b) Finish Modern Jewish Thought. (I've already done quite a bit on it but its complex).  c) Progessive Jewish Decision making. (In effect I have to write a resonsa done some research and have been thinking about it but still have a long way to go. and finally d) An analysis of two academic articles for Research methods. shouldn't be that much trouble.

Tomorrow I go around to Matthew's for our much delayed winter celebration. Then it serious will be nose back to the grind stone.  Although I hope to be able to get in another visit back home.

Limmud, home and assessments

Limmud was as always wonderful so many people old and new. Great learning and teaching.  That first and second day there is always a joy I cannot go more than a few feet without meeting someone  I know and greeting an old friend.
This year I was teaching four sessions as part of the new Beit Midrash program (which is a fantastic idea and one with which I am keen to help with, next year).  These went well, they were on the topic of Judah and Tamar. (Looking at it four ways). I was also helping out with the Chervarta project, this also went well.

Although I enjoyed limmud tremendously I am very tired. Back home in Stoke getting on with work for the new semester and with my assessments. Busy as always. Happy but Busy.