In the beginning

One of the questions that I get asked when I tell people that I want to be a rabbi, or rather as i should now get used to saying that I am going to be a rabbi at least if everything is ‘why do you want to be a rabbi?’ I am sure that I will get around to talking about that in this blog at some stage but right now I want to talk about when. Put simple I have always wanted to be a rabbi, but then that is not quite true but i have certainly wanted to be one all my adult life from about the age of 12 or 13 it became a A real and concerte desire. And although I have taken a rather round about route via Chemistry and an MA in Jewish studies (more classical academic Biblical studies in terms of content but with a Jewish studies slant). And I applied to study towards ordination for the rabbinate. I should say right at the outset that I am going to be a progresive-Rabbi and my home synagogue is a Reform one. (As I am in the UK British Reform is closer to Conservative Judaism in America.)
That first application, the interview parts of it, did not go to well, and so I had to find something else to do, and as I always say 'if in doubt do another degree' I embarked on my PhD, which is still the major focuse of my life even as it draws to a close, I also got even more involved in community life. And then I re-appllied for the same programme at the college and this time although the process was still difficult I was offered a place with deferred entry. So next year I will start my studies next year in Jerusalem as the say.
So now all I have to do is finish my thesis, which is a lot of work. Improve my Modern Hebrew which is a bit odd at the moment, and get ready for my course to start.