Saturday, January 30, 2010

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Restful Shabbat

Shavua Tov!!!

It must be clear that I have some free time on my hands since I'm blogging much more frequent. Since I have a late start on Sunday, I decided to blog before bed. This past weekend was very relaxing. Friday I slept in late, went to the gym and then got my glasses fixed. After my errands, I came home to catch up on Thursday night television-Grey's, The Office, and Project Runway before getting ready for Shabbat services at Kol Hanishamah.
Services were really nice this week as many of the HUC students were there as well as HUC faculty. After services, my classmates Sarah and Jeremy, and I headed to our professor Jeremy Leigh's home for Shabbat dinner. Jeremy is from the UK and has an awesome British accent. It was adorable when we arrived at his home to hear his three daughter's British accents as well (even though they are Israeli). Dinner was so nice. It's always wonderful to be in a real home. Jeremy is also a fantastic cook and the company was just great. Jeremy and his wife are very funny and smart so it was a fantastic conversation and evening. Before we knew it we looked at our watches and it was 11:30!!!
Today was also very restful and relaxing. I slept in and Ally and I made crepes for breakfast. I also did a little bit of cleaning (and some laundry) which is always nice on Shabbat. Since I didn't have too much homework, it truly felt like Shabbat. My friend Andrew came over this afternoon to help me with guitar. I had a fantastic lesson and can play Mah Ya Fe Hayom, Ani V'atah, and am in the process of learning others.
Tonight I went to dinner with a few classmates and then hung out downtown for a bit. It's always nice to get out when Shabbat ends and truly feel the beginning of the new week. Totally cheesy I know, but unless you experience it in Jerusalem, you just can't get it (sorry!).

On that note, my laundry is dry! So now I need to go fold it so I can go get some rest before another week of school...wohoo!!!!

Lilah Tov!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Sunny and 76 degrees...

on the first day of second semester was definitely a first. Seriously, I don't think that I have ever experienced a first day of second semester that wasn't brutally cold! No need to be too jealous as it has rained, no poured, for the remainder of the week. Everyone always says that there are two seasons in Israel, hot and rainy. Right now it is the rainy season. Apparently Israel needs to rain, really though, (in the words of my grammar teacher)the Kinneret needs the rain, not Jerusalem! There was so much rain in Israel this week that the Negev (desert) was flooded. Enough about the weather...

To my surprise the first week back was really great. It was so nice and refreshing to see everyone after a MUCH needed two week break. Getting back into the routine of classes was also good and this week was a fairly laid back one since many of our professors are in America.

My schedule is a bit different this semester, I actually like it better. Here's what it looks like:
Sunday:
10:15-11:45 Hebrew
12:00-1:30 Bible
1:30-3:30 Community Service (preschool)

Monday
8:30-10:00 Enrichment time (usually sleeping is my enrichment, other options include: parshat hashavua (weekly Torah portion, or attending other services around J'lem)
10:15-11:45 Hebrew
12:00-1:30 Bible
2:45-4:15 Biblical Grammar

Tuesday
8:30-11:45 Hebrew
12:00-1:30 Education Seminar

Wednesday
All day Israel Seminar

Thursday
8:30-10:00 Services
10:15-11:45 Hebrew
12:00-1:30 Liturgy
2:30-4:00 Bible

So far I'm really enjoying Bible. It's hard, all in Hebrew, but my teacher is so patient. Actually, almost all of my classes are taught in Hebrew, which is definitely a good thing as I am learning a lot. I can understand way more than I can speak, but at least that's something, right?

I am not taking history this semester which frees up my Tuesday afternoon. I want to make a list of things that I still want to do in these next four months and use that time on Tuesday to accomplish things on the list. If you have suggestions, they are much appreciated.

While the semester has gotten off to a bit of a relaxing start, it is also a bit busy as well. I have begun preparing for the service that I am leading in February which I am very anxious about. Also, the Former Soviet Union Pesach Project is getting very busy as we are preparing and still busy fundraising. I'm not quite there yet and so if you are interested in donating, please visit www.pesachproject.com. It's a really great cause and I am very much looking forward to providing seders and other passover programming to people who would not otherwise have these opportunities.

All of the students were invited to the homes of HUC faculty and Israeli Rabbinical students for Shabbat dinner. I am going with my friends Sarah and Jeremy to one of our Israel Seminar professors, Jeremy Leigh's. Ally and I are very excited to spend Shabbat next week with Rabbi Greene.

On a different note, I'm glad that MOST of my tv shows have come back on, and that the Bachelor has started again. I don't know why, but I LOVE that show. For those of you who are watching, I don't think I've seen a season with girls this stupid yet. Okay, that wasn't nice, but come on! And for those of you who are looking for a new show to watch, Modern Family, is by far the best show on Television right now!

Not only have I been able to keep up with my shows, but I also recently watched "It's Complicated" online, also highly recommended! I'm trying to have a little more fun this semester and not be as uptight about school and am therefore making an effort to get out more. I've been going to the HUC football teams games the past few weeks and despite their defeated record, it's still a lot of fun.

On that note, I'm a bit tired and promised Ally (Tick) that I would watch her favorite movie "Something's Gotta Give". I'll blog later this weekend.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Winter Break




As my first semester in graduate school ended, two weeks of vacation began. We celebrated the end of the semester on New Years. There were lots of visitors in Jerusalem and I was so happy to celebrate the new year and my first semester ending with both new friends from HUC and old friends from home as well.

My parents arrived a few days later and we spent the remainder of the break traveling all over Israel. I had lots of fun showing them Israel (as they had never been before) and even enjoyed a few new places myself (Bet Sh'an, the Underground Bullet Factory, Atlit and the Tower of David Light Show-Highly recommended!) I also got to get out of Israel for a bit when we went to Cairo for three days. Some of the "Chailights" from the past two weeks include (in no particular order):

-seeing my parents
-my parents liking my apartment
-delicious meals
-my dad losing lots of things including a camera case at the kotel and then being able to find it at the lost and found
-Old City tour with Gingy
-The Underground Bullet Factory
-Crazy city of Cairo
-surviving as a passenger in cars in Cairo (even though there were four lanes there were never fewer than 7 cars across the highway!)
-riding a camel for my first and LAST time
-being offered a job for my good bargaining skills
-belly dancer on the Nile River dinner cruise
-Hanging out with the Kaplan family



I'll think of more highlights later. For now, I'm exhausted from a really great two weeks with my parents. School starts again on Sunday, and I will try to blog as much as possible this semester as well.