Rounding off the 4th year.

One of the difficult things about the spring semester is how it drags on but with so many breaks. Currently I am waiting to do a presentation, which has been rescheduled but one that is ready to go save for some minor printing and a very little preparations. I am also waiting of Kol Bo. The summer study. But basically I am done with my 4th year. And I am really happy be so. A couple of days ago I was down in Kingston for Erev Shavuot, I led the evening service and led a Biblodrama study session. I think it went well, especially the study session part. I am also decompressing from the stress of exams. And have really started thinking about and planning my 5th year. Basically this means that I am starting to think about my 5th year placement although things are still rather range on that front. I am also starting to work on my Rabbinic dissertation I am actually beginning to get excited about this it should be an interesting project.

However this dose mean that the 4th and 5th year are going to run into each other with very little in-between. But I am feeling more and more nature in my role as rabbi-to-be, in a way that I haven't before. I have grown a lot during this past year and working with Charley and at KLS has been great.

One down side of things at the moment is that I do not feel that I have made enough progress with my work for Limmud as I would like although I am sure that it will get done and will be good in the end.

I am still training with my personal trainer but I do seem to have hurt my knee or rather re-injured my knee which is a bit of a drag.  As its really painful and its stopping me from training as hard as I would, like.

But all in all things are good.

Article in Jewish News

All is well with me. Although as per-normal I am tired and stressed. I have, however, had a piece published in Jewish News.

Here is the link

Anyway. I am off shortly to do a Song of Songs themed Kabbalat Shabbat Service down in KLS. I have taken an Advil in the hopes of clearing a bit of my headache before I get there.

Shabbat Shalom.

Settling into the 8th semester

I am now settling into my 8th semester. And so far things are going pretty well. I have two academic classes and two vocational and although all four are quiet high work load its nothing I don't think I shall be able to handle.  I am especially enjoying the Talmud and Midrash class.  Although that said all I are interesting. Additional I am auditing a class on service leading skills, which technically is a first year class but I think it will be useful as this is something that I feel i have missed out on rather.

Outside of school my placement is still going well. Although a number to times I have gone all the way down to KLS only for nobody to turn up. This is partly due to the horrible weather we have been having lately.  I am still enjoying the mix of stuff that I have been doing and my number of sessions are ticking over nicely.

My reading classes-To help me with my dyslexia are progressing nicely as well. So all in all things are looking really positive on almost all fronts.

Apart from work work work which sometimes realls pretty relentless not all that much has been happening.  I have agreed to take part in the Limmud Chervauta Project again. For the last time, as next time would take me over into when I am actually a rabbi.

And last week I was photographed as part of an art project looking at people who are training to be religious leaders. (It was quiet exciting and I am looking forward to seeing the results).

Yesterday after getting back from KLS I went out to celebrate Matthew's birthday which was fun.

Today was mainly a working day. Albeit that i did find time for a walk around the local park. Enjoying a sunny day which has been so rare of late. There were lots of trees down because of the recent high winds but not as many as i might have feared and the park was very beautiful in sunshine.

Tomorrow another week starts, which looks set to be busy…well they all look that way now. And then on Wednesday I hit the 500 days to go mark.

All busy is relative

There is a famous Chasidic story. About a man who goes to see his Rebbe because of his troubles. He lived in his one room house with his wive and his children and it was always crowed and nosey. It was always so nosey and there was always so much going on that he found it impossible to conduct his work as a taylor, study of pray.

The Rebbe listens to his tale and then paused for thought before suggesting, 'Why don't you take your dog into the house?'.

The man is baffled, but follows his Rebbe's advice. A week later he goes back to his Rebbe and pours out his heart. 'Rebbe, its even worse now'.  Its crazier than ever and nosier as well.

Again the Rebbe paused, before he suggested, 'Why not bring in your chickens as well'. The man was doubtful but followed the advice.  He moved the chickens into the one roomed house along with his family and their dog.

A week latter he was back with the Rebbe, 'Oh Rabbi he said now its unbearable, the chickens clucking, and the dog barking and my children running around all night because they cannot sleep! I'm at my wits end what shall I do'.

Again the Rabbi pauses for thought and prayer before saying. 'One last try, you have two cows nun?, well move them in as well.

Again the man follows the advice of his rabbi and moves the cows into the room along with the dog the chickens and of course his family.

This time its just two days before the man is back with his Rebbe. The Rebbe takes one look at him and says. 'Alright take out the cows, and the chickens and the dog and then come back in a week.'

Always the dutiful chassid the man followed this advice as well.

The next week when he returned he was all smiles, the small house seemed so quite and there appeared to be so much space.

One moral being its how you look at things that makes all the difference.

I have been going though my diary and looking at what I have on and its a lot.  But because of how insanely busy last year was even though I have assessments, and commitments at KLS and Limmud and all sorts of other stuff. It feels not only manageable but good.

Last post for a little while

Hey Guys so this is going to be my last post for a little while. Nothing bad is happening its just that I am very very busy. First off there're class nothing to awful but enough to keep me busy on top of that Emily and I have our duties as co-chairs of the student society, and of Rabbinic students for Pro-Zion.

Then there is limmud, for which I have taken on rather a lot. But I am excited about it nevertheless, then there is my placement. So end result is I am very very busy and want have much time for blogger. I will try not to fall off the end of world completely though.

At school my class are still interesting although challenging emotionally but I think my internship is going to be great I am learning a lot and its fun and really and truly why I got into this whole business in the first place.

Today I went down to Kingston and taught/interacted with the Kabbalat Torah Class. Who are great and it was defiantly a fun activity. On Thursday I celebrated my birthday it was quite low key I went to the Dignity with Emily, Haim, Sam, and Hannah I didn't drink because I was going to meet with my personal trainer.

It was a really nice night great conversations, tasty food, and lovely friends.  The next day I meet up with Danielle and the training was easier than last time but still it made me very tired so I cam home for a rest.  In the evening I went off with Emily to Southgate Progressive Synagogue. And then today it was off to KLS.

I still have a bunch of reading to do for next week and I need to work on a few details for upcoming events.

First week at school and a very busy weekend.

I have completed my first week of my fourth year and I have to stay that I am very upbeat about my courses, there is a good range of classes covering a good mixture between vocational/practical and purely academic. Last week was a little disrupted because of the festivals, but now the HHD season is finally and fully over I can get on with normal work under a normal schedule.

On Wednesday I had lunch in the NNLS succah and on Thursday I returned there for the evening service, and then it was the weekend which as it turned out was rather busy. On Friday I headed down to KLS, where I shall be spending my 4th year placement, this was just to do some legal/adminestive  things.

I then returned to Central London and went to the Routes (LJ) supper-club which was great. Good company (more people than usual), interesting Torah and wonderful food. Then on Saturday I went to Finchley Progressive Synagogue (it was a Bat-Mitzvah) so very busy. Sunday I went to LJ Educational Networking seminar which was very interesting and one of the first times that I represented KLS formally.

I am, I have to say, rather tired. But I am nevertheless looking forward to the first uninterrupted week at school.