A very busy shabbat.

This weekend proved very busy pleasant but busy nevertheless.  On Saturday morning we (Emily and I) went to Kol Hai Synagogue where Emily will be working.  Its Michael Hilton's synagogue so that was nice, we then went to Michael's home for lunch although it was rather rushed because I needed to get to West Central Synagogue to lead services there.

I really enjoyed that, although I was very very tired. But they are a lovely community. As well as leading the services, I read Torah and gave a sermon. See blow.

On Sunday we went for a picnic with Matthew in Hendon, very nice enjoying the sunshine even if there were too many ticks.

Sermon (more or less what I said although I did add-lib somewhat)

וַתִּקְרַבְנָה בְּנוֹת צְלָפְחָד, בֶּן-חֵפֶר בֶּן-גִּלְעָד בֶּן-מָכִיר בֶּן-מְנַשֶּׁה, לְמִשְׁפְּחֹת, מְנַשֶּׁה בֶן-יוֹסֵף; וְאֵלֶּה, שְׁמוֹת בְּנֹתָיו--מַחְלָה נֹעָה, וְחָגְלָה וּמִלְכָּה וְתִרְצָה.

One of my first Hebrew teachers said that one of the main differences between Hebrew and English is that English is broad language whereas Hebrew is a deep one. English has spread widely around the world and wherever it has gone it has brought back words from other languages and made them its own. The result has been that for almost any meaning there is a word, and that perhaps English is best suited of all languages to indicated and to distinguish between fine shades of nuisance.

Hebrew on the other hand builds internal connection between concepts, individual words connect with other words and ideas interact with related but otherwise different concepts, Hebrew words also have multiple meanings, for example D'var which means both word and thing.

The Hebrew term for an offering or sacrifice Korban contains the kernel of the idea of proximity or closeness, because it is derived from the root Quf, bet, resh. The basic meaning of which means to come-close.

The first word of the passage of Torah which we read today was also derived from this basic root. Va-tik-rav-nah. And they (the Daughters of Zelophehad) approached.

Please forgive me, but I am going to talk about grammar but don't worry not for very long, this word is in the third person feminine plural imperfect. An unusual form and one that when I encounter it sometimes catches me out. Simply because it is so unusual.

This is because Hebrew is different from English in another way, in that it is a gendered language. However, even if there were a group of 999 women and just one man, then the form the verb would take would be masculine. So encountering feminine plural verbs, and therefore all female action, is uncommon.

But in todays reading we find just that the daughters of Zelophanad. But not only that, we get to hear them speak, two whole verses of the Torah reading are given over to their request which was more a bitting critic of the system of inheritance in operation during the time of the wondering of the Israelites in the wilderness.

What is more, their request and critic is validated and confirmed not only by Moses, but rather the Eternal One.

If this were not enough to draw our attention to this strange and short section of Torah, we are told the names of all five of the daughters of Zelophehad, as well as Zelophehad's full ancestry. I needs to be stressed that the nature of the style of torah is to be very sparing with words, hardly a single word is wasted.

In this context it is surprising, actually very surprising, to find this much narrative detail about a seemingly trivial issue. After all probate is not that exciting.

Apologies to any probate lawyers who are present in the congregation.

This can only be to attract our attention. For the Torah women's rights in the area of inheritance was important. Indeed Judaism has had a long history of being at the cutting edge of women's rights.

The female Judaean had freedoms that her Athenian counterpart could only dream off. Latter the same held true for women classical rabbinic period and the Romain world.

This is a tradition which is happily continued by the progressive movements. From the ordination of Regina Jonas in 1935, though the publication of Siddurim written in gender inclusive language and in Israel with the work of IRAC and women of the wall.

It is especially fitting, and yes poignant to read a passage of Torah focused on the inclusion of women in the synagogue founded by Lily Montague for the benefit of, largely female shop workers.

Just as, according to the Torah, the daughters of Zelophehad noticed lack in provisions for women and acted to change it, so too many generations latter did Lily Montague.

There is still, plenty of, work to be done in terms of inclusion both within the Jewish world and externally too it. But reviewing our history we can find the necessary courage and impetuous for action.

Ken Yehi Ratzon

Feeling a little bit better

I am gradually decompressing for from the assessment period and indeed from the third year. So feeling both less stressed and more open.  I still don't know how any of them did but am trying not think about it too much.
This weekend I go to Brussels to meet with the community there, this means that I am practicing my Torah reading and writing my D'var Torah.  Latter in June I go to WCS (I am really looking forward to this, they are such a lovely and welcoming community.)
There is of course still Kol Bo to come, and I need to organise a couple of meetings but basically my third year is really done and I have almost caught up on the things I have been meaning to do.  This includes reading for my own interest. Currently I am reading. Jewish Liturgical Reasoning.  by Steven Kepnes (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007).
And somewhat less heavy weight. Silence. Susan Cain. Looking slightly further forward there is Ordination for the almost rabbis, in July.  And then I shall really need to try and get sorted for the High Holy Days. (Especially as they are so early this year).

Shortly, I need to head off to my clinical-Ophthalmologist, nothing serious just a regular checking up appointment.

So basically I am in one of those in-between times. Relatively uninteresting, but very useful for space and growth. And after all although interesting is interesting it can also be stressful.

Purim and a very busy week

I am well but a little tired.  On Monday we had a delayed Purim at the college which was fun.  We studied purim 'talmud', and wore fancy-dress costumes.  Tuesday was a fairly normal but quite hard as Tuesdays tend to be because they fun so late and Wednesday was unremarkable as well.  So much so that I cannot remember anything about it really.  Other than that the morning service was led by Jeremy (who is one of our teachers) and he led it as a Sapardi (orthodox) service.  So that was interesting.  

Thursday we (Emily and I) started our Norwood placement which looks as though it is going to be both very well organised and interesting. So that was a bright note.  We then rushed back to the college for one of our sessions with Rabbi Indigo and the very tail end of student society meetings.  

Friday I headed off to Cambridge to view the Geniza fragments with Aiko.  It was fascinating and Aiko is really good fun.  

I then rushed, and rushed is correct term. Back to flat in time to pay our water bill before heading back out to an LJ Roots Friday night service lead be Emily and Benji.  It was really good they used a version of Mishkan T'fillah (which was a sight for sore eyes-although I can hardly believe that I am saying this). Although this did make me a little homesick for Jerusalem and Kol Haneshamah, not to mention all my HUC friends.  

This morning I went off to New North London Synagogue, which I always enjoy and don't get to go enough.  The only other thing that is happing is that we are trying to get our washing machine replaced.  I think that it should be okay but sooner would be better than latter.  

Academically things are still proceeding smoothly, I hope to work on more of my essays that are due in June next week. Even though I have lots of other things on as well :(

So all in all I am busy, very busy, and tired. But am doing well. 

The end of Hanukkah

Hanukkah is over (well very very nearly) and so is the semester.  Emily and I have done our presentation for Psalms (I was actually really pleased with how it went).  We have also had our last class on reflecting on our experiences with/at Jewish care. So the rest of the semester one week is really a bit of a drawing in especially as we have some cancelled classes next week.
There is of course the assessments for the first semester which remain: Three essays (One for liturgy, one for History and one for psalms [based off our presentations] and one of the mini-essays for Rabbinic literature.  I do of course have to prepare my limmud sessions, which start in a week. And there is one last visit with Jewish care to do but apart from that we're done.

I enjoyed Hanukhah although I only got to send one day of it back home.  Friday I went to FPS and their celebrations were really nice and on Saturday I went over to WCS I always enjoy the service there and the community is lovely and welcoming.

I did have a moment of intense nostalgia when in a newsagents I saw Snapple ice tea and more magazine about swimming than I thought there could possibly be these made me think of Tina and Laura and of course HUC and Jlem.

The trip over to WCS was interesting among other unusual things that happen was there there were parrots in the park (the local park to Emily and I).  Shortly I am off we some of my fellow LBC students to see the Hobbit which should be great fun.

End of second

The Second year has ended. The last week was our summer programming (Kol Bo) which this year was about Israel. Interesting but very intense especially after such a long year. I would get home after each day and just collapse.
Yesterday there was a really nice service at college. The three five-years (who will be ordained on Sunday) led it and were presented with tallitot by Charles and Deborah. So now all I have to do are two things related to my practical rabbinics course. (very little indeed really). And then its just a question of waiting on results. Not that I am all that concerned all I want is pass, which is an unusual thing for me to say but a pass is a pass is a pass. And as our teacher Laura keeps telling us thats all that really matters none will care what we got in our second year midrash class for example. Tomorrow I am reading Torah and preaching at WCS and then that really is it for the second year.
I am trying not to think about the 3rd year to much, i have to pass the second year for one thing and secondly its really just to far away to be concerned with.
last Weekend I went to Chaggigah the British Reform Biennial which was great. Really enjoyable but so tiring and when added to exams and assessments which came before and Kol Bo that came after I'm shattered and am not feeling well. Although I am pretty sure that its nothing more than being overly tired and warn out.
Apart from that I am feeling okay, upbeat even. Time, shortly to take a few deep breaths and relax.