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!!!!!!!!!!