Steady as she goes, again.

Things having been sailing along really very smoothly, and i haven't all that much that I can blog about.  At the same time between school and my fourth year placement I have been really very busy.  Hence the lack of postings to this blog.

School is still going very smoothly.  I have booked to teach my session on Song of Songs, at KLS which is part of my assessment for Megilot.  The other modules are going just as smoothly as well. Outside of school I am still enjoying my placement at KLS I am learning a lot from good as well as from challenging experiences.  I am also continuing my work focusing on my Hebrew reading, which I am pretty sure is continuing to produce good results.

However, my schedule is very very tight which means I have not been able to get home in while, and won't be able to for a few weeks yet. I did have a nice long Skype home over the weekend. Shortly I am going to start teaching a series of four sessions on the Talmud over at Woodford Liberal Synagogue. I am really looking forward to these.

later on tonight I am going to have a Skype meeting about Limmud Chevaruta Project (2014). Although it will be a lot of work I am really looking forward to this as well.

I am also continuing to work out with my personal trainer, this too is really starting to show results and I really love the doing something physical and getting out of school and finchley.

A funny thing happened today. Emily and I were told that one of us had failed to hand in one of the feedback forms for one of our classes. This was despite the fact that both of us were certain that yes we had filled one in. In the end we went into the office and found that I had filled in the front and Emily the back. And yet one or other of us had handed it in nevertheless. It really comes to something then we have started filling in forms as one person.

Today was made especially bright because I got to IM with Tina with whom I have not chatted in ages.

Any way I had better go and make myself ready for this meeting.

last service of the year

Yesterday was the last service of the year here at Leo Baeck College, which was really lovely. Esther H., lead the first part of the service with guitar and singing, Benji, led a other parts of the service in a pleasant nuisa, he also layined the Torah reading, and Leah gave a really great D'var Torah, which really captured the right tone and mode for the occasion.
This was followed by the presentation of Talliot, again very beautiful. Dava participated in Taliting Esther, as did Banji for Leah along with her Dad and Leah helped to Tallit Benji. I was actually in tears by the end because it was so very moving.

After the service I chilled out in the Blue room before going for lunch with some of the first years: Hannah, Kath, Naomi, and Robyn we went to the Pizza place near the college.  This was very nice as I don't normally get a chance to hang out with either Naomi or Robyn.

Back at the college I chilled again for a few minutes talking with Leah, before taking Emily's guitar back to the flat.

Latter I went to Tesco to buy some goods for dinner. Emily and I are having a campain of correct-eating.  As we think how bad we are feeling is down to not eating enough protein and or fruit and veggies.  It has only been going a day (All of yesterday, three meals. Fruit and veggies, and proper protein.) And a proper breakfast this morning.

I still have a lot on, I think that this is going to be fairly smooth sailing.

MA Bibliography (and a short posting)

This is going to be a rather odd posting, as mostly its going to be a bibliography. But first yesterday was a nice day it had a really Shabbat like feeling, kind of like being back in Jlem. Partly this may have simply been down to the weather which was kind of like Israel very warm and muggy.  But it was also that on my walk to synagogue, and just by chance the people I met where on their way to synagogue as well. So it was nice to exchange greetings of 'Shabbat Shalom', even as I left the flat I hadn't decided which shul I was going to.  In the end I opted for FPS.  It was a really nice services and I got to have a very pleasant chat with Kathy who was there as well.  Its been ages since we have run into each other.

Then it was back to the flat for a meal I'd cooked, I really must get back into the habit of cooking more. The next day I went back to FPS, Rene was leading and again it was a very pleasant service.

Next week we have Kol Bo., and I still have one or two big things on but apart from that I am so much less busy than I was until recently.

This brings me to the bibliography.  I have updated my MA bibliography which was entitled, "Incest in the Ancestry of David: A Combined reading of Genesis 19, Genesis 38 and the Book of Ruth''.

I think that its a pretty good thesis and the bibliography is I think useful to others researching in this area so I wanted to put it on line and via my blog seemed like the easiest way of so doing.

Alexander, T., Desmond. ''Lot's Hospitality: A Clue to His Righteousness'' Journal of Biblical Literature (1985) Volume 104:2 289-291.

Alter, Robert The Art of Biblical Narrative. New York: Basic Books, 1981

Anderson, A., Arnold. ''The Marriage of Ruth.'' Journal of Semitic Studies (1978) 22 171-183.

Astour, C, Michael. ''Tamar the Hierodule an Essay in the Method of Vestigial Motifs.'' Journal of Biblical Literature (1966) 85:192-196.

Arbeitman, L., Yoel. ''Tamar's Name or is it?'' Zeitschrift fur die altterstamentilche Wissenschaft (2000) 112 Number 3 341-355.

Barker, R. James Women's rights in the Old Testament times. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1992.

Bergson, Henri. La rire: Essai sur la Signification du Comique Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1900.

Brenner, Athalya. ''Naomi and Ruth'' Vetus Testamentum (1983) 33 Number 4 385-397.

-''On the semantic field of humour, laughter and the comic in the Old Testament: On Humour and Comedy in the Hebrew Bible''. Journal for the study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 92. (1990).

-Ed. ''Are we Amused? Humour about women in Biblical Worlds'' Journal for the study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 383. (2003).

Brown, F., Driver, S., R., and Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon Peabody Ma: Hendrickson Publishing, 1979.

Brooks, A., Beatrice. ''Fertility Cult functionaries in Old Testament'' Journal of Biblical Literature 60: 227-253 (1941)

Bush, W., Fredrick Word Biblical Commentary Number 9: Ruth and Ester. Dallas: Word Books Publishing, 1996.

Campbell, F., Edward The Anchor Bible: Ruth. Garden City NY: Doubleday and Company, 1975.

Childs S., Brevard Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture London: SCM Press, 1979.

Eissfeldt, Otto. Hexateuch-Synopse Leipzig, 1922.

Emertonn, J., Adney. ''Some Problems in Genesis XXXVIII. Vetus Testamentum (1975) Number 25 338-361.

• ''An Examination of recent structuralist interpretation of Genesis XXXVIII'' Vetus Testamentum (1976) Number 26 79-98.
• ''Judah and Tamar'' Vetus Testamentum (1979) Number 29 403-415.

Fish, Harold. ''Ruth and the Structure of Covenant History'' Vetus Testamentum Number 32 423-437.

Fuchs, Esther ''Sexual Politics in the Biblical Narrative'' Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series 310, (2000).

Golder, C., M. ''Genesis 38 in the Context of the Joseph Story'' Ph.D diss. The University of

Manchester. 1985.

Goldin, Judah. ''The Youngest Son or Where Does Genesis 38 Belong'' Journal of Biblical Literature (1977) Volume 96:1 27-44.

Hall, Sarah. ''Tamar, a polemic on Tamar? An intertextual discussion of the Juxtaposition between male and female comprehensions of the rules of relationships within 2^nd Samuel 13 and Genesis 38 narratives'' MA. Diss. The University of Manchester, 2000.

Hamilton, P., Victor. The Book of Genesis (Chapters 18-50). New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing.

Hubbard, L., Robert Jr. Ruth New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing.

Huddelstun, R., John. ''Unveiling the version: the tactics of Tamar in Tamar in Genesis 38:15'' Journal of Hebrew Studies (2001)Volume 3 325-343.

Ho Y., S., Graig ''The Stories of the Family Troubles of Judah and David: A Study of Their Literary Links'' Vetus Testamentum Volume 49:4 514-531

Jackson, Melissa. ''Lot's Daughters and Tamar as Tricksters and the Patriarchal Narratives as Feminist Theology'' Journal for the Study of the Old Testament (2002) Number 98 29-46.

Kim, Dohyung ''The Structure of Genesis 38: A Thematic Reading'' Vetus Testamentum (2012) Number 62 550-560.

Lasine, Stuart. ''Guest and Host in Judges 19: Lot's Hospitality in an inverted World'' Journal for the Study of the Old Testament. (1984) Number 29 37-59.

Leach, Edmund and Alan D, Aycock Structuralist Interpretation of Biblical Myth. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983.

Malamat, Abraham. ''Naamah, the Ammonite princess, King Solomon's Wife'' Revue Biblique 106 35-40.

Mars, Leonard. ''What was Onan's Crime'' Comparative Studies in Society and History (1984) Volume 26:3 429-439.

Morschauser, Scott ''Hospitality, Hostilities, and Hostages: On the Legal Background to Genesis 19:1-9'' Journal for the Study of the Old Testament (2003), Number 27 461-485.

Myers, J., Martin. The Linguistic and Literary form of the Book of Ruth Leiden: Brill, 1955.

Niditch Susan ''The Wronged Woman Righted: An analysis of Genesis 38'' The Harvard Theological Review (1979) Number 1-2 143-149.

Noble, R., Paul ''Esau, Tamar and Joseph: Criteria for Identifying Inner-Biblical Allusions'' Vetus Testamentum (2002)Number 52:4 219-252.

Rendsburg, A., Gary ''David and His Circle in Gensis XXXVIII'' Vetus Testamentum (1986) Number 36 438-446.

Schungel-Straumar, Helen. ''Judah and Tamar'', in Great Couples of the Bible Soelle, Dorothee and Katharina Elliger., eds., Augsburg: Fortress Publishing, 2006.

Sharon, M., Diane ''Some Results of a Structural Semiotic Analysis of the Story of Judah and Tamar '' Journal for the Study of the Old Testament (2005) Volume 29:3 289-318.

Soggin, J., Alberto. ''Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38)'' Of Prophets' Visions McKay, A., Heather and David, J., Clines eds., Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplementary Series.

Tonson, Paul. ''Mercy without Covenant: a Literary Analysis of Genesis 19'' Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Number 95 95-116.

Trible, Phyllis. Text of Terror Literary-Feminist Readings of Biblical Narrative: Overturnes to Biblical Theology 13 Philadelphia: Fortress Press.

Vesco, Jean-Luc. ''La Date du Liver du Ruth'' Revue Biblique (1967) Number 74 235-247.

West, A., Struat. ''Judah and Tamar: A scriptural enigma'' Dor le Dor (1984) 12:4 246-252.

Wolde Van, J., Ellen Ruth and Naomi London: SCM Press, 1997.

-''Texts in Dialogue with Texts: Intertextuality in Ruth and Tamar Narratives.'' Biblical Interpretatio: A Journal of Contemporary Approaches (1997) Volume 5:1 1-28.

Wenham, J., Gordon Word Biblical Commentary 2 Genesis 16-50 Nashvile: Nelson Publishing, 1994.

Westenholz, G., Joan ''Tamar, Qedesa, and Qadistu and Sacred Prostitution in Mesopotamia'' Havard Theological Review (1989) Volume 82:3 245-266.

Whedbee, J., William The Bible and the Comic Vision Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.

Wilson, R., Robert ''The Old Testament Genealogies in Recent Research'' Journal of Biblical Literature Number 94 169-189.

Change in favorite subjects

When I started at my course at Rabbinical school I think that my favourite subjects within Jewish studies were, more or less in order: 1) Bible, 2) Talmud, 3) Chassidute and Kabbalah I know that there are many aspects of Chassidute that are not kabbalistic and aspects of Kabbalah and mysticism which are not connected with Chassidute but they are closely enough related that I feel happy grouping them together. 4) Halakhah, 5) Musar and finally 6) Mussar (a practice of ethical living.

Academically I was also interested in philosophy (although mainly focused on ethics and Jurisprudence). But I was almost totally uninterested in either liturgy and homiletics. But now just over halfway point I am probably most interested in Liturgy and Homiletics.  I am still interested in those other topics. But Liturgy and Homiletics are fast becoming passions for me. I guess there are two obvious reasons why this might be the case. Firstly they were starting from a low base of knowledge and secondly these are practical areas of concern for the trainee rabbi (and indeed the rabbi).  But also I have simply found that there is more too both these subjects than I at first thought.

Shabbat Shalom

One Hundredth Post

Like the title says this is my one hundredth post in this particular blog. And it only took three years. I can be very lazy about updating sometimes. So instead of my normal short and not all that interesting updates on whats going on with my life. (Normal just school working and training to be a rabbi stuff) I thought that I would post about an interest of mine, anime. Yep I do do some things which are not work related and or highbrow.

But first the normal short post. Basically everything is fine or quite possibly better than fine.  I am finishing the last notes in my last essay and thinking about my presentation and other school stuff so this means I've been watching a lot of Anime a) to keep relaxed but also because procrastination sometimes does kick in.

I got into anime though manga, which is unsurprising but my interest in manga really grew out of my love of Japanese prints which I used to collect (and still would if I had the money).  So here is a list of my favourite ten anime, at least as they stand at the moment.  After listing them I will talk a bit about them so maybe don't read down to far I dont want to spoil them.

10. Chobits
  9. Death note
  8.Spirited away
  7. The cat returns
  6. The girl who leapt though time
  5. Elfen Lied
  4.Lain
  3 Barefoot gen
  2. Little Slugger, and
  1. Wings of Sorrow

I am not really sure what this list says about me, if anything, but I like to say a little about each one and why I like them.  Note spoilers from here on in.

10. Chobits:

So I liked both the Anime and the Manga on this one. The animation is nicely drawn and high quality, even if the facial expressions leave a little to be desired. At fist this may seem like a typical loser has more girls interested in him than is really either credible or possible. With an element of harem anime. However there is more to than that, as this is a re-taleing of Pygmalion this is only to be expected.
Chobits: Clamp 2001-2.

9. Death note.

Fun while I was viewing it, and on the second view not sure I'd watch it all the way though in a single sitting again, do have the energy anymore for a start. The animation is good, not great but certainly better than a lot.
It is the tension and the mind-games between the two central chatterers that really put this here for me. Although I did like the Shinna-gammi.

8. Spirited away.

Don't really need to say a whole lot about this more fantastic work by Studio-gabi. Really great all round. Plot, acting, script and animation. Unlike most things on this list okay for children although that said young children may still find it too scary.

7. The cat returns

Another offering from Studio-Gabi, with all the high quality that you would expect from them. Less scary than spirited away above. But all the more hauntingly beautiful for that. And it has cats, which from my perspective is a definite plus.

6. The girl who leapt though time.

Not sure how this one made the list, and relatively speaking so high-up, nicely acted (I watched the subtitled version) the animation is high quality although not stopping the film to stare good. The music and score are especially powerful and the characters nice and warming to spend time with.  But it was the emotion of the whole that left is mark. I enjoyed the basic idea (the central heroine can jump in time). Just a pleasant way to spend some time. The animation has a gentle dreamlike quality to it.

5. Elfen Lied.

Unbelievably violent, no seriously I lost count of the number of people killed just in first episode. And it is very, very, very graphic. Good things first. The music and the score. This is the best music and score I have ever come across in an anime, wonderful breath-taking. It is also visually stunning, I know I talk about the back-drops a lot but they are one of the things I notice in animations and frankly judge them on, the design of the characters is also really well executed (no pun intended), and it is really emotionally powerful. I cried at times. And dramatic and full of tension.
Not so good things. Its way to violent and sexually expiate even for a horror anime. And although it is emotionally powerful this is because it uses some pretty cheep tricks at times.  I mean if 'love and warmth' were all that it would have taken, then WTF why didn't you just give love and warmth in first place.
That said, I really cared what happened to the characters and when i stumbled across it I ended up watching the whole series in one go and then re-watching it. So must have been doing something right. eh? The central characters are well acted, but minor ones not so much. But this is really a powerful anime, which is beautiful even as people are being ripped to pieces, bloodily. If you can stomach ultra-violance to a degree that would make a droog unhappy, and don't get upset by sexual imagery then this is a good anime to seek out. It has lots to offer, if they do brother you then maybe this one to pass by.


4.Lain serial experiments.

I think that this was the first anime that I could really say I loved. However, it is really odd. Basically this is a thinking manga which takes on big philosophical ideas. I was drawn into the plot, although I am not sure I really understood it all. The artwork is really high quality. Again the details of the back-drops and sets really stand out as worth mentioning. A few moments of violence but the disturbing nature of this anime is really in the ideas it puts in your head. Well worth looking out for.

Lain: Yoshitoshi, not sure when this came out I saw it on DVD in around 2002.


3.Barefoot glen.

Hiroshima though the eyes of one child. About as you would think and then some. The plot is powerful and the images stark yet beautiful.  A real classic. This is defiantly a movie in the full sense of the word although based on an earlier manga.
Barefoot Glen: 1983




2.Little Slugger (or Paranoia's agent).

Interlocking stories about detectives investigating a series of attacks.  Centred around Tsukkio Sagi. But this is so much more than this would suggest, it develops into a tense psychological thriller. Can your Id really kill you?
Contains strong violence and some sex (not all of it pleasant). Not for children. But what really made this for me is the open music and credits. Beautiful and thought provoking at the same time. Visually this anime is treat, especially the city scape back-grounds which I would stop my viewing just to study them.
Paranoia's agent: Satoshi Kon 2005? although I didn't see it till much latter.

1. wings of sorrow.

I really cannot say too much about the plot of this anime without spoiling it. But it is a beautiful drama filled with pathos and sadness yet redemptive at the same time.  The animation is lovely and flowing the characters special. I was totally drawn into its world, which I learnt about along with the main protagonist. The sound track is lovely also.
Be warned not a lot happens just girls with wings and halos, yep I know. Talking and life and the city which they cannot leave with walls they are forbidden to apporach or touch.
Bassed on the Manga by Yoshitoshi Abe 2003? English dub in 2010 (I think)

Well this I think must be my longest post. Back to writing my presentation for class.

Birthday

Today is was my birthday and although more or it was a normal school day it was fun as well. My classmates brought me in a cake and card which was really nice. And all in all it was an easy enough day.
The cake was a very chocolaty one and the card was really nice so that was fun.

I don't have much work on at the moment so that is peaceful.  I have a few admin type things to do but not all that pressing so I just came home and ate some of the food that Rebecca and Mum sent me for my Bday.

Home and my Drash

Hey there. Quite a bit has happened since I last posted. Firstly i went home back to the UK for a short brake it was really nice to see family and friends and little Aaron who has grown so much. The only real problem was that it was too short atime to spend there before I had to come back to Israel (although Jlem really does feel like home now-I guess I am luck to have two place that feel that way) anyhow school has restarted and I am busy again. I still have modern Hebrew which I think may actually be getting a little easier, I also stil have grammar, and liturgy. The new subjects are Rabbinic texts and and Late Antiquity both of which I think will be really interesting.
I have given my first sermon (or Drash) i was more nervous than I was expecting altough I think it went quite well. Apart from that not that much has been happening.

Before the beginning

If you have read any of my blog post then you will probably have noticed that spelling is not my strongest skill. But this is nothing you should have seen what my spelling/grammar/writing were like when I was very little, I was very dyslexic and am written work was difficult to understand at the best of times. When I was about Ten we had to write something about what we wanted to do when we grow up for the careers adviser. So i wrote that I wanted to be a rabbi. Unfortunately for some reason best known to my younger self I though that there was a silent "T" at the end of the word Rabbi; so what I had actually written was 'I want to be a rabbit!' as you can guess this didn't go down all that well and I was called in to see the head-teacher who told me that I was being silly and that I couldn't do that when I grew up.
I was a stubborn little boy and I held fast so my parents were called in and there was some talk of my needing to see an education psychologist.
It was only after sometime that i said rather angrily "I don't know why you're saying that I cant be a Rabbi' cue much merriment and a not inconsiderable amount of relief.