An UPDATE!!!!
Mood:  lazy
Now Playing: Counting Crows- Big Yellow Taxi
Okay, I'm a bad, bad person. I know. I haven't updated since the beginning of the month, and it's been killing you...I know!!! Well, much has happened, and I've been so busy that I've barely had two minutes to myself, let alone time to sit down and write a whole entry. But, now it's catch-up time!!
A few weeks ago the president of our college came and spent the weekend with us here. He's a very personable and lovely man, and I enjoyed getting to know him. I think he enjoyed getting to know me too...let's just say, we had a few *funny* interactions!!! Never a dull moment around here!
I also went to the Israeli rabbinical ordination that weekend. It was very different from American HUC ordinations, but it was very nice and very emotional (especially when I kept thinking about my own ordination).
Last week, my entire class went on a trip up north to see the mystical town of Tzfat, and to spend a few nights in Haifa. Of course, there were many other stops along the way which were quite enjoyable, and the bus ride was entertaining as always, but it was really Haifa that I loved most. We spent one day at the Leo Baeck Institute and it was really a beautiful (with a beautiful view of the Mediteranean Sea) and interesting educational center. I stayed there and worked out, and then we had shabbat services and dinner there that night. And unlike Jerusalem, bars and clubs are actually open in Haifa on Friday night, so about 10 of us went out that night to a fun bar and had a good time. Coming back to Jerusalem was a little difficult because it had been such a beautiful mini-vacation, but it was also nice to come back home.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving. It wasn't as hard to be out of the US for this holiday as I thought it would be. My family has never made a HUGE deal out of it, so it's not like I was missing some longstanding family tradition or anything. But I was lucky enough to go to a beautiful Thanksgiving Dinner at my friend Josh, Joel, and David's apartment with about 15 other classmates. We had such a good time, and spent a little time talking about what we were thankful for and stuff and it was just a really nice time to reflect on the year so far, my life, my family and my friends, and all sorts of warm fuzziness!
I was supposed to go to a kibbutz this weekend to help lead services for the High school NFTY exchange students here for the semester, but they ended up not needing me so I get to catch-up on some sleep and some work today!! WOOHOO!!!

The weather in Jerusalem has taken an unexpected turn for the worse. All of a sudden it became winter. Now, it's not that it's SOOOO cold (hello I'm from the midwest, I understand cold winters!) but it's that it is soooo windy here and that the buildings are not meant to keep in heat...in fact, they are meant to do the opposite. Because Israel is so HOT for much of the year, the buildings are designed to keep cool and keep heat out. That, and my building only turns on heat from like 5-10 at night. So I went out and bought some space heaters (with the help of Sara Reichenbach and her car!!!) They aren't great, but at least I'm staying pretty warm at night. It also rains a lot here!!! I guess winter here is sort of like early March in the states..but it's just so COLD!!! BRRRRR!!!!

Okay, I'm off to go be productive before shabbat!
Happy Thanksgiving and have a great weekend!!!!

" I bent my wookie"
Now Playing: Indigo Girls- Closer to Fine
So yesterday I burnt my hand. Don't worry...I'm fine!!!!! I was rounding a corner trying to be very careful with my newly poured boiling hot water and my friend Seth accidently bumped into me. The water went all over my hand. At first, my friend David went to go get me some ice, but apparently you don't put ice on a burn. So then I went looking for a first-aid kit, because the burning feeling wasn't going away. Well after going from Na'amah, to Rose, to Dina at the front desk, to the Security Guard station, I found the first-aid kit. While looking through it with only one hand, I realized that there was no burn cream in there. Great. By then, I had amassed a crowd at the front entrance area of HUC (which included some random woman who kept telling me the most un-helpful stuff about my burn). Finally it was decided that I should go to the pharmacy down the street, but I didn't have my wallet with me so Cantor Tamar was nice enough to accompany me and spoke wonderful hebrew to the pharmacist. All I remember them saying was "Acshav!" which means now (in reference to my immediate need for the cream) and something about putting it on 3-4 times a day. I was literally almost on the verge of tears, my hand was hurting so much, and so it was nice that someone else took care of the situation for me, seeing as how I just wasn't with it so much at that specific point in time. Much thanks to everyone's involvement yesterday.
I am happy to report that my hand feels fine today, and there was no blistering or scars or anything. WHEW!!!! Hey, at least I didn't have to go to the emergency room!!!!

In other news, I've been working out like crazy lately and I've actually really been enjoying it. My workout buddy, Rochelle, is in the states this week for her mom's bat mitzvah, but she'll be back soon enough (and hopefully impressed at my ever-increasing endurance levels). I don't know...it's like, for the first time in my life, I can really run and I can run for a long time, and I can walk so fast for like an hour or so and it doesn't make me unbearably tired...and it's a nice feeling. It totally relieves stress, it boosts my energy levels, and it is a good end to my day. Those health magazines really don't lie (well, at least not about this)....the benefits are great!!! WHo knows, maybe I'll even start training for a marathon or something....well, maybe not just yet....but someday....someday.....

Sometimes when I'm doing errands around town, I stop and think about the fact that I am in this totally foreign country, doing such normal things like paying my bills, or having copies of keys made (for my roof, people...don't worry, it's nothing illegal!) or ordering food at a restaurant and doing it all entirely in a different language. It's really a very liberating and exhilirating feeling. I like that my life is here. I feel comfortable living this life this year. I'm not so sure if I'd be totally comfortable if it were longer than a year...but the year's been good to me so far, and I can only see it becoming more and more comfortable as the year goes on.

The president of our college is coming to Jerusalem this week (in fact, he may already be in town) and it'll be interesting to meet him. He's addressing us on Thursday, and then we have a dinner with him on Friday night. I'm sure I'll write more about that later, once I actually get to meet him and hear what he has to say to us.

It seems like a lot of my classmates have been getting sick lately. There's a stomach thing going around that I have managed to avoid so far, and bronchitis, and just general yuckiness. When I was at IU, I used to call this the mid-semester blah's. Our bodies are just tired, and we don't take care of ourselves well enough, and don't have breaks in sight, in order to recouperate. But, and those of you that don't know me so well (or have never lived with me) might be surprised by this, I will never, EVER sacrifice my sleep time. I WILL get a full 7-8 hours of sleep a night...no matter what. That's why I'm not a procrastinator...I must figure and use all my time wisely so that I can get enough sleep every night. No staying up till dawn doing work for me. Now, admittedly, I often will get up early and do some work that I can do quickly in the morning, or review for a test(because that's when I am my freshest) and I have always been like that, ever since high school. But I think that my sleep habits are what help me from getting really sick. It's a great way to take care of yourself and ensure that your body gets the break it needs from your daily activities.

Speaking of which...why am I not in bed yet?????
G'night...I'm off to dreamland!!!! More updates to come soon!!!!!

This is my life....embrace it!!!
Now Playing: Violent Femmes -Blister in the Sun
So on saturday at lunch, Yossi the intern (cause I can't pronounce or spell his last name..and that's what he'll forever be to me) came over and asked us all an interesting question. WHy don't more of us offer to help read torah on Saturdays. My first inclination was to say, well, my hebrew and my experience reading torah isn't good enough yet to do that. But I didn't say that. Because that's a stupid thing to say. THIS IS WHAT I AM HERE TO LEARN!!! I need to face the fact that my profession involved reading hebrew texts, reading from the Torah, chanting torah, reading haftorah, etc. Just because I haven't done it since i was 13 is no excuse for me any longer. There are lots of things I'm good at, and will really help bring to the rabbinate, but reading torah is not one of them yet. Reading hebrew, in general, is what i consider to be my biggest hebrew weakness. So I need to start admitting that I am not good at it, and start practicing at getting better. That's what this year is for. That's what the next five years are for. That's what the next fifty years are for. This is my life, and this will be part of my job. So instead of avoiding it, I'm choosing to embrace it!!!!
My first order of business was talking to the cantor at HUC and telling her all of this, and telling her that I WOULD like to read torah some Saturday next month (maybe even when Jeffrey's here) just to get the practice in of preparing for it, and doing it, before I get graded on it (which I will be in the spring). My second order of business is to start really practicing reading hebrew aloud every night, or every other night or so. I know that I am smart enough to do this, I just need the practice.....it's not going to learn itself!!!!!! So I'll start with liturgical pieces, biblical passages, and even just modern hebrew newspapers. Hopefully I'll have the discipline to really stick with this.
Third, I need to relax and really start embracing it. I won't be a hebrew machine overnight, and I need to set realistic goals for myself. And I do have a long ways to go, but it's not like i need to know it all by tomorrow. Slow and steady wins the race....

No other news really. Life is normal as usual. Still loving J'lem and my wonderful classmates, and the program. Now, I just need to kick it up a notch....BAM!!!!!
(did I just really refer to Emeril????)

Going to bed before another long day!!!!!! It's great, but it's exhausting!!!!!!!!!!!

Realizations
Now Playing: Dido - Thank you
I had the strangest feeling yesterday. It was like, I don't know who I am anymore. Not like my personality or myself or anything, but like...what I used to be. My friend Phyllis received the new Jewish Studies Newsletter from IU (don't ask me why) and there was this article about me on it with a picture. Well, I actually was able to find it online, and as I was reading it, I realized that my life right now is so different from what it was just six months ago. Last year I won the Piser prize for being the most outstanding senior in Jewish Studies continuing on in the field (specific, I know). And the article talked a little about the prize and a lot about all the things I had done over the past four years, which looking back...was sort of a lot. Now those of you that know me well know that I do not like to brag, I do not like to boast, and nine times out of ten I would much rather be modest than arrogant. But damn....I was hot stuff! Besides the whole PBK and summa cum laude thing, I definately was super involved as an RA and student govt. member, worked with the chancellor on long-range planning, was spechler's TA...yada, yada, yada. I have to say that I was a big fish in a HUGEEEEEEE pond. I mean, IU has 40,000 some students and I always felt like I knew everyone on that campus and they knew me. Students, admin., faculty, res. staff...etc.
SO what's going on here? Why do I feel like such a small fish in a small pond? No, not even a pond...we're like a rain puddle here we're that small. Is it just that this is grad school and you have to work 10x harder just to even get noticed every once in a while? Is it that we all came from being the best of the best in what we were doing (and i know we were...I've talked to lots of people about this) and now we don't really stand out because we are all the best at what it is we do? Or is it that, technically, I'm just a "freshman" again, and that I need to spend the next five years working on becoming hot stuff again????

When I read that article about me, it was like I had forgotten all of that about me. I've been here for four months and i don't even recognize my old life...
I knew that I would come to Israel and struggle with a lot of stuff, but I really just thought it would be all related to Judaism, or the rabbinate, or school...not with my new role in all of this. And my lack of what I once was....
I'm sure this also relates back to my feelings of non-mentorship in this program so far. Maybe I would feel unique here or accomplished or something if i had someone who knew me more personally, like a faculty or administrator or something. Not like a friend, because like I said...I don't say these things to my friends...they don't need to know about my past accomplishments. We're all starting new, and that's what matters now, not all the old stuff. All that should really matter to them is my here and now...I mean, ultimately, isn't that the really the only thing that should matter to us in life?
Anyway...it just felt weird to read an article about someone, and then realize that it was really about you.

Shabbat has been nice so far. I had a lovely diner last night with friends (new and old) and then went to services this morning to hear Leah and Marcy sing...beautiful job ladies!!!!
Then, we just had a seriously impromptu lunch at our place..it was so random, but really turned out very nice indeed. Now I'm off to nap a little or do a little bit of work before tonight.
Have a lovely weekend y'all!!!!!

Professional Forums, Voting/Election
Now Playing: I'm Every Woman - Chaka Khan
Mondays are my longest days of the whole week. Not only do I have t'fillah in the morning, but then I go through very intensive classes all day with no break (except to scarf down my lunch and work on whatever homework I need to do during lunch time). T'fillah (prayer) is nice in the morning, but my day is just so long after that. And then, on alternating weeks, we have something called Professional Forum. Well, it's most every week...but sometimes it's optional. Now, after a long day i know that i am tired and cranky, so I really try to make the most of these professional forums because they aren't really like class. I understand that their purpose is to educate me on what the profession of being a rabbi will be like, and some neccesary tools for that, etc. etc. However, sometimes it just feels useless, or it ends up being a forum of hostility and complaints. For example, tonight we talked about the changing role of the clergy. That's not what we actually talked about, though. I mean, we touched on it here and there...but mostly we just listened to three different people's opinions on what one should do in their job, or in their chosen profession. And then came the hostility. Questions from my classmates, defensive responses from the panel, stupid comments, etc. Some days, I really just can't handle it. All of the negativity and hostility. I want my classmates to not make every session with teachers and administrators a political arena for complaints. I want the educators and administrators at my school to stop being so defensive and really start telling me what is most important in this profession. I want these people to be my role models....no, I crave it! I desperately want someone to take me under their wing and be my professal/spiritual/educational mentor. But, I'm learning more and more that it probably won't happen this year. And I understand that they don't do it because some people in my class aren't ready for it by any means, and it would be disasterous for them...but I know myself pretty well, and I have to say, i think it would be useful for me. Oh well...maybe I'll have to seek it out myself!!!!
Then, after professional forums, I definately go to my english-speaking weight watchers meeting (which means I'm extra cranky on Monday from very carefully watching what I eat that day...since I weigh in at night). First of all, I love the meeting group I'm in. The women are all mostly older, mostly immigrated from America, and they are so funny and very sweet. After having gone here for about two months or so, they definately feel comfortable around me, I know tons of the people in the group quite well, and we have a good time. The weight itself hasn't come off the way it did when I was back in the states (where it was practically flying off my body), but that's okay too. At least I'm not gaining!!! And I have lost about 5-6 pounds since i've been here (which is good since my goal for the year is about 30 pounds). Anyway, so that's sort of a nice end to my Mondays.

So tomorrow, November 2nd, is a HUGE day!!!! It's my friend Michael's birthday!!!!!!
STAM!!!!!!! (It means "just kidding" in hebrew)
It's also Election day!!!! I voted while I was home over succot break and I cannot begin to tell all of you how very important it is to get out there and vote your conscience! As a person who holds a B.A. in political science and who's mother ran for state representative when I was younger, I can honestly say that voting is the most American and democratic thing you can do in your life. It's also good to feel like you are really contributing to what's going on in our government (even though we have this messed up electoral college system) and to have the right to complain about things when you don't like them, and enjoy things when you do like what's going on in our government.
I, for one, am really very nervous. I told some of my friends that if Bush won, i might not come back to the states. Don't worry...i'll be back...i may just be living in Canada...hahahah. And although a lot of people say that Kerry is better than Bush, I disagree with that statement (personally). I really like Kerry's politics. He and i are very aligned on a lot of the same issues. And, frankly, nothing would give me better joy than to see him elected as our next president.
Anyway, I think it's important to get out there and vote (especially if you are young...the numbers of young people who don't vote are atrocious) and pray for the best outcome possible. Whomsoever the people choose (in a totally legitimate and fair election) is what our democratic system is all about. But I might just pray for a certain outcome anyway.....

HAPPY ELECTION DAY!!!!!!!!!!

A week in my life
Now Playing: You're the inspiration - Chicago
So it occured to me (through the help of my father) that I talk a lot in my blog about all the fun crazy stuff that we rabbinical students do, but I don't really give you much of the academic substance of what's going on. I guess it's because it's not as exciting as everything else, so I sort of don't really feel a need to talk about it. However, I am happy to oblige those of you that want a little bit more of my day to day activities.

First of all, as much as you hear the cute anecdotes and see the wonderful pictures, this is not a piece-of-cake year for me at all. First and foremost, I am in my first year of grad school and there is lots of work. What I didn't expect so much of is all of the time that I am actually IN class! My school day starts at 8:30 in the morning (or 7:45 on the lucky tuesdays that we have services) and I often am not done until about 4 or 5 in the afternoon (on average). All of my classes last for an hour and a half each. On Sunday's I actually have two doses of Hebrew..a whopping three hours!!! I also have rabbinic literature that say with Marc Bregman. He's great and the class structure is fabulous. We are studying Pirke Avot (from the Mishna) as one big chevrutah (study group) and so we do a lot of translating, reading commentaries, and debating. On Sundays I also have my elective course which is Cantillation of the Bible. Yes, that's right folks, I am learning to chant Torah. The truth is, it's just not that hard..you just need to learn how to do it! And we have a lot of fun in that class so it's a nice end to the day.
Every Monday we start out in the morning with Student Led Services. Every rabbinical student is required to lead one service, chant/read torah at least once, and give one D'var Torah throughout the year. Mine are all in the spring, so I just get to enjoy them all now! Then I have hebrew, Biblical Grammar (with Yossi Lechem who is incredible!!!) and Bible. In Biblical grammar, we learn the most amazing things about the real structure of the hebrew language, accents and vowels and all the rules that go along with the hebrew language. It's so helpful, not just for that class and in general, but because it helps me understand lots of things in modern hebrew as well. Simply Fantastic!!!
Bible isn't so great because the teacher insists on speaking in very rapid complex hebrew and like 2 students really understand what is actually going on in the class. My only consolation is that I've had Bible before and am very familiar with the content (hi, I was a Jewish Studies Major at IU!) and so I often know what we are talking about, even though I don't know what the heck she is saying. After Bible we often have a professional forum with lots of guest speakers or programs relating to our Jewish professional lives.
On Tuesdays I have hebrew, liturgy, and History. Liturgy is basically what it sounds like. Reading, translating, and talking about Jewish liturgy. It's a great class. Then I have History with Paul Liptz. He might possibly be one of the most interesting men alive. He is from Zimbabwe, lives in Israel, looks like Colonel Sanders, and knows everyone in the world. EVERYONE! His class is called Contemporary Middle Eastern History, but it's really more of an Arab culture class. It is so interesting and I learn about 10 new things (if not more) every class period. We've all been assigned Middle Eastern Countries and every day that we talk about new issues (i.e. Women in Islam, the Family structure, etc) we tell the rest of the class how our country feels about the issue. I have Algeria and it's been absolutely fascinating so far! This class was also sort of an elective (although it's required) because I got to choose between this and the formation of the Zionest state. That and I didn't have to take remedial Jewish History (as Karen calls it) because I got plenty of that in my undergrad.
Wednesdays are special days. No really, they are! We have "Israel Seminar Day" where we talk a lot about the last 100 years of Jewish History and then go out into the country and see it for ourselves. We've already taken day trips to Tel Aviv, Yad Va'shem, Har Herzl, and next week we are going to some Kibbutzim to see what life is like on a Kibbutz. Sometimes, these days are fun..sometimes they are excruciating...it really just depends. Paul, my history teacher, is actually the leader of my group so that;s a lot of fun. He's so knowledgeable!
Then Thursday's I just get Hebrew (with a test every week!) and Bible again.

Now, I can't begin to tell you how busy I am with schoolwork. Part of me never really feels quite on top of everything. Thursday nights are really the nights that i go out, and then Friday morning/afternoon is devoted to either sleeping in for once, getting errands done that I neglect during the week, or getting ready for Shabbat. Then Saturday is shabbat with services, luncheons, and more relaxing. Finally, by saturday night when shabbat is over...my week starts again! And, none of this "regular week" involves any special stuff going on like people's birthdays, our flag football team games and practices, my hours volunteering at the Rape Crisis center, or any of that stuff. This year is all one big balancing act. Anyway, more to come soon. Off to get ready for Shabbat!!!!
Have a great weekend!!!

Oh what a night!!!
Mood:  don't ask
Now Playing: Oasis- Wonderwall
Wow, last night was serious amounts of mad fun. Rochelle came over, then we went out and met Lisa at Joy (or Joi) for dinner. We saw Zoe and Jason and even Ann while we were sitting there. Good times!!!!
Then we went back to rochelle's for a bit and chilled, and eventually over to Lisa's for a little pre-partying with Joel. After that we all went out to Arik's b-day thing at that place next to Zolly's...so many people were there!!! It was crazy but it was a lot of fun!!! Then, about 20 of us headed off to Heleni for our usual dancing and continued partying. Except for little bits of craziness at the end of the evening, a good time was had by all. I think i got to bed around 3 am. Now this is what I have to say:
1) Who am I? I didn't even do this kind of stuff in college...am I making up for lost time? I love getting to hang out with my friends and spending time with them, but i;ve never been a night owl before in my life...where has this come from all of a sudden??
2) I like that when we all go out, we really tend to take care of each other, in soooo many different ways. It's better than just "friends you go out with", my classmates are really good people and it shows through in lots of situations.
3) I haven't had this much to drink in a long time ('cause I usually don't really ever drink) so it's gonna be a bit of a struggle today. But every once in a while you need to just let your hair down, and have a crazy fun time!!!

In the wise words of Sara Mason : I love rabbinical school!!!!!!!

Feeling at home
Now Playing: Don Henley - End of Innocence
So i'm totally avoiding translating my bible homework...and studying for my hebrew test tomorrow (luckily it's just a vocab quiz!!!). I've been thinking a lot lately about how comfortable i feel here. At first, when you come to a new place, as much as you love it, you also sort of hate it a little bit (maybe even secretly) because it's not home and you miss home and it's hard to be away from the things and ones you love and miss. But as the year goes on, you become more and more attached to your life abroad...you understand that you do have a life here. I was walking home from the Rape Crisis Center (where i volunteer, and which i love!!!!!) and thinking about how my attitiude has really changed from just getting through my year in Israel by having fun and not missing things back in the states, to recognizing how much I love my life here. And now, I know that it will be hard to leave in June. And it's only October!!!!!
At the beginning of the year, Na'amah Kelman who directs the year in Israel program said there are two parts to the year: getting us acclimated to living in Israel, and then trying to focus on not being sad about leaving Israel. I can really see what she means. And although my sadness doesn't affect me everyday, it is still in the back of my head that I am only here for a year, and that this year will fly by much faster than I think (have I really already been here for almost 4 months?????). I love waking up in the morning and opening my large sliding glass door and window and gazing at the beauty of Jerusalem. I love walking down to Mircaz Hair and running errands, or walking down Emek Rafayim to go shopping. I love going ot to Cafe's to study, or out to eat at night with my friends, or out on our Thursday "Night Out" at Zolly's and Heleni's. I love our campus and it's beauty, and yes (even though it's hot as hell) the weather. It's October and it's still almost 90 degrees during the day!!!
What can I say? I love it all, and I'm glad it's my life right now...and i love the people I'm sharing it with.

Today, instead of our usual "Trip Day" around Israel we had a day with Moshe Silbershein(one of our professors who I just love) and we talked a lot about shabbat. It was interesting and very informative, but about an hour too long. Oh well!!! We are also having a traditional shabbat dinner on Friday night at HUC with more learning from Moshe, so it should be fun! Tomorrow, I have class until early afternoon and then I think i'm going to do some grocery shopping and run an errand or two.
That's about it for now...back to studying I go!!!

PS Is anyone ever gonna call me? (847)-748-2008...that's why I got an American phone number!!!!!

Yes, I'm alive....i just haven't written in a month!
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Eric Clapton - Layla
Okay, so I have much to comment on...here goes.

Many of you may or may not know that I was back in the states for a week during the very beginning of October. I started out this year thinking that i wouldn't go home at all, but I have to come to realize that life cannot always work out the way you plan it. It was a bit of an unexpected trip, but after my mom had been very sick for a few weeks, I just couldn't stay in Jerusalem any longer. Luckily, I had a 10 day break and found a very cheap flight...(and had some very generous friends who lent me their car for the week)....and was able to go home and see my parents and my brother. I didn't really call anyone because it wasn't that kind of a trip. I was there for a reason, and that was what took priority. Luckily my mom is feeling much better, is doing quite well, and I was able to see her at her best. Thanks to everyone here for all of your encouragement during those first few very hard days (and for helping me to realize what to do) and to everyone else who made my trip home possible. It all meant so much to me.
After my trip, I realzied that I am a big proponent of going home during your "year abroad" if you don't have a fear that you might not get back on the plane to return, and if you have the means to do so. Not only did it help to reaffirm that I had a life back in the US, but it was great to get away for a while and be able to miss all the new people that I've come to love so dearly. It also was a fabulous experience coming back. It really made me realize that I do have a life here, even though I miss my life back home, and that my life here is really a lot of fun...school, friends, volunteer work, socializing, studying, being jewish. I think that because I hadn't been home in several months, and I didn't think that I would see my home in the US for a whole year, it made me miss everything so much that I lost sight of what I have here in Jerusalem. And, you must remember, I am by no means "homesick", it's just a natural way of feeling when you live abroad. It was great to get that insight, and to realize that although this year will be different than my next four years in rabbinical school, it will also be amazing and will help me to be thankful for what I have in my life, in so many different ways.

There was a bomb in Sinai about a week ago....everyone from the HUC community is fine (even though Adam was MIA for awhile, but he turned out to be fine too!) but it's just so sad. SO many people died, so many were injured, and it was a very hard home-coming to Jerusalem for me. Lots of people ask me if i'm scared of living here, and the honest (maybe naive) answer is: NO. I can't spend my entire year living in fear. The college and I take many precautions having to do with safety, and if it's my time than it's just my time and there is nothing I can do about it. Luckily, as of yet, every time there has been in a bomb in or around Israel, I haven't been anywhere near it. So for now, I'm safe...but I know many of you are worried. I wish I could ease that for you, but this is where I need to be this year.

On a lighter note, I love my volunteer work that I am doing at the Jerusalem Rape Crisis Center. I'm doing lots of research projects and it's a great office to work in. My "boss" is the coolest chick ever (she's from Britain and has a wicked sense of humor) and I love getting to work for her. And I think Karen Sherman might be working with me too....cause we don't see each other enough every day, all day...good thing I like her!!!!!

Anyway, other than that I'm just a busy busy little bee. Tomorrow is our Israel exploration day. We are going to Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum) and Mt. Herzl...very touristy spots, but very important and enjoyable nonetheless.

Also, I know this is unbelievable, but I actually have a phone number that is based in Chicago but reaches my phone in Jerusalem (it's through a company called Vonage and uses our internet to connect to us here in Jerusalem). So essentially, it will be like you are calling to chicago, but you will get me here!!!! And i have unlimited minutes to call you...so expect a phone call or two!!! I'll send out an e-mail soon with the new number.
Okay off to make dinner and do some homework! Have a great week!!!!!

Rosh Hashanah
Now Playing: Faith Hill _ Breathe
I have so many mixed emotions right now...I'm going to try to seperate them out as best I can. First and foremost, I miss home a lot right now. It's definately the high holidays that are doing it for me. Everyone at home asking how I'm doing and asking about me. My grandmother and my brother coming in for the New Year, and me just not being there. But I have to remind myself, that really I might not be there for the high holidays again for a while. Over the next several years I will have student pulpits, and then a pulpit of my own. So, as my mom said, I will have to just expect that my family and friends will come to me, instead of me going to them. Secondly, services here last night were great. We had services at HUC in the Blaustein hall where you get one of the most spectacular views of the walls of the Old City behind the pulpit. We watched the sun go down on the old walls, and simultaneously began seeing the reflection of ourselves praying in the glass windows...just spectacular!!! And the cantorial choir was unbelievable. But at the same time, i missed the feeling of being able to sing WITH them. It was definately a listening experience, and not a participating experience...it's okay though, they were pretty moving. We then had a Rosh Hashanah Sedar (didn't even know you could!!!) and that was great too! Lots of singing and dancing and it was really nice to be with all my classmates and their SO's. Then I came home and Leah and I called Michael and Phyllis and then I called my folks and went to bed.
This morning I woke up and went back to services at HUC. They were FOUR HOURS LONG!!!!!!! By the end, it was sort of hard to focus. After a relaxing day I went to Josh's for a bit. Needless to say, many interesting conversations ensued. One of our favorite topics right now, as HUC students, has very little to do with our own beliefs on Reform Judaism and more to do with whether or not we feel "observant enough" or "Jewish enough" compared to others (even some of our classmates). So many people have such varied views on this topic, and it often gets very emotional and heated. I think that all of us are sorting out what we knew and what we thought and trying to reconcile it with what we are now learning and some of our new beliefs and attitudes. It's hard for everyone. I know that I am finding myself saying a lot, "Well, I've never done XYZ before so I don't feel the need to do it now." But the more I think about it, the more I realize that I'm not okay with that statement. Tradition, although and integral part of Judaism, does not always mean that it's the right way for you to do something now. So I guess this year is really a big learning year for me....in so many ways. I need to figure out what works best for ME, what MY needs are as a Reform Jew...and how I want to integrate all of this into my life.
(Continued Sat. 9/18) So then on Friday I decided to go to Second Day Rosh Hashanah services at Har El. I had never been there before, and truthfully, I wasn't that impressed. It just wasn't a good fit for me. I know that some of my other classmates really like it there, but it was too small for me and I honestly didn't really like the service. I think I'll probably stick with places like Kol Hanishama, Shira Hadasha, and HUC for services. I walked there and back with the Sherman family (Karen is a classmate of mine...she is in almost all of my classes...and she has a husband and two adorable daughters) and we had a great time together. When I got bored during services I was able to quietly read to Eliana (Karen's 3 year old daughter)or help her color in her book. Afterwards, on our way home, we stopped in to the Great Synagogue which is a huge and beautiful orthodox synagogue in Jerusalem. We had to walk up several flight of stairs to get to the women's section but it is just breath-taking inside. However, Karen's 7 year old daughter Rebecca began asking all sorts of questions about why the men and women had to sit seperately, why men and women had different jobs during services and why she couldn't sit next to her daddy while in temple. Karen and I did as best we could, but Rebecca's questions were so pure and innocent that Karen and I began exchanging a lot of glances. It was a real learning moment for me (as a rabbi to be) trying to explain different people's beleifs and customs, even though we are still all Jewish.
Later that night Leah and I went to Adam and Noah's for Shabbat dinner and had a quiet, delicious, and relaxing evening with them. Today it's off to Lisa's for shabbat lunch, along with the usual shabbat activities, and then of course tonight....homework!!!!
Being that it is now the middle of the high holidays, I tend to be a lot more reflective this time of year, so I will try to write more of that soon in the next few days.