One day this will be a D'var Torah
Today I had an amazing moment of self-discovery.
We were discussing in our Emek Dvar group how valuable this year can be for us to struggle with our thoughts and opinions because it is our last chance to do that before people will expect us to help them with their opinions. While discussing how valuable internal dissonance can be, I thought of a line from the Gemara (Talmud) I learned last year:
אילו ואילו דברים אלוהים חיים
These and these are the words of a living God
This is referring to a discussion between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai where (surprise surprise) they have different opinions. The Gemara tells us that each of these opinions are correct, 'These and these are the words of a living God.'
Now how does this relate to internal dissonance?
When we are struggling internally with conflicting thoughts within us, those are the times that God is alive within us! God comes alive for us when we struggle with conflicting view points. It is within our struggle, within that dissonance, that we can find God in one way or another.
When you have an internal struggle, don't be frustrated, be happy. That is when God comes alive for you. Don't worry about finding an answer one way or another, just don't give up the struggle, because when you stop struggling, you lose God.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Yom Kippur in Jerusalem
Yom Kippur was an amazing day in Jerusalem. There was absolutely nothing open or happening in the entire city. After services (that overlooked sunset over the Old City), everyone walked down to Emek R'faim to just walk around. Since there are no cars on the streets, everyone just walks down the middle of the streets instead of needing to use the sidewalks. While walking around, I ran into Ari and Lital and then the Klein-Katzs. There are also kids (and some adults) riding around on bicycles because it is the only chance for them to ride without cars around, and if you know how Israelis drive, thats very important.
After that, Dusty, Allie, Brian, Leah, and I all walked to the Kotel in the Old City just to see what it would be like there. Surprisingly, it was very quiet. I expected there to be hundreds and hundreds of people there to pray, but it seemed like any other time at the Kotel.
During Yom Kippur day, the city was still totally serene with no cars and people walking in the streets. We prayed again overlooking the Old City and then had a break fast in the Moadon at HUC. I didn't go to N'eilah because I was helping to cut bagels (surprise surprise) and after that, had another break fast at my apartment.
The hardest part of this Yom Kippur was the fact that it fell on Shabbat, so we had school Thursday; Friday and Saturday was Shabbat/Yom Kippur; and it was back to school on Sunday. There was no real weekend or time to catch up on sleep and homework so Saturday and Sunday night were both very stressful to get caught up on sleep.
Look for a new update next week after I get back from ISTANBUL!
L'hitraot from Jerusalem
After that, Dusty, Allie, Brian, Leah, and I all walked to the Kotel in the Old City just to see what it would be like there. Surprisingly, it was very quiet. I expected there to be hundreds and hundreds of people there to pray, but it seemed like any other time at the Kotel.
During Yom Kippur day, the city was still totally serene with no cars and people walking in the streets. We prayed again overlooking the Old City and then had a break fast in the Moadon at HUC. I didn't go to N'eilah because I was helping to cut bagels (surprise surprise) and after that, had another break fast at my apartment.
The hardest part of this Yom Kippur was the fact that it fell on Shabbat, so we had school Thursday; Friday and Saturday was Shabbat/Yom Kippur; and it was back to school on Sunday. There was no real weekend or time to catch up on sleep and homework so Saturday and Sunday night were both very stressful to get caught up on sleep.
Look for a new update next week after I get back from ISTANBUL!
L'hitraot from Jerusalem
Friday, September 17, 2010
High Holidays in Jerusalem/School
High holidays have arrived and they are something to see here in Jerusalem. Rosh Hashanah this year was on Wednesday night through Friday evening, and of course shabbat started Friday night, so the entire city was shut down for 3 days. There were no busses, no stores, no restaurants. Some people were still driving, but it felt like a three day long shabbat. Normally that would be a good thing, but after a while it becomes a little overwhelming being totally shut out of the world for 3 days. That Saturday night the world came back to life and it felt like the country breathed a sigh of relief that we could all go out and spend money again.
Tonight is Yom Kippur which means that there won't be a single thing open in the whole city. Normally on Shabbat there are a few places open, but tonight, there will be nothing. After services, it is apparently a tradition for everyone to go out on Emek R'fayim (a street near by) and just walk around, and all the kids go out on their bicycles. I'm really excited to go see this because there will be no cars anywhere so we can walk in the street and really enjoy a night with nothing else going on.
School so far has been great. Most of my classes are really exciting, and also done entirely in Hebrew, which is a great challenge. The history classes are a real struggle because I don't like learning history but hopefully they will get more exciting after Sukkot break when we start to get into a routine.
Sukkot break starts on Tuesday after class and lasts until the first week of October so I have a week and a half off. I'm taking a three day trip to Istanbul with Sarah and Leah and then I'll be hanging out in Jerusalem/Tel-Aviv for the rest of the break.
I hope all of you have a שנה טובה ומתוקה and גמר חתימה טובה. A good and sweet year and are written in the good book, the book of life.
Shanah Tovah from Yerushalayim
Tonight is Yom Kippur which means that there won't be a single thing open in the whole city. Normally on Shabbat there are a few places open, but tonight, there will be nothing. After services, it is apparently a tradition for everyone to go out on Emek R'fayim (a street near by) and just walk around, and all the kids go out on their bicycles. I'm really excited to go see this because there will be no cars anywhere so we can walk in the street and really enjoy a night with nothing else going on.
School so far has been great. Most of my classes are really exciting, and also done entirely in Hebrew, which is a great challenge. The history classes are a real struggle because I don't like learning history but hopefully they will get more exciting after Sukkot break when we start to get into a routine.
Sukkot break starts on Tuesday after class and lasts until the first week of October so I have a week and a half off. I'm taking a three day trip to Istanbul with Sarah and Leah and then I'll be hanging out in Jerusalem/Tel-Aviv for the rest of the break.
I hope all of you have a שנה טובה ומתוקה and גמר חתימה טובה. A good and sweet year and are written in the good book, the book of life.
Shanah Tovah from Yerushalayim
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
My Teaching Philosophy in 2 Sentences
This should have been posted weeks ago but I'm finally putting it up now. If I had to describe my teaching philosophy in two sentences, this is what it would be (thanks to Sam Pearlson for finding the right words for me)
If you bring the knowledge into the classroom, it stays in the classroom.
If you bring the knowledge into the student's lives, it stays in the student's lives.
If you bring the knowledge into the classroom, it stays in the classroom.
If you bring the knowledge into the student's lives, it stays in the student's lives.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
It begins officially
Today was the first day of school...kinda...we had a class, but it wasn't a full on class...but there is much to get to before that.
Ulpan finished last week and on the last day each class had a test then had to perform a song/parody in hebrew for the rest of the Ulpan. Our class performed All the Single Ladies by Beyonce and I learned a simple version of it on guitar for the performance. We had to slow it down because the words were too hard to do quickly in Hebrew but it was really funny and we were able to dance during the chorus.
After Ulpan, I went with 9 other people to Haifa for the vacation before classes started and it was a blast. We stayed in a 3 story, 5 bedroom house for the 5 nights we were there (and it was only $30 per night per person) with a view overlooking the sea. We visited the Baha'i gardens, took 2 days at the beach, a few of us did a pseudo-hike, and we drove up to Rosh Hanikra and Acco for a day.
Three crazy/great things happened that weekend
1. One night at the house, we had just finished our delicious homemade lasagna for dinner and there was a knock on the door. I went to answer the door, and there were two people from next door who were also having a large get together and they came to offer us extra food they had. We unfortunately did not need any more food but one of the people who came over was a member of the Mishlachat at OSRUI last summer and was on the Moshavah staff. Of all the places to run into a random person, I never thought a house in Haifa would be the one.
2. Friday night we went to services at Or Chadash, the progressive synagogue in Haifa. After the meal we split into pairs to go to 5 different host homes for Shabbat dinner. Leah and I went with the Ivtsan family who were two parents and 4 daughters (but one was in the army so not at dinner). They made us a fantastic home cooked shabbas meal and we sat and talked with them for a few hours in total Hebrew (for the most part, sometimes it broke down). We also tried to make Avital, the youngest (12) speak English because she was going to Boston in a few weeks and needed to practice. While we were talking, they mentioned J.J. Keki a few times and we got to talking about the Abayudaya (Jews by choice in Uganda) and I mentioned that I had visited them a few years ago and we talked about them for a while, again, all in Hebrew. After dinner they gave us their phone numbers and email and told us we could be in touch if we needed anything.
3. Saturday morning we had Shabbat services in our house, just the 10 of us, with me, Sarah Weiss and Brian Nelson playing guitar/leading. We didn't necessarily plan out a service ahead of time, just did whatever came to us as we went, doing as much of the music as we could, and chanting other portions when necessary. We also had few Tanachim, so we were able to read Torah and Haftarah even without a scroll. It was one of the more meaningful and relaxing Shabbat services I have been a part of and it was a pleasure to be able to lead a service like that for my peers at HUC.
On the way back from Haifa, Dusty and I stopped in Kfar Saba to meet my mom's friend Sharon. We accidentally got off at the wrong bus stop (only one stop early, so it was ok) and Sharon picked us up and brought us over for lunch. She has a huge house, which is necessary because she has 5 kids...all out of the army. There I got another home cooked meal (theres a pattern to where I'll go) and was able to pass on a gift from my mom to her. When we left and finally got back to Jerusalem, the busses were so crowded that we just walked home from the Central Bus Station, about a 45 minute walk, with all of our bags (and my guitar).
Then today we had our first day of class, which was an Israel seminar day. We talked about Israel for a bit but ended by 1pm because it was planned to be a short day. Tomorrow is another short day ending at 130 and then Sunday is the first full week of classes.
I'm really excited to be back in class and starting to learn. I've been getting a bit restless these last few weeks because there has not been that much going on, but soon the hours of homework will start to pile up and I'll always be busy.
לילה טוב מירושלים
(goodnight from Jerusalem)
Ulpan finished last week and on the last day each class had a test then had to perform a song/parody in hebrew for the rest of the Ulpan. Our class performed All the Single Ladies by Beyonce and I learned a simple version of it on guitar for the performance. We had to slow it down because the words were too hard to do quickly in Hebrew but it was really funny and we were able to dance during the chorus.
After Ulpan, I went with 9 other people to Haifa for the vacation before classes started and it was a blast. We stayed in a 3 story, 5 bedroom house for the 5 nights we were there (and it was only $30 per night per person) with a view overlooking the sea. We visited the Baha'i gardens, took 2 days at the beach, a few of us did a pseudo-hike, and we drove up to Rosh Hanikra and Acco for a day.
Three crazy/great things happened that weekend
1. One night at the house, we had just finished our delicious homemade lasagna for dinner and there was a knock on the door. I went to answer the door, and there were two people from next door who were also having a large get together and they came to offer us extra food they had. We unfortunately did not need any more food but one of the people who came over was a member of the Mishlachat at OSRUI last summer and was on the Moshavah staff. Of all the places to run into a random person, I never thought a house in Haifa would be the one.
2. Friday night we went to services at Or Chadash, the progressive synagogue in Haifa. After the meal we split into pairs to go to 5 different host homes for Shabbat dinner. Leah and I went with the Ivtsan family who were two parents and 4 daughters (but one was in the army so not at dinner). They made us a fantastic home cooked shabbas meal and we sat and talked with them for a few hours in total Hebrew (for the most part, sometimes it broke down). We also tried to make Avital, the youngest (12) speak English because she was going to Boston in a few weeks and needed to practice. While we were talking, they mentioned J.J. Keki a few times and we got to talking about the Abayudaya (Jews by choice in Uganda) and I mentioned that I had visited them a few years ago and we talked about them for a while, again, all in Hebrew. After dinner they gave us their phone numbers and email and told us we could be in touch if we needed anything.
3. Saturday morning we had Shabbat services in our house, just the 10 of us, with me, Sarah Weiss and Brian Nelson playing guitar/leading. We didn't necessarily plan out a service ahead of time, just did whatever came to us as we went, doing as much of the music as we could, and chanting other portions when necessary. We also had few Tanachim, so we were able to read Torah and Haftarah even without a scroll. It was one of the more meaningful and relaxing Shabbat services I have been a part of and it was a pleasure to be able to lead a service like that for my peers at HUC.
On the way back from Haifa, Dusty and I stopped in Kfar Saba to meet my mom's friend Sharon. We accidentally got off at the wrong bus stop (only one stop early, so it was ok) and Sharon picked us up and brought us over for lunch. She has a huge house, which is necessary because she has 5 kids...all out of the army. There I got another home cooked meal (theres a pattern to where I'll go) and was able to pass on a gift from my mom to her. When we left and finally got back to Jerusalem, the busses were so crowded that we just walked home from the Central Bus Station, about a 45 minute walk, with all of our bags (and my guitar).
Then today we had our first day of class, which was an Israel seminar day. We talked about Israel for a bit but ended by 1pm because it was planned to be a short day. Tomorrow is another short day ending at 130 and then Sunday is the first full week of classes.
I'm really excited to be back in class and starting to learn. I've been getting a bit restless these last few weeks because there has not been that much going on, but soon the hours of homework will start to pile up and I'll always be busy.
לילה טוב מירושלים
(goodnight from Jerusalem)
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