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.

Vote for change

Hi I am championing a charity called Atzum in something called vote for change. If they win they will receive 1000 pounds its a great organise. So if you could it would be great if you could go to the website and vote for them the link is below.

http://www.uknif-voteforchange.org/2014/02/06/vote-for-atzum-2/

Thanks

First week back at school

This past week was my first one back at school so I now have a much better feeling for what shape the semester is going to take. Overall I am pretty upbeat I only have a small number of classes admittedly ones that are going to take rather a lot of work. I will just need to sort out in my mind what the assessments look like for this coming semester and then I will really have a feel for how things are going to play out.

I am still really enjoying my placement down at KLS which is good as I shall be going there rather a lot in the next few weeks entering a busy patch.  I am also still enjoying Personal Training I can really start to feel positive effects.

I also think that working on Hebrew Vocalisation is starting to pay dividends. So all in all things are good.

I have come back home to stoke for the weekend but I was struck down by my periodic motionless motion sickness so i lost a whole day so I am feeling both a little week and achy as well as behind already with my work. (Not that I really am mind.)

So steady as she goes. 1/12 of my 8th semester is under my belt. Oh and I have 518 days to go.

Possible Break though

Those of you who know me, and for that matter anyone who reads more or less anything I write, will know that I am profoundly dyslexic. In fact 'profoundly dyslexic' doesn't really cut it.  I have an out of context reading age of something like 8 years, which considering i have an MA a BSc a PG.Dip., is really odd and something which people don't expect. About a year or so ago I went to a dyslexia assessment centre where after some test it emerged that my method for reading in English is to remember what words look like, as pictures rather than by constructing them by phonic methods.  Combining this with making educated guesses from context means that my English reading is really okay.   Luckily I also have a really good memory, which really really helps.
These combined techniques really do not work that well in Hebrew, and trying them which is my natural instincts, means my reading (vocalisation) is less good than it either should or needs to be.
But today during my reading-practice I think that with the help of my teacher I might have made a break though.
Firstly I think I am going to make myself a large (very large in fact) copy of any service which I need to read. Secondly, I need to slow down my reading even if members of the congregation are trying to read faster than I am. Thirdly I need to form a positive feedback loop to stop myself misreading such as Melech, or Barauch.

I am hopeful that this is a break though a mini-one perhaps but one nevertheless.

Start of a New (really has gotten going)

Although classes are yet to start I am really back in flow of things.  Emily is back from Canada and things are settling down into the new year. My assessments are going well. I have finished five of them and am still working on one, my essay for Jewish thought on Walter Benjamin overall I am happy with how things have gone and I think all will be well will just have to wait and see what the marks are.

I am still enjoying meeting with my personal trainer, in fact I have a session with her tomorrow. (I was feel reluctance to go to them albeit that I know that I shall enjoy them greatly when I get there).

I have also been down to KLS a couple of times and am going back this weekend. This is still great working at KLS has defiantly been one of the highlights of my training so far.

Today I went and sat in on, as a rabbinic student, on the meeting of Rabbinic Conference. I found it very interesting both in terms of what was happening but also getting to see my future colleagues in action.

It was, or it felt like, one of those markers where I really started feeling that yes this is my future. I am really appreciating how long it takes to grow into a rabbinic role.

Then I got my time table for the spring semester (8/10) it looks pretty good.  So all in all steady as she goes.

Assessments, training (PE) and other things

It feels as if the year has really gotten going now.  I am back in the flat in London although Emily is still away in Canada so its a little lonely.  Yesterday (Friday) I had my first training session with Danielle of the new year. I found it all a little harder than before the brake although nothing like as bad as I expected. Embracingly I forgot to give her her money. We both remembered only after we had gone our separate ways on the Tube. She was cool about it and I'll give her double next time we meet which will either be monday or Tuesday.
I also forgot to put my anti-nusia bracelets on, and only remembered I wasn't wearing them right at the end and I wasn't sick once. (Now there is an improvement).
In all seriousness I am so much fitter now than when I started and its only been a short time.  We moved where we meet to Parsons Green because of the weather so much rain and thunder and winds. But its not really cold at all C.F., with USA and Canada.

Then after training it was back home for a shower and a change of outfit and off the synagogue FPS., it was the evening before a Bar-Mitzvah and the boy although very nervous gave a truly exceptional D'var Torah.

Rabbi Rebecca was in good form and it was also nice to meet up with Kathy again and catch up.  I have also been working away on my assessments I have done quiet a few of them but still have four remaining so I need to a) Finish Liturgy (not to bad but I really want to do a good job with this one.) b) Finish Modern Jewish Thought. (I've already done quite a bit on it but its complex).  c) Progessive Jewish Decision making. (In effect I have to write a resonsa done some research and have been thinking about it but still have a long way to go. and finally d) An analysis of two academic articles for Research methods. shouldn't be that much trouble.

Tomorrow I go around to Matthew's for our much delayed winter celebration. Then it serious will be nose back to the grind stone.  Although I hope to be able to get in another visit back home.

Limmud, home and assessments

Limmud was as always wonderful so many people old and new. Great learning and teaching.  That first and second day there is always a joy I cannot go more than a few feet without meeting someone  I know and greeting an old friend.
This year I was teaching four sessions as part of the new Beit Midrash program (which is a fantastic idea and one with which I am keen to help with, next year).  These went well, they were on the topic of Judah and Tamar. (Looking at it four ways). I was also helping out with the Chervarta project, this also went well.

Although I enjoyed limmud tremendously I am very tired. Back home in Stoke getting on with work for the new semester and with my assessments. Busy as always. Happy but Busy.