High Holy Days and moving

The preparations for the move continue, world is still in boxes and we are sorting out all the little things that need doing, one by one.  That said we still have a lot to do, I am also busy preparing for the High Holy Days. Looking though the prayer book, writing sermons and study sessions. So far I have finished one sermon. Its printed and ready to go (and I am actually really rather happy with it) I have also almost finished the basic parts of a study session so all in all I am rather happy with how things are going.
Naturally enough my thoughts are also turning towards my 4th year placement, and my 4th year in general which is starting to take shape. Although I would like a more comprehensive view of what it will look like, but as I am occupied with my up coming move and the HHDs it doesn't matter all that much. But I do know I have a class on Megilot (I don't foresee any problems), one on research methods (again been there done that should be fine), and practical rabbinics will focus on death and dying (I have some back ground there as well and feel confident about this course), thats really all I know so far but that is enough.

In terms of my placement I need to do 80 sessions, although a session is broadly defined. I have been in some discussion with Charley about what these might look like and I am really starting to get excited about the prospect.

It has made me think though, when I got to LBC after my year in Israel as a second year I was so convinced that the 4th years really really knew what they were doing and what it was all about, never mind the 5th who were demi-rabbis.

Now I am about to be one, I realise that its not necessarily like that, unless I am massively behind the curve, which I am almost certain I am not, then I really know that as a 4th year (albeit a very very new one) I am still finding my feet and learning.

But it does mean I have responsibilities towards the students in lower years, just as the 4th and 5th years really took me under their wings when I was a second year.

I think that the project I was doing for Limmud is all but wrapped up. I remember of course that those last little bits can take forever.

But all in all things are progressing nicely.
Oh and 688 Days to go.

Onwards and Upwards?

So first things first a bit of an apology in not posting sooner but things have been very very busy.  This is mainly because Emily and I are moving flats! More on that latter.  But there are other things to update about first.

Academics

I got my makes back for the essays, and I have passed them all. And as for some of them the essay was 100% of the mark this means I have passed the 3rd year and am now a 4th year rabbinic student which feels insane. How has it happened so quickly.  My marks were far from stella, but I find that I am increasingly unconcerned with what grade a particular essay, or indeed model receives. A pass is a pass is pass. And I am much much more concerned about actually learning practical skills of the rabbinate.  I know that I have been saying this for sometime and that because of the shear number of assessments I had I had taken the decision that all I got do is pass the essays, nevertheless in times gone by I would have been sad (although only a little and not for long) about my marks. This time I was completely satisfied to have passed.
As always the comments were nicer than the marks might have suggested that they were going to be.
Basically I had three groups some in the low 50s, and another in the mid/high 50s and then one out lier at 67%. (50% was the passmark).

This brings me to practical stuff.  I have made contact with Eastbourne (where I am doing my High Holy Days) and things are progressing okay there.  They seem like a really nice community and I am confident that all will go well there, although there is of course still much work to be done.

I am also really looking forward to my 4th year placement which is going to take place Kingston Liberal Synagogue.  I think that this is going to be a great experience, and one which I hope will benefit both me and the community.

The project for Limmud is still progressing and I think is actually going to be really good when its done. As its on prayer when I get to see a final copy I may well send it to Shelly as I think it will interest him. But it needs to be finished before that, there is still a lot to do but I am happy with it and with how things are going.

I still don't know all that much about the shape of my fourth year but as my move and the HHDs are between me and it I am not overly concerned. And any way Que Sera, Sera.

Now the move. Currently almost all my and Emily's stuff is in boxes, oh so many boxes. We have found a lovely flat much nearer the college, near our favourite pub, the tube, the shops. Everywhere really.  Moving is stressful we are doing okay but there is so much more to do. Will post more about flats and moving in future posts. But happy about it. :)

Emily and I have continued our eat well and exercise  campaign and I am feeling a lot better/healthier for it. I have also been taking the chance to catch up with friends.

About all that is happening apart from that is I have started working with a Rabbi/speach therapist on my Hebrew reading, about which I am hopeful.

So I think that this must count as the last post of my third year. Upshot things are changing (largely for the better) and I am now a 4th year.

So what do I want from the 4th year? Learn as much as I can from my placement and HHDs. Go to Limmud (I am still thinking about what to do there), try and go to the Liberal and Reform bianneals. Improve my Hebrew and all round skills/knowledge.

692 days to go and counting.

Catching up

So I am spending my summer catching up on stuff. Fun. Although I did find time for a week back home in Stoke. At the start of the summer my list of things too catch up on had about 20 things on it. But now its down to just a handful. And most of them are looking forward so meeting with my community for next year, getting ready for the High Holy Days. That kind of thing.

Today I had a review meeting about Jewish Care which I think was productive. And with it I think I have completed the last formal activity of my third year although I still don't know for sure that I've passed all my assessments.

The day before I had my meeting with Richard my rabbinic tutor, I am pretty happy with how it went and with the progress that could be seen at it.

I am also working away on the project for Limmud. But that is also going well.

I have taken the opportunity of catching up with some of my friends, whom I had been rather neglecting over the past few weeks.

All in all things are good. (Bring on the 4th year [assuming I've passed all my assessments that is])

MRJ music conference

I have just attended the Reform Movement's music conference which was truly amazing. So good teachers including our own Zoe Jacobs, I went to a couple of standout sessions including some on story-telling Torah translation, by Shira Klien this was really inspirational I got an insight into the potential possibilities of Torah reading and translation in a synagogue services.  Also, after only three years at rabbinical college I finally understand at least in part what Targum was about. Just for that alone it would have been enough to attend the conference but there was so much more.  Communal singing, which by the end even I was joining in.  I got to meet up with old friends from various synagogues.
Another excellent session, also by Shira Klien, was on teaching very young children (this was among the most useful/best sessions I have ever been too).  Yet another stand out of the four days was the session on training games by Craig Taubman, the final concert was also almost unbelievably AMAZING. The only draw back from the whole thing was that it was simply too hot, about 30 degrees C., so way too hot for me.

I still have a bunch of stuff to do, but am finding to rest up a little before the fourth year starts. Including of course doing all the readings I having been putting off. Generally I am happy and feeling content with how things are going.
There are times when I have let my Jewish batteries go completely flat, and worse I don't notice that it has happened until they are recharged. And this four days really did that.

Ordination service.

Yesterday was the ordination service for Leah, Benji and Esther.  It was unsurprisingly very moving. But more about that latter. Before Sunday came Saturday (unsurprisingly enough) I didn't go anywhere for Shabbat morning I had been planning to go to Kol Chai with Emily but in the event Emily was really unwell so we didn't go anywhere.  Friday night I went to New North London Masorti Synagogue.
I always enjoy the service there, partly because I get just to be an ordinary congregant.  But the similarities with Shira Hadasha in Jerusalem and the almost Jerusalem like weather made me very homesick.

Saturday we went to celebrate Hannah's birthday with a murder mystery, 'death by chocolate' I played Dr Sigmand Fraud, it was a lot of fun. A really fun evening.

I have also started an eat well campaign this was the result of Emily and I realising how badly we have been eating.  This was both shocking and might explain how ill we have been feeling of late.  But now on to ordination.

This year ordination took place at Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue. Hannah was kind enough to give Emily and I lift in, which made a real difference because of how difficult it is to get by means of public transport.

This is the third ordination I have attended since starting at rabbinical school one was at HUC and then last year at West London Synagogue.  I found this year very moving, the speeches by the ordains were very good. Leah's was a re-aprassal of her one at the last service. Linking her Bat-Mitzvah portion (Mattot-this weeks sedra) with her journey from the midwest and Classical Reform Judaism today, Benji's was also personal starting from his tenancy to leave planning routes and suddenly finding himself at a destination with his journey to the rabbinate, and Esther linked her complex and challenging Journey to her family history.

All three discussed the feelings and trepidation's of embraking on the next part their carers. Laliv gave the address which was prefect in tone and personal to each of the three canidates. All in all a lovely ceremony. In beautiful weather.

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.

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