Friday, November 27, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Thanksgiving was a little different for me this year. I didn't wake up to the smell of delicious cooking, have an entire week off of school, or lounge around the house all day. I was however, surrounded by great friends, new and old, and had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Jerusalem. My friend, Lara, and I organized and planned a Thanksgiving program with the preschoolers and with HUC students during our lunch break. We did a mini scavenger hunt which included and art project, a Thanksgiving story, football, and learning a song to teach the Israeli preschoolers about our American traditions. We concluded the activity with some pumpkin cake. The preschoolers had a blast (some were even crying when the activity was over), and the HUC students cannot wait for the Chanukah program. Below is a picture of me and Lara before the program began:




Click here to see some pictures:


http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?albumId=368175410506&ownerId=29345572406&token=813656410506%3A1990783144

Thanksgiving with the Gan">



We had Thanksgiving dinner at school with many classmates as well as a few faculty members. It definitely wasn't home, but the food was still quite tasty. After dinner several people went out for a little bit, which was really fun (especially since we don't get out often).

Tonight my friend Ethan is hosting a Thanksgiving Shabbat dinner. Ally, Allie, and I are making some sort of non-dairy sweet potato dish.

Last week was the HUC Israeli Ordination. I was fortunate enough to attend this momentous occasion. Even though I didn't know any of the students, it was still quite emotional. Here is a video from the ending of the newest Israeli Reform Rabbis dancing with some of their students:
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Next weekend I am going to Benyamina for a Shabbaton with Parallel Lives (the program with HUC students and soldiers). It should be a lot of fun, and I'm very much looking forward to getting out of Jerusalem for a weekend!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A Message from Rabbi David Ellenson about FSU

Rabbi David Ellenson, President of Hebrew Union College-JIR in Jerusalem:


Saturday, November 21, 2009

NSCI Bulletin Article

Check out the article Ally and I wrote for the NSCI Bulletin:

http://nsci.org/uploads/583965December09Bulletin.pdf

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Allison in Israel







This past week has been so fun and relaxing. Allison arrived Monday and left tonight:-(
But we got to spend a very nice week together. Some of our "Chai-lights" included:
-Walking around/shopping in the Old City
-Taking Allison to services at school and to Liturgy class on Thursday
-Going to Beit Ticho with Allison for lunch and enjoying the beautiful garden
-Shabbat services at the Great Synagogue with the beautiful music
-Shabbat dinner at our apartment with Allie, Ally, Allison, Rachel, Albert, and Ethan
-Interseminary bar night with other Jewish Seminary students in Jerusalem
-Going to the Shuk on Friday morning to prepare for Shabbat
-Lots of cooking!
-Kickball game for Lauren's bday on Shabbat

I am so sad that Allison is leaving, but excited for her to come back to Jerusalem on Thursday to hear me read Torah at services! I have a very busy next few weeks ahead. The Duma Election simulation is on Monday. Israeli Rabbinic Ordination is on Friday and so each afternoon this week is filled with different speakers from the states. Finals and midterms are approaching, lots of papers, readings, projects, etc.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Kippah Curious



Over the past two weeks I have become more intrigued by Kippot. Many of my classmates where them to services each week, during classes, and some even where them all the time. There's something that I love about Thursdays. Each Thursday begins with student led Tefillah followed by Liturgy class and Hebrew. One of the things that I love about Thursdays, is that I feel Jewish and feel like I'm in a Jewish Seminary. I like starting the day wearing a Talit and praying with my classmates and professors. I like that the tone of the day feels different. Instead of taking their kippot off after services, many of my classmates continue to wear it throughout the rest of the day. I like feeling Jewish while at school. I like seeing other people wearing their kippot.

My roommate, Allie, wears one and I keep saying that I think I want to try it. I never wanted to be that "Kippah wearing Jew" whatever that means. I'm not sure that I totally understand the reasoning behind wearing a kippah as there are many different explanations. For me though, I think it will make me feel more Jewish. It serves as a physical reminder.

After what my roommate called "Kippah Curiosity" I bought my first Kippah this evening. I'm very excited about it. I plan to wear it during services and when I am studying Jewish texts.

This feels like the best time to try new things. I'll let you know how it goes.

Shavua Tov!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

A quick update...that's all i have time for these days

After a week of craziness (for lack of a better word), Mindy and I indulged in massages at the Inbal Hotel. It was the most relaxing hour I have had since I have been in Israel!
Nancy, the director of student affairs at HUC, invited Mindy, Matt, and me over for Shabbat dinner. It’s always nice to be in a real home at the end of the week and made for a great beginning for a restful Shabbat (even though I spent all of Saturday studying and doing homework).
Today, I began my community service project with my classmate Lara, volunteering in the Gan (preschool). We split our time in two different classrooms with four and five year olds who all have much better Hebrew than the two of us. It was a lot of fun- I forget how nice it is to be around little kids who are drama free and all they want to do is hug you and talk to you (even if it’s in Hebrew and they know that you don’t fully understand them). Yes, it’s a challenge, but a great one. It’s the best Hebrew speaking experience I’ve had so far, and the kids love that we’re from America and want to learn words in English too. I’m already looking forward to next Sunday!
I have a busy week ahead of me with a Liturgy midterm and Hebrew test, so I better get back to my work for the evening.
Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!