Lots of things to keep my busy

As the title of the post suggests, I am currently very busy. March turned into a mad month. College continues okay, there is in truth not a lot to report there. Megiloth classes continues and is interesting enough. I am still finding my feet with Tikkun Olam class, still rather more Emily's thing than mine.  I am enjoying Midrash and Talmud Class (although its a lot of hard work), that leaves Spirituality which i am still struggling to place what it is and what its meant to accomplish. Although its under the heading of Vocational Studies. So all in all the classes are going well.

Emily and I have finally managed to schedule our, 'reflexive classes', indeed with have had two of the eight already. This is satisfying because for various reasons PCCS and Practical Rabbinics is an area in which I feel that we have missed out rather…my placement is still proceeding at KLS (still learning practical stuff there). One surprising thing I have done there is give a Lenten talk (standing in for Charley) at All Saints Church Kingston, which went well and turns out to be a fascinating place with a long history. Going all the way back to the Saxons Kings. In someways its where England was born.

The Limmud Chrevruta Project is getting under way. I am involved with the Limmud Beit Midrash Project also, but nothing has happened there yet. Additionally I am in the middle of giving four Talmud classes at Woodford Liberal Synagogue. Last week I observed Richard conduct a 'mixed faith blessing', down in the City (an interestingly disereted place on a Sunday).

So all in all things are moving on but I am very very busy and rashing about like a mad thing. This weekend I have taken the opportunity of a flying visit back home. (It is also of course Purim, which acts as one of the markers of my year. And means my 8th Semester is well under way.)

On that front I can feel myself focusing more on more on what happens after rabbinic school, even though I have 476 days to go. I am already thinking about how to draw my 4th year placement to a successful and meaningful conclusion. What will happen in my 5th year (although I still have very little idea what my course will look like or where I will be.) and then of course the start of my post-rabbinical school career. But thats all a long way off. For the moment I am trying to trick off a day at a time.

Gaining skills.

So I can no longer say next year I start to study to be a rabbi because it will be this year. Well next year still in the Jewish calendar in any case in September. So while I am struggling to finish off my thesis I am also attempting to gain useful skills for when I start my rabbinic training and for when I am rabbi. (I am also attempting to keep a record of them)...So when I read from the Torah, or take part in a service. I have to keep things to a minimum though because of the time pressures of my thesis. But I have agree to run a session at Manchester Limmud,,,which I am working on already even though it is someway off yet. And I have gotten involved with the Jsoc of my old university (Keele) I tell myself its preparation but its really for fun. Anyhow I am working on a Purim poster for them...I am also going to have to come to some decision about the three faiths summer school, I would like to try and go but its dates are very near to my leaving for Israel and the end of my thesis so I dont know if it will be possible in the indeed I shall have to wait and see.