Hello from Jerusalem

Top 10 Things I Will Miss About Israel

2008-05-25T22:20:00.002+03:00

In no particular order:

10. The Shabbat Smell of Fridays: There is something special about Fridays in Israel. Everyone is anxiously awaiting Shabbat and everyone is a little bit nicer. These were the days that I could relax, detach myself from the rest of the hectic school week, and breathe in the fresh air.

9. Cup o' Joe and the Israeli Breakfast: My home away from home at least once a week, especially on Fridays for lunch. Wheat bread, Egg White Omelette, with salad, tuna, and cheeses... yumm.

8. The Makolet: These small convenient stores are found on practically every corner of Jerusalem. If you didn't want to go major grocery shopping, or just wanted a quick snack, this was the place to go.

7. Walking: Next school year will be the first time in 5 years where I will have to drive to school (hopefully I will live somewhere close and perhaps still be able to walk!)

6. Hebrew: There are so many phrases that I will miss, but likely will continue to use. For example - the word "balagan" implies craziness, problems, or difficulties that occur in situations.

5. The View of the Old City: I took it for granted, but the Old City was only a 15 minute walk from my house. It was literally my backyard!

4. My classmates: 53 to 9. It was nice to not have to truly say goodbye to everyone since I will see them come fall, but many others will be going to the LA or NY campuses. These are friends who have taught me a lot and I will miss them.

3. Azza Street: Barber, Fruit Stand, Restaurants

2. Challah: I'd better find some good Challah in Cincy.

1. Culture: It's hard to define, hard to describe - but it's one of the most fascinating.

We Remember Them

2008-05-03T11:13:00.004+03:00

The days following Pesach mark a demonstration of civil religion within Israel, and perhaps could be thought of, according to Rabbi Ben Hollander, who has recently passed away, as the second Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe) in the Jewish tradition.

This past Thursday marked Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Rememberance Day. One of the many things I regret not doing at College of Charleston is not participating in the Holocaust walk, memorializing the six million that perished. Therefore, Thursday marked my first true observance of this somber day.

We had a beautiful tefillah led by some of our classmates - and to distinguish it from others - no nusach (melodies to prayer) were used. Some of the prayers were modified to reflect upon the day, and there was no Hakafah - precessional of the Torah. I found it quite difficult, even with these changes, to praise God throughout the service. How can our conception of an all knowing, all powerful and all good God allow such an event like the Holocaust happen? I am one to share Elie Wiesel's response to the Holocaust: "God behaved badly." Wiesel nevered did or has turned his back on God -- he just holds God to same standards God holds us. The covenant is a dynamic contract that holds both the Jewish people and God accountable for their actions. Once of things I have learned this year is that this relationship is not perfect - and in fact it continues to evolve. Our struggle for Jewish identity is centered on our relationship to the tradition itself, including our relationship with God. In the book of Job, we find that all the classical explanations for the suffering of Job is refuted by God except that of protest. For Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, this protest is called Spiritual Audacity - our ability to question our faith and reconcile with its problems and inconsistencies in our own, individual way.

At 10:00 am a three minute siren was heard throughout all of Israel. In the minutes leading up to it, no one would notice that silence was about to emerge within the state. As the siren blew loudly, cars immediately stopped - and were turned off. Drivers stood outside their cars and looked up into the sky, paying homage to all those that passed away. Even all the construction workers paused for this minutes. For three minutes Israel stood still - but once these minutes ended, people got back in their cars, the construction resumed, and life continued on.

Life goes on - an important concept that Israelis understand. Despite turmoil, despite all the drama that occurs within our lives, life does not stop. Israelis have accepted this concept and constantly displays it. Even when many died in the Mercaz HaRav shootings a month ago, and everyone mourned for their loss, people lived their day as if nothing happened. However, it isn't as if nothing happened - it is as if something happened. Perhaps the greatest response to suffering, then, is despite the challenges that come our way, we must prevail and continue with our lives.

We Remember Them. We Honor Them. We continue to try and grapple this horrific event. And how do we honor them?

We live.

Reflection

2008-04-29T17:37:00.002+03:00

For about six times this year I have met with some fellow Rabbinical Students, as well as a rabbi and teacher from HUC, to reflect upon our Year in Israel, explore our relationship to Judaism, and only begin to discuss challenges that we will all have as Jewish Professionals.

Tomorrow marks my last Reflection Group, and I have been asked to answer the following, and would like to share my answers:

During the year you've been in Israel, what is the greatest insight –realization/clarity-- that you have gained in the following areas:

your connection to the Jewish People:

Jewish Peoplehood is driven by the struggle to balance both individuality and community, and it takes shape in a variety of different aspects of Jewish tradition - including prayer and stories in the Bible that stress a one-on-one relationship with God and that of the community.

your connection to Israel:

I had no connection to Israel prior to this year, and I have now realized that perhaps the best relationship with Israel is conflicted - to embrace the beauty of Israel as a fulfillment of a goal of a historical people, while being challenged to aspect the realities of difficult life within a torn society.

professionally:

We have had little practical, professional development this year, yet I have always said that I have learned much more outside the classroom than within. I've learned valuable skills simply by socializing with my classmates. I've learned to articulate what I would like to say without being threatened by other opinions.

intellectually:

I know more than I did when I arrived, performed my best, and that is all I can ask of myself. I may not know everything that I have been introduced to, but I've realized that I'm not suppose to grasp upon everything immediately. These topics - Hebrew, Bible, Liturgy, etc. will constantly play a part in my life always and forwever.

spiritually:

A year ago I had mentioned that I would eat Clam Chowder without the clams. I laugh at myself when I think about how ridiculous that statement was. The reality is this: my spiritual growth is a constant part of who I am. My opinions about the world, my relationship to it, and Judaism as a whole keeps changing and evolving. I've been exposed to many different ways of looking at the world and Judaism, and have been able to take what I connect with most and adapt it to my own personal liking.

personally:

I've grown more this year than I did in four years of college. I've been through a long-distance relationship, overcome the greatest amount of stress that I ever have, made some adult decisions, and continue to learn to overcome my ego - my thinking self.

I'm almost 20% Rabbi. It's amazing - and I'm still loving it!

PJ

My Heart is in the East

2008-04-27T17:02:00.001+03:00

I need to be honest with you. When I decided to become part of the FSU Pesach Project, I had no idea that I would be impacted as much as I was during the past week in Belarus. Our months of preparation existed to alleviate any fears we had about leading Pesach Seders in a foreign community. Each of us knew that this was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. All of us had family originating in Eastern Europe, and were curious to experience a least part of the culture of our ancestors.

When I left for Belarus a week ago, all of these general feelings toward the trip were at the forefront of my mind. I knew I was about to do a huge mitzvah to small, struggling communities who had one Rabbi to represent all of Belarus. I had no idea of what to expect – we knew very little about our schedules, but we knew we were about to be representatives of the Jewish people. For these communities, having someone even remotely like a Rabbi to come join their events is a huge deal. In addition, the idea of having someone who has been studying in Israel for the year intensifies their excitement.

We were welcomed by Rabbi Grisha Abramovich, Belarus’s only Reform Rabbi. As we took our hour long ride to Minsk, he told us a little more about our communities and reminded us what our role was going to be throughout the week. On Friday morning, I was introduced to my translator, a 20 year old female who is studying to become a linguist. Her enthusiasm to work with my classmate and I was contagious, and we quickly became both colleagues and friends. Because of her, everything went smoothly. While she was only two years younger than me, I was greatly impressed by her maturity. She put both myself and my classmate at ease while we were working, and I am convinced that it was because of her that my trip was a success.

Friday afternoon we arrived in Polosk to lead a Seder for the elderly and meet with the Netzer kids for Kabbalat Shabbat. This small community welcomed us with open arms and was curious to get to know us personally. When I told them my family was from Leychovitch, Lithuania – they quickly corrected me and told me that Leychovitch was located in Belarus. Immediately I received chills down my spine and it seemed clear that my connection with the East truly emerged within my heart.

Throughout the next week, whether when I led Seders in Polosk, or when I worked at the Kindergarten in Vitesbk, the cultural center of Belarus, I truly felt “home.” While there was a clear language barrier between these communities and myself, there were many instances where language did not prevent us from communicating with each other. The head of the Jewish Community in Polosk quickly became a grandmother to me, and a thirteen year old in Netzer was extremely motivated to teach me about his life in Belarus, while I taught him some new English words. At the kindergarten in Vitebsk I made the same jokes that I made with children in the United States. I am still letting this entire experience sink in, but it renewed my desire to become a Rabbi and enhanced my relationship to Judaism and Israel. Each community had more passion for Judaism than I had ever seen in my entire life. Those who had been to Israel were excited to share their stories. Those who had never been only could imagine what Israel could be like. All the controversy of Israel had a political and national entity was ignored while all the beauty of Israel, its history, and relationship with the Jewish people drove their love.
This trip definitely has been one of the major highlights of my first year in Rabbinical School, and was a fitting way to begin the end of such an important year. I came to Israel as an entirely different person. I had just graduated from college, I had never truly been away from home before, and I had no relationship to Israel. I had no idea that I would learn so much in such a relatively short time. Today, I prepare to leave Israel with a greater appreciation for the country, for Judaism, and myself.

The next few weeks will simply be “wrap-up” in all my classes. I have two papers and five exams to study for in order to be called a second year student. I’ll slowly transition back into the states, finding out where I will be teaching as well as being a student rabbi next year. I’ll be leading Shacharit (Morning Services) in two weeks. I’ll be searching for health insurance, car insurance, making a budget – all to become immersed back into the states. Am I worried? Not really. Things seem to fall into place. After all, living in the moment – making the most of my last few weeks in Israel – is more important to me that getting all A’s in my classes. This Year has truly changed me for the better – new friends, new knowledge, and a new perspective in life.

B’Shalom,

PJ

"Something Like an Ego" - Sermon April 12, 2008

2008-04-12T17:09:00.002+03:00

I had a dream the other night. I was walking to school in the pouring rain, becoming more and more drenched on what seemed to be a cold, gloomy day. The sky was pitch black, and thunder rumbled loudly. Looking for shelter, I came across a large, decapitated house that looked like it was about to be destroyed. It appeared as if something like a plague had inflicted it; mold and rot seemed to within its foundation. As I slowly began to approach the house, I suddenly was awoken by my alarm on my cell phone. I was in a deep sweat, my heart raced, my throat tightened, and my gut constricted.

They say that dreams can manifest themselves as unconscious messages that we wouldn’t recognize in our conscious lives. As I slowly began to start my day, I kept on trying to decode the hidden, mysterious message that my subconscious was trying to tell me. As I began to read this week’s parshah, Metzora, I began to wonder if my dream connected with the text. We learn that the same mysterious disease, tzara’at, found in humans, shares similar symptoms to that of a mold, blight, or rot that had been produced in the building stones of a house. We find in Leviticus 14:35 that when a homeowner reports these symptoms to the priest, he were to tell the priest, “Something like a plague has appeared upon my house.” It was clear that this week’s parsha resonated with my dream, yet the message remained unclear.

I asked myself, “Why would the homeowner report that only something like a plague had inflicted his house? Why wouldn’t the homeowner simply state that a plague – not something like it – had inflicted his house?”

Rashi notes that even if the homeowner was educated and certain that a plague indeed has infected his house, he may not report it to the priest with such certainty. Maimonides clarifies this concept by pointing out that the sudden emergence of this plague was not a natural phenomenon, but appeared as a warning sign to the Israelite people. The rabbis suggest that this warning sign is attributed to the fear of inviting evil into our lives by speaking of it. Modern scholars such as Rabbi Lawrence Kushner takes this a step forward and notes that when we give recognition to things that are “evil,” – such as anxiety or stress – it could potentially be harmful to ourselves and spread. In other words, Kushner suggests that when we are faced with these evils we must not give power to them.

Perhaps my dream, then, was a warning sign for something. I was still uncertain of what that warning sign was. As our parsha continues, we find that the priests are to quarantine the house for seven days, and if the mold remains, they will order either the walls to be removed or the entire structure destroyed. Sforno argues that the quarantine ordered by the priest is meant to prompt a person to reconsider one’s actions. In confronting one’s shortcomings, there is an opportunity for personal improvement. In this way, the affliction of tzara’at leads to a time of isolation and personal reflection. Nechama Lebowitz extends upon this idea and quotes the Talmud’s observation that “the house affected by tzara’at exists for the purposes of education.” In other words, the plague teaches us that we should take notices of the first sign of misconduct – whether it is to ourselves or to others – no matter small they are. Just like a disease begins with hardly noticeable symptoms and can be stopped if detected on time, so to we can prevent spiritual and emotional disease if immediate steps are taken.

Maybe my dream was not a warning sign at all, but a reminder for me to reflect and reexamine myself. Was this punishment because I had not updated my online blog in over a month, or because I studied for my Hebrew exam yet? We all often allow ourselves to be consumed by what sometimes are the things we love most. Our demanding schedules with that endless list of things to do on our desks, and that overwhelming feeling that there are not enough hours in the day to complete these tasks, often take control.

Contemporary teacher and writer on spirituality Eckhart Tolle suggests that our analytical mind, the false created self where our stress and anxiety is rooted, is called our Ego. Awareness of the difference between our selves and our Ego allow us to overcome the moments when our anxiety and stress takes hold. When we are under pressure we often forget to give ourselves a chance to take a breath. We sometimes allow our Ego, the thinking self, to amplify anxiety and stress until it becomes an unrelenting voice in our heads. That voice, however, has a weakness. It is dependant upon psychological time; our anxieties about the past and fears of the future. Despite what our Ego tells us, the present moment should not be fearful at all. The goal, then, is to live in the present moment, to live in what Tolle refers to as the Now. All of us have the ability to be in the present in our own lives, living moment by moment. We simply have to stop trying to live it, but simply be in it.

Jewish tradition recognizes that mindfulness, or living in the present moment, allows us to become our highest selves in the presence of God. Living in the present contains the seeds of all possibilities for our lives: freedom from suffering; true compassion for others; and a calm, spacious mind that welcomes change and personal growth. Nachman of Bratslav tells us:

Sit with the feeling of being alive; simply being present using body and breath as anchor. This means just to be present with what is, without DOING anything with any of it. Allowing it. Permitting it. So we sit, simply sit, in the present moment of being alive.

If we place more emphasis on the present moment, we can ask ourselves if the Ego’s need to control is fostering love or suffrage. Even when trying to stay in the present moment, the thinking mind can be overwhelming. Awareness of the Ego allows us to take charge of ourselves, even if it is only for a short period of time. While our Ego may continue with its incessant chatter, mindfulness of when it manifests itself allows us to have greater confidence in ourselves, recognize when we don’t like our Ego, or when we don’t like outcome that our Ego produces when it dominates us.

Rabbi Elie Munk notes that the last chapter of Metzora deals with a new series of cases of spiritual contamination. Contamination, according to Munk, is associated with sickness, but not when the sickness itself is caused by an excess of food, drink, fatigue, or impure fantasies. Once again, our rabbis comment that every sickness is a sign for us to pay attention. Finding the necessary balance between enjoying the things that we do and the stress that often comes with it is much like eating a great meal. We begin with such a great appetite for that meal and savor every bite. Once we have eaten that first course, we are so thirsty and gulp down our drinks quickly, only to find that we want more. And the end of the meal, we are stuffed and exhausted, trying to find room for desert. We fantasize about eating every morsel of that chocolate cake you know you shouldn’t eat, and we spend so much time attempting to justify why it is okay to eat it. Our craving to take upon a task only creates a greater desire to do more, and we sometimes forget when how much is too much. When we over work ourselves, we tend to become exhausted quickly. And despite all the warning signs that we need to take a break from everything, we try to justify why we can continue and are in fact harming ourselves because of these impure fantasies.

I had a dream the other night. I woke up in a deep sweat. My heart raced, my throat tightened, and my gut constricted. It appears that every time I reopen my eyes after sleeping, another week has quickly passed by. HUC student tradition has a saying that summarizes the Spring Semester in Israel, called the 3 P’s: “Purim. Pesach. Packing.” One down, two to go. It’s hard to believe that my Year in Israel has narrowed down to two short months. It’s going to definitely be strange next year going from a class of 52 to 9. I have so much to do before I begin my second year of rabbinical school – prepare for my student pulpit, buy a car, find an apartment, decide about insurance, make a new budget, the list seems to go on. Oops, there goes the Ego again! I know, I’ll take a step back and focus on the Now. I’m going to soak in the smell of Shabbat, and embrace every moment I have on my journey toward becoming a Rabbi. Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, and Today is a gift; that’s why they call it… The Present.

Late

2008-04-12T17:05:00.002+03:00

It’s been awhile. I know. And I’ve clearly broke the promise I made to you and myself for this semester. Excuses? I have plenty, but I won’t exhaust my entry by giving you excuses – but I will tell you what I’ve been up to.

This semester has gone by extremely quick. We already are about to celebrate Passover. I’ll be flying to Belarus next week to lead seders in struggling communities. It’s bound to be a once in a lifetime experience to view “life” from a different lens.

Backtrack a little over a month ago…Our last big trip was to the Negev, where we spent nearly four days in the desert. Strange things happen in the desert. At night, I spent some time looking up to the clear sky – stars were everywhere, and all you could hear was the noise of silence. Our trip was less activity intensive, and I was able to develop a greater appreciation for Israel by going to the desert. In Jerusalem, one hears the noise of cars throughout the night, feels the tension of the Arab-Israeli conflict every day, and the holiness of such a beautiful country seems to fade away. Yet, the stress and anxiety of the week always diminishes come Friday. I will definitely miss the amazing “Shabbat smell.” The feeling of pre-Shabbat in Israel is irreplaceable. Everyone is a little nicer, a little happier, and in some sense, you feel freer. I am fortunate enough to have Fridays off throughout the rest of my schooling, and while it will be filled with errands, traveling to my student pulpit, and homework, I know that I can end the day with a Shabbat that I connect with most.

Shabbat – its one of those things I have struggled with throughout the year. I love the opportunity to explore different observances in Israel, but I feel that I am always boxed in to a particular “Shabbat genre” in Jerusalem. Everything is closed, everything is silent, and it is a day of prayer. Ironically, I am looking for a balance of both the silence of Shabbat with the freedom to do what I want to do. I’m looking forward to going to services, then out to lunch with friends, and spend my Saturdays doing things I can’t do during the rest of the week. Whether it be at my synagogue where I will be teaching, or going to the movies, I feel that I will be able to express my Judaism more when I return back home.

Purim was a blast – it definitely is the Halloween of Israel, but extended throughout all of the country: Purim music, Purim food and sweets, Purim parties, and EVERYONE is in a costume. I had the pleasure of being part of the committee that put together the Purim service and shpiel for HUC. Our service was in the theme of Motown, and I have come to the conclusion that I make one ugly woman – PJ “Tina Turner” Schwartz made one appearance and one appearance only. Nevertheless, between my debut as a female and my impressions of teachers, I definitely got some laughs from my classmates.

On the home front, I’ve been slowly preparing for next school year. I have begun to buy books to expand my never ending library, and while some of these books are only “suggestions” and others are “required,” I always get excited when I buy books. Yes, they are expensive. Yes, I’m going to eventually have thousands of books that I will have read. I’m a teacher – I need my sources to teach. I need my sources to learn. They are my teachers that help me explore my own beliefs.

In the next few weeks, I will find out where I will have a student pulpit next year as well as what grade of Religious School I am teaching. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity – it will be my reminder of why I am becoming a rabbi. It will be part of my detachment from the HUC bubble, which will be smaller next year (and less influential upon my life). I am hoping that I will teach at the Jewish high school, and I am really hoping I get to teach courses on Evil and Suffering in Judaism, Comparative Religious Ethics, Jewish Prayer, Views of God, or Biblical Criticism (all of my personal interests – and the high school is Elective course driven to!).

I’m basically at the homestretch, arriving back in the states on May 23. I’ll be in Greenville for two weeks, and then I will be going to Atlanta for a three week mentorship at The Temple, Atlanta’s largest Reform Jewish Synagogue. I have to give Michelle some credit for this opportunity, as she suggested I contact this congregation (this is where she grew up Jewishly). I’ll be shadowing the rabbis, working on curriculum, possibly participating in Shabbat services, and having some experience in pastoral care. I’m really excited about this – it is a great preparation for my pulpit come Fall!

During July, Michelle and I will drive up to Cincinnati to look for apartments, visit a friend in Knoxville, and then I will return to Greenville for 2 weeks before I move up to Ohio for good.

I began this blog entry about 3 days ago, and am finally posting it. You'll be pleased to find out that shortly after I post this one, I will be posting a sermon I did today. It went WONDERFULLY. I recieved many compliments - someone even asked for my email address so they could provide me with information to send my sermon to individuals that couldn't come! It was a great feeling of accomplishment, and it's a message that is important for me to learn and share.

Hope all is well stateside,

PJ

With All Your Heart, Soul, and Might

2008-03-07T15:31:00.002+02:00

Only a 30 minute walk away from me. I've been near the neighborhood. Jewish Seminary - it could have been me.

These were the thoughts that went through my head last night as Yeshiva students were killed last night in a terrorist shooting.

Our thoughts turn to those who are in need of healing... At this time we remember those who have past away in the recent week...

These are the words of prayer we state every week.

Every week I stand reciting the Mourner's Kaddish (the prayer for mourners), standing for those who do not have the opportunity to mourn. This Shabbat, and the coming weeks, my thoughts turn to those who lost their children last night. I will stand reciting the Mourner's Kaddish, and call out to God.

I am okay. I am okay. I am okay.

These are the words I keep telling myself.

Thank you all for your concern. I am safe, healthy, and secure. I will avoid large public crowds, not take the buses, and won't be buying produce at the Shuk (open air market) anytime soon.

Neverthless, I am okay.

PJ

Flying By?

2008-02-20T08:56:00.002+02:00

I literally feel like I closed my eyes for 30 seconds and once I opened them, it was almost a month since I got back to Jerusalem. I have a feeling that I will be feeling this way the ENTIRE semester. Yes, I was told that it would fly by, but I had no idea how quickly.

Here are some updates/highlights of what's been up with me:

* I am taking two new classes: Rabbinics (divided into a survey lecture and a text course) and Politics of Israel. I am learning in the survey lecture course about the history and emergence of the classical commentaries of Judaism: the Talmud and Mishnah. In the text course, I am translating one of the aggadic (legendary) texts of Rabbinic Judaism: Fathers of Rabbi Nathan from Hebrew to English. Mishnaic/Rabbinic Hebrew, while it leans towards more Modern Hebrew compared to the Biblical Grammar I have been learning, has many differences. While we are focusing on the concepts with the text, we are spending more time focusing on how to read it and translate it (yay, more vocabulary!). In Politics of Israel, I am realizing how complicated the Government is here - I am not even 100% sure if I will understand it all at the end of the semester. Nevertheless, its a great introduction and I am going to be writing an awesome paper about the role of the Chief Rabbinate within Politics (a great example of how there is no separation between church and state)

* Cincinnati, Here I come! Over the past month (and will be continuing in March), we have had many visitors from the Cincinnati campus giving us the "411" of our coming 4 years. Next year, I will be taking 2 bible courses, 2 history courses, Biblical Grammar, Hebrew Literature, Rabbinics, a Professional Development course in Education, and a Ritual course (I will become more comfortable with Trope, and learn about how to actually lead many life cycle events and services). In addition, I will be working at a pulpit once a month and I will indeed be "the" "rabbi" I put both in quotes purposely to stress that these congregations crave for Student Rabbis since they have no clergy of their own, and I will likely be called "Rabbi Schwartz" even though I will only have a year's worth of schooling under my belt. In addition, I will be teaching Religious School once a week. I am strongly considering requesting to teach high school next year, because it will give me the opportunity to really delve into issues within Judaism. Over the coming months I will start recieving housing information, insurance information, applications for my pulpit and religious school positions, and more. I'm not going to lie - its all a bit overwhelming, and I will definitely have to review some material that I learned this year this summer to prepare myself, but I am more excited than anything else.

* Next week we go to the Negev - visiting the grave of David Ben Gurion, hiking, seeing Egyptian copper mines, sleeping in a Bedouin tent, and spending Shabbat at a Reform Kibbutz. I will post pictures this time, and will be much better about it.

* FSU - The 35 or so people that are going to the FSU have been working hard to make things happen. We have been trying to raise enough money to make this trip happen, as these commuities in Russia are relying on us to give them a Pesach experience. We have been writing programs - and attending programs - to prepare ourselves for a once in a lifetime opportunity. I have to raise $2000 USD - to contribute to the overall costs of an $80,000 project. Every donation, small or large, helps! To donate, click here: Former Soviet Union Pesach Project. Please make sure you specify "FSU Pesach Project PJ Schwartz".

That's it for now, I am off to class to go to meet 11th/12th graders at a high school in Jerusalem and interview Israelis on the street.....

PJ

Creating Vibrant Jewish Communities, in the Snow

2008-01-30T20:32:00.000+02:00

I arrived back in Israel on Sunday night, and while I was quite sad to leave the states once again and be in a foreign country for four more months, Israel didn't seem as foreign to me anymore. I arrived at the airport and knew exactly what I needed to do, where I needed to go, and what Hebrew I needed to remember after two weeks of speaking English. I arrived back at my apartment, and even though I always seem to find a problem with it, I found comfort being back in such a familiar place. I woke up the following day and knew where I liked to go to the grocery, where I liked to buy my produce (I finally found seedless grapes, which also made me extremely happy), and where I could buy the closest thing to a Triple Grande Non-Fat Latte in Jerusalem.

Going home was just the battery recharge I needed to come back and finish my first year in Jerusalem - after all, I promised Michelle I would come back 20% Rabbi in May :)

The "Spring" Semester began today despite the "massive" snow storm that began to hit us last night:

http://info.jpost.com/2000/Supplements/Snow/index.html

And by "massive" I only mean about 3-4 inches, but coming from a place where 3 inches of snow is rare it is indeed alot of snow. In fact, I don't actually remember when the last time (if there was a time), I saw this much snow falling ALL day long. Most of us, however, made it through the slush (remind me I need to buy boots when I return to the states) and began a three day Colloquium with the theme "Challenges and Opportunities: Creating Vibrant Jewish Communities." This conference, or professional development program, allows us to focus on contemporary issues within the Reform movement that affect us as future leaders. We began our day with tefillah, prayer, and I honestly missed being able to pray in Hebrew. In addition, we recieved our own copies of the new Reform siddur, Mishkan Tefillah, and began praying with these hard back prayerbooks rather than the paperback drafts we have been using. Now, I know, some of you readers who are members of KKBE dedicated my own copy in Charleston (which I was ABSOLUTELY thrilled to have) are probably disappointed now that I no longer have bragging rights and can say I have my own copy unlike others. However, I still hold some uniqueness - I know own both a transliterated and non-transliterated version, both dedicated to me as a student and friend, and both that I will cherish and use throughout my career.

Following tefillah, we had an abbreviated schedule so we could spend some time in the snow (and get home safely). I had the opportunity to meet Richard Sarason, Professor of Rabbinic Literature and Thought from the Cincinnati campus, who will be teaching me liturgy next school year. He led a session on establishing personal Jewish identity, and how America influenced my Jewish upbringing. I came to the conclusion that my Jewishness has evolved from being something that had made me separate from others to something that defines my life. I remember being the "token Jew" in elementary school explained the holiday of Hanukkah to the audience at our Christmas/Holiday program. I knew I was different, and knew I was separate, but I didn't know why. Once I got to high school and began exploring the possibility of becoming a rabbi, I recognized that being Jewish was like a personality trait, a characteristic of who I was. It wasn't until college, and now Rabbinical school, where I realized that being Jewish is a choice - and regardless of level of observance, each of us has a connection to the faith in our own way that makes us part of this religion and culture.

We spent the rest of the day discussing the religious climate in America and its affect upon American Reform Judaism. We only began to address the issue of intermarriage, a touchy topic for many, and some even claim that it is the single threat to the "death" of Judaism. While I may not think that extreme, I realize that I need to set my boundaries for many topics like this, and only experience will help me do so.

Tomorrow we will continue to explore similar themes and also have meetings by our stateside campuses, the first of many opportunities this semester to prepare us for next year. In only a couple weeks I will be meeting with Ken Kanter, the Dean of the Rabbinical School, and have the chance to start a new transition!

It Seems Like Only Yesterday I Started

2008-01-21T03:14:00.001+02:00

I didn't realize how much I have learned over the past semester until I started sharing my experiences with others. For 7 months I have constantly been challenging myself as a Rabbinical student and a Jew to find personal meaning in my faith, and it was recently when I came to the conclusion that this journey will not stop at the end of my year in Israel. While this is something that I had already known at some level, the reality is that I have been so immersed in the study of Judaism and Israel that I rarely have given myself the chance to just step back and reflect.

I've been back in the states for a week and it becomes more and more clearer that this was indeed the right decision - I've established professional relationships with both my congregations in Greenville and Charleston, been able to embrace the lasting friendships I left behind in May, spend quality time with family, and of course, returning the favor when it comes to Michelle, as she came to visit me and now I am in Charleston visiting her. It has been an absolutely wonderful vacation, and I still have nearly a week left in the states and an additional few days back in Jerusalem before I begin the semester.

The good news is that there is a lot to look forward to. Faculty from stateside HUC campuses as well as other Reform Jewish scholars will address us over a three day professional forum encompassing various issues that are present in the Reform movement as a start to our second semester. I will already know the ropes, so I won't have to worry about going through the adjustment face, and I can spend much more time embracing Israeli culture and trying to come to terms with the complex nature of Israeli society. I will take some new courses as well, studying Rabbinics (Jewish commentaries such as Talmud and Midrash), the Politics of Israel, and a course preparing us to lead High Holy Day services. In addition, I will spend a lot of time getting ready for the big trip of the semester: I am leading Passover services in Belarus, Russia! It is going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity and an amazing experience. And to top it all off I will be chanting Torah once more, leading another Dv'ar Torah (sermon), and leading services.

I am in the early stages of planning my summer, and while I can't announce my plans quite yet, let's just say that it is another wonderful opportunity that has presented itself to me and I look forward to sharing it with you!

Ok....drum roll please....

ALL pictures from Fall 2007 Semester are now posted at http://www.webshots.com/user/pjschwartz

Take a look!

PJ

Success

2008-01-12T00:28:00.000+02:00

New Years Resolution: I will be more responsible when it comes to updating my blogs.

And what is my excuse for another month's hiatus? December was filled with lots of studying and exam preparation, a wonderful visit with Michelle, and time with my parents and brother.

But the good news: I made it! I officially have completely my first semester in Rabbinical School and am 10% completed with my studies! I am writing to you from Greenville as I felt like the best way to relax after a long semester would be coming home to visit with family and friends. Next week I will head to Charleston and relive my college days once again.

I promise you pictures will come over the next couple weeks and I'll share with you some wonderful news that will be finalized come next week....

Freedom. It feels good.

PJ

Israel is Starting to Grow on Me

2007-12-07T11:42:00.000+02:00

A month and three days from now, I will have officially completed my first semester of Rabbinical School. I'll have gained knowledge of Biblical Hebrew Grammar, increased my Hebrew vocabulary, and developed fluency in prayers of the Morning Service and understanding of an overall structure of Jewish Liturgy. I'll have increased my reading and comprehension skills in modern and Biblical texts, learned the skills of trope (Torah Cantillation), be able to share with you an overview of the themes and patterns of Jewish history that led to the creation of the State of Israel, and articulate contemporary issues within Israel and Reform Judaism.

Sounds like I can become a Rabbi now, right? Not quite. All of the courses that I am taking this year (and will continue to take, with the exception of Modern Jewish History and Bible, which will be replaced by Contemporary Middle East and Rabbinics) are only a mere introduction to what I will be learning over the next four years. Nonetheless, it will be pretty cool to say at the end of the semester that I not only learned something new, but I know more than I did when I arrived in June.

In addition, Israel is starting to grow on me. Let me premise this statement though by saying that there are many things about the United States that I miss and I look forward to having those "luxuries" when I return, and Israel will always be "foreign" to me, but the things that were difficult to cope with at first no longer seem to bother me. While there will always be a language barrier, its nice to be able to communicate more efficiently with people. My grammar continues to need work, but I have enough vocabulary now for most situations. And since most people speak English, I am able to squeeze in a couple English words to get the message. But, the point is - I can get what I want and go where I want to go. I look at Hebrew signs and I don't look at it as a foreign language that I am unfamiliar with. I walk on the streets of Israel and "act" Israeli - meaning I am as aggressive as everyone else is when it comes to lines, getting someone's attention, or just simply walking across the street. It's a weird thing for one to comprehend, but trust me, I'm beginning to feel more comfortable here.

Last week, our class went on a tiyul (class trip) to Northern Israel. We began our trip in Caesaria, which as you probably can figure out, was a Roman influenced city (named after Caesar Augustus) build by Herod. It was a port city and very modern for its time. Very little places in Israel have mosaic or tile floors, and Caesaria is one of them. The structures apparently are reminiscent of those in Sicily, Italy. It is also the place where Rabbi Akiva, once of the most well-known Rabbis of the Talmud, was killed.

We then travelled to Tsippori, the place where the Talmud was actually written. There were two AMAZING mosaics that we saw that depicted the Greek cultural influence. One of the mosaics was located in the Ancient Synagogue, where you saw depictions of Biblical stories and a Zodaic in the center, suggesting a Greek influence on Jewish religion. What was powerful is that we had Mincha (Afternoon) services there to end our day. We then travelled to Tiberias for the night and had a great dinner. After dinner, I went to a night walk to the Tomb of Maimonides.

The following day, we travelled to Tsfat, the center of Jewish mysticism in Israel. We saw the synagogues of Isaac Luria (who I did my own research on for my Bachelor's Essay) and Joseph Caro (who wrote the Shulkan Aruch (the most authoritative source of halakah, Jewish law, since the Talmud. We also met with a local Kabbalah Artist, who provided a wonderful introduction to the study of Kabbalah through his artwork. Naturally, I bought posters of his work to use as a teaching tool when I return back to the States.

Our last day was in Haifa, where we visited the Leo Baeck School, a Progressive Education Center offering education for students in Kindergaten - Adult Education. It's one of the best schools in Israel, and offers the finest education experience while incorporating Jewish studies in their curriculum. Believe it or not, most Israels know little about their Jewish heritage. As one of the students said, "Before I came to Leo Baeck I always considered myself Israeli first and Jewish second. Now, I am Jewish first and Israeli second." Jewish identity is a huge issue in Israel, as in the Chief Rabbinate's eyes, you are either Orthodox or Secular. There's no understanding of Reform or Conservative Judaism in Israel, and each movement is only beginning to make a presence.

I promise when I have my vacation I'll post pictures throughout the semester. I have lots to do over the next couple weeks, but lots to look forward to. Michelle comes next week, and a week later, I'll get to see my parents and brother. It will be nice to have a taste of home to give me the extra push to end my semester on top.

PJ

Hello, Again

2007-11-16T12:20:00.000+02:00

I know that I haven't been good about updating my blog recently, and I promise you I will try and do better.

In the meantime, we are in the midst of midterm exams and I've come to the realization that my study skills from college are not 100% assisting me in Graduate School. Both my Liturgy and History classes are structured by our readings and once a week lectures. Maybe its because we only meet for an hour and a half each week (while I have Hebrew 4 days a week and Bible 3 days a week for the same amount of time), but I am beginning to get concerned about my understanding of the material. I spoke with my Liturgy professor this past week and he ensured me that the "struggle" I am having is normal and it's important for me to ease into the different study process. I trust him, but I am also exploring other ways to internalize the material better. With my limited time outside of class each week, I can't always spend hours reading for one class and writing notes for my readings. And while I always do get the "headlines," the details I have always been able to grasp aren't sinking in. Fortunately I am not falling behind in these classes because of this difficulty, and I have time to figure it out before my finals in January.

I've also begun to work on my D'var Torah that I am presenting during Shacharit (morning) services on December 17. A week later, I'll be chanting Torah for the first time EVER. What is great about these two days is not only the fact that I can share my ideas and express myself through cantillation, but Michelle and my parents will be here during that time and it will be great for them to see me do these awesome things. I also found out Austin is heading to Israel as well through Birthright, and it looks like he'll extend his trip to join me and our parents up North.

As most of you know, I'll be heading back to the states for two weeks in January for my winter break. While I'll have the opportunity to spend time with Michelle and my parents in December, school will inevitably keep me busy and sometimes preoccupied. Going home will be a great chance to spend time with my family and friends when I'll have the chance to breathe and relax. I think a quality that I have taken of my father's is that I already have found myself work to do during the break! It would be beneficial for me to organize and review my Hebrew notes from this semester and begin my reading for my Rabbinics class that I will begin in the Spring. But Dad has also taught me to enjoy any time off, but the older I get, the less I'll have it! A fellow classmate suggested that I buy the book in the states and begin studying the introductory material if I haven't had any previous experience with Talmud and Midrash. I'm going to take her advice. I'll be spending January 11-17 in Greenville, and I promised my mom that I won't have any desire to go to our tradition of lunch at Pita House (a Middle Eastern Restaurant) and I might just want to go to lunch at a good ole' American establishment. From Thursday night, January 17, until the 25th, I'll be in Charleston visiting my other home. It will be really nice to see everyone and have a separation from the HUC world for a couple weeks.

What else? I also have the opportunity to lead a sermon on April 12 on a Saturday morning Shabbat. The difference between this and the D'var Torah is not only the length, but I'll have the chance to express myself a little more. The D'var Torah has specific requirements that we must abide by, as it is an exercise for the students to begin getting comfortable with the texts of Talmud, Midrash, and other Rabbinic Literature and commentary.

I've also begun to work on preparating for my trip to the Former Soviet Union during Pesach. There are only about 6 or so Rabbis in this area, and it is a great service to the congregations for Rabbinic, Cantorial, and Education Students to lead them in the Pesach celebration! That will be my next major trip before I return to the states in May. It's amazing to think that it is already the holiday season in the states, and I'm already thinking about May!

It will be weird over the next month because things are very normal here in Jerusalem - the holiday spirit has already passed us and life must go on. As a result, I have class next Thursday on Thanksgiving, and may be stumbling into school on New Year's Day after a long night of celebrating. It will be interesting though to experience Israel during this time, as the Hannukah spirit WILL start to come upon us!

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Miss you,

PJ

At the End of the Tunnel

2007-10-24T18:04:00.000+02:00

Today was one of those days where no matter how tired you are or no matter how overwhelmed you feel, you seem to still wake up on the right side of the bed and see light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve had a hectic three weeks, trying to adjust to a routine schedule that brings me home late a night with a never ending supply of homework to do. Yet, as busy and overwhelmed I can be, I still have been able to find time for myself. I’m learning so much about the sociology of Israel; being a student at HUC is difficult, let alone Jerusalem being an intense place to live in general. There is a strikingly apparent shift in the feel of Jerusalem come Wednesday, as people are starting to prepare themselves for the weekend. Sometimes you just want to be able to press “pause” on your “life remote” so you can take a breath. Fortunately, Wednesdays are the beginning of that breath. Unlike the rest of my week, I have the opportunity to explore Israel and understand the country from a very different lens. My Wednesday Israel Seminars allow me to encounter contemporary Israel, an opportunity that unfortunately would be very difficult to have due to my constant schedule.

Today was perhaps one of the most rewarding days for me in Israel. There have been moments where I have been so frustrated with all the “balagan,” or problems of Israel. Even the littlest things have contributed to my frustration. Yet, today, I finally saw something that was very much Israeli even if it was in the confines of the HUC bubble. Being the Remembrance Day for Yitzhak Rabin, former Prime Minister of Israel who was assassinated in 1995, it seemed fitting that the theme of our Israel Seminar, whether intentional or not, was the bond humankind has with each other.

Rabin placed great emphasis on establishing peace, and for the first time this entire year I truly felt part of a community. We began our day with a short memorial service commemorating Rabin, each of us, while different in our backgrounds and relationship to Judaism, seemed to truly mold as a group. We have been told numerous times that our group has appeared to be the most cohesive in a long time. The establishment of a Jewish State at some level was based (and continues to be based by many) on the idea that the Jewish people – from all over the world – deserves to have a place to call home. As a group, the HUC community is slowly becoming comfortable with one another; teachers and students have a relationship inside and outside the classroom. The fact that each of us are learning in Israel for similar reasons clearly brings us together.

After our memorial service, we traveled to Yad V’Shem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Jerusalem. I don’t know why, but my interest in the Holocaust always continues to grow. I constantly am intrigued by the stories of survivors, and their struggle to live. Now that I have been to Aushwitz, my understanding of this tragic event has truly changed. The imagery of the camp haunted me as I walked into the museum. The elaborate structure of the building reminded me of the entrance to Birkenau. You walked into the museum and felt completely narrowed in, as the walls literally were leaning towards you. Each room had its own story, and each account presented was a story within itself. Unique to this museum was the fact that they didn’t just focus on individuals who died in the concentration camps. They paid tribute to those who had very different stories as well. A wired “fence” blocking parts of the exhibit immediately reminded me of the fences within Aushwitz. There was this constant stress that Jews simply did not fit in anywhere they went, ultimately leading to the establishment of Israel. In many respects, the survivors of the Holocaust came in to and out of the depths, and their relationship to the world truly changed. Yitzhak Nissenbaum, Rabbi at the Warsaw Ghetto said it best:

“This is a time for sanctifying life, not for sanctifying God’s name through death. In the past, our enemies demanded our soul, and the Jew sacrificed his body to sanctify God’s name. Now, the enemy is demanding the Jew’s body and the Jew is obligated to defend it – to protect his life.”

Following our trip to Yad V’Shem, we explored Mount Herzl, a cemetery for both major political leaders and those who gave their lives for Israel and their Jewish identity. Because of the scheduled memorial ceremony for Yitzhak Rabin, we weren’t able to see the political cemetery. However, we took a little adventure and practically snuck into the military section of Mount Herzl. We went through the various graves of the many who sacrificed their lives. The impacting thing about our exploration of the military cemetery was not just about exploring the memorials, but also about being a group. Many of the military heroes of Israel created a separate family outside their own. I am realizing more and more how much friendships are important in this journey ahead of me. There are only 53 other people who can even remotely relate to the experience I am going through, but even then their path towards becoming a rabbi, cantor, or educator is different.

As each day passes, there are times where I truly miss home. Being so far away from something you have been so close to for years is a difficult experience. Yet, I also have this great chance to grow as individual. I’m having a second Bar Mitzvah per-say – this is my year of growth and transition into true adulthood. This journey has only begun, and I’m once again excited to see what is going to happen next.

A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That

2007-10-07T22:38:00.001+02:00

There is a phrase that I have grown to know and love over the past three months in Israel, “Acharei HaChagim,” or “After the Holidays.” Summer vacation finally is over in Israel; and that means that I won’t have another break until January. The past month has been a test run for the rest of the school year, as I now will have a full schedule with classes from 8:30-6:00 the majority of the week. The real question is how I am going to balance all my schoolwork without any breaks I have had due to the holidays. It’s going to be a busy schedule, I’ve known that since I arrived here, but the fact is that I haven’t really been able to get into the motions of being a graduate school student until now. This is it!

Fortunately, my schoolwork is doable. After all, students before me have completed the year successfully, right? I won’t be bored, that’s for sure, as I have a combination of reading, comprehension, and translation in all of my classes. I just got to keep telling myself that I will be okay.

Let’s back track about a week ago, when I was in, well, paradise. About ten of my classmates and I traveled to Egypt to stay at a Marriott Beach Resort to relax. Don’t worry, I really wasn’t in the depths of Egypt – I was only 30 minutes from the Israel-Egypt border! Nevertheless, I have a passport stamp to prove my travels. I stayed in Taba, one of the “regions” of Egypt (Sinai and Egypt proper are the other two). I was about 2 hours from Mount Sinai and 4 hours from Cairo. While I do eventually want to go back and see the pyramids, there have been warnings in that area and Taba was as close to the pyramids I felt comfortable going to. Nevertheless, I stayed at a 5-star hotel at a relatively inexpensive price. For those of you who know me, I’m not much of a sit by the beach or pool all day type of guy. While I only could last 3 hours outside at a time, and spent the rest relaxing in my hotel room or walking around, it was nice to do as close to nothing as possible.

As promised, below is the link to pictures from the Galilee/Golan. Most of them are scenic pictures from various points that I went to. Don’t be fooled, they actually are different places! Some of them were taken at Mount Ben Tal, which provides a great view of Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. General rule of thumb: Anything with greenery is Israel; most of the mountains are Syria or Lebanon. There is a picture I took near a barbed wired gate – passed the gate is Lebanon. Yes, I was that close! Other pictures include: a synagogue in Rosh Pina, one of the first settlements outside Jerusalem, and Tel Dan, a well researched archeological site led by an HUC team that shows worship to God outside the Temple in Jerusalem! I need to figure out how to put captions on these pictures so you have a better idea what I am talking about!

Okay, off to do homework…

PJ

http://community.webshots.com/user/pjschwartz (Click on Galilee/Golan Album)

Galilee/Golan

2007-09-27T12:09:00.000+02:00

I just got back from my tiyul in the Galilee and Golan on Tuesday night. It was a wonderful, but exhausting trip!

We started on trip on Sunday morning and travelled to Rosh Pina, one of the first settlements within Northern Israel that encompassed the concept of the "New Jew," which served as our theme during the trip. The "New Jew" represented a shift from tradition to modernity in many respects. No longer was a Jew defined as a yeshiva student who studied Torah all day, but an agriculturalist and farmer who wanted to be strong, assertive, and could overcome anything.

After Rosh Pina, we travelled to the Jordan River where went rafting and had the water fight of the century with fellow classmates and Israelis. Fortunately it wasn't the class 5 rapids I was used to, because the water fight was fun!

We ended our day at Karei Deshe, our Youth Hostel that overlooked the Kinneret, where 1/3 of our drinking water in Israel comes from. The view was gorgeous and the hostel was actually a decent sleeping accommodation!

On Day Two, we went to Tel Dan, one of the most famous archaeological sites in Israel that is overseen by HUC. This site show remnants of worship and sacrifice, and also there was an inscription found that indicated a connection to the "House" or Kingdom of David.

Afterwards, we travelled to a beautiful overlook of the Galilee/Golan, Lebanon and Syria. There, we began to truly talk about the political and security situation of the North. It was quite surreal to be that close to these border countries that have caused so much damage, but I must say that I felt safer up North than I do in Jerusalem. Up north, it was quiet and peaceful and there was no sign of damage from the events of last year. In Jerusalem, while overall a safe place to be right now, you still have this feeling of tension and concern of safety.

Then, we spent a lot of time discussing the pros and cons of individuals staying in the Golan and not giving up the land for peace. The more and more I talk about these issues, the more confused I get and the more unsure I am about what I feel. Monday night, we had a barbeque at our hostel and sung Israeli songs by the Kinneret.

On Tuesday, we travelled to Tel Hai, a national monument that commemorates the deaths of eight Jews, six men and two women. The fighters who were killed symbolized the determination of the Jewish people and inspired others to help fight against the conflict with the Arabs. In addition, we went to Metulla, where I literally was right next to the border line of Israel and Lebanon. We learned that any area that is green with trees in Israel, and beyond the green is Lebanon.

We ended our trip with a stop at the Naot Factory where I bought some sandals and shoes, and also at the Kinneret Cemetary, where we had mincha services and saw some of the grave sites of major players in the emergence of the New Jew movement.

Overall, it was a great trip and very educational. I promise to post pictures soon!

PJ

Yom Kippur in Jerusalem

2007-09-27T11:56:00.000+02:00

I woke up early last Friday morning and decided to treat myself to breakfast before things closed for both Shabbat and Yom Kippur. While stores and restaurants were open, it was clear as I walked throughout Downtown Jerusalem that everyone was already preparing themselves for Yom Kippur. Many restaurants and stores usually open prior to Shabbat were closed, and the usual feel of an American Saturday morning and afternoon (that is the best way to describe Fridays in Israel) was not present.

As the day progressed, the city became even quieter and cars driving on the street began to disappear. I had a wonderful pre-fast dinner at my friends' apartment, and come 5:00 last Friday, everything had shut down. As I prayed with my friends and visitors in Blaustein Hall that overlooked the Old City, the transition from daylight to moonlight helped put me in the introspective mood. By the end of the service, it was evident that Yom Kippur, even with our 8 hour reprieve between evening and morning services, was truly one, long day that was symbolized by our seeking atonement from and at one ment with God.

After services, I walked home only to find the streets of Jerusalem empty of cars but filled with people of all ages - adults singing, children riding their bikes, only what could be described as a "block party" to help pass the time. I woke up the next morning and felt a breeze that could only be a glimpse of fall weather (since then, I wake up to the glazing sun and the sweat that quickly develops on my t-shirt), and attended services. As the day progressed, my fast became quiet difficult. I was exhausted and began to develop a hunger headache. At concluding services, I had the opportunity to blow my shofar (yes, I bought a shofar, and I can blow it!) and quickly break the fast with my friends.

The feel of Yom Kippur was quite different than that of the states. Was it more meaningful? Maybe. But what I do know is that was an amazing opportunity to experience it in Israel!

PJ

Shanah Tovah

2007-09-14T08:57:00.000+03:00

It's hard to believe that I have already completed 25% of my first year of Rabbinical school. It's hard to believe that I am learning new things and new ways to study things I've learned before. It's hard to believe that this year is so different from last. A year ago I was a senior in college, frantically working on a Bachelor's Essay that I couldn't seem to find structure to. I was "playing" rabbi at the local synagogue, assisting with programming throughout the High Holy Days, and served a similar role at the Hillel as Religious and Cultural Chair. I was preparing to retake the GRE, and I had just recieved my application packet to HUC.

Now, I am in Jerusalem. I am a first year rabbinical school student and I still am amazed at the many things I am learning and will learn. I am finding new ways of examining things that I have in the past, and developing and idea of what my Reform Judaism is.

This week, in preparation for the High Holy Days, we had a three day program that provided us with an overview of S'lichot, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. My relationship to these days have dramatically changed over the past couple weeks, and this program seemed to be the icing on the cake. While I have never observed S'lichot (the days, or month (depending on if you are Ashkenazic or Sephardic) leading up to the High Holy Days), I always find myself doing a lot of reflecting right before the new year. I look at who I am, where I have been, and I what I hope to become in the future. S'lichot always falls immediately during the beginning of the new year, which seems most appropriate because I always find myself readjusting to the world around me when I go back to school.

And now, as we are now in the midst of Rosh Hashanah, I attended services with such a different lens this year. Much of the program I participated in earlier in the week was related to the understanding of the liturgy and scriptural readings themselves. As my professors described to me what was included, what was taken out, the difference in melodies, and most importantly, the meaning behind each prayer, I began to think about the ways that I would like to make these days important to me, especially during a service. HUC services are the most American-Reform style services in town, using the prayerbooks that I have become so accustomed to. Yet, every time I go, the service becomes more and more familiar as I learn its structure, but more and more foreign as I realize the complexity behind the prayer. Everything is in Hebrew, with the exception of the sermon, so the responsive readings I have come to know are no longer part of the service. Do I find this a good thing, or do I find it a bad thing? Well, it's complicated. In my opinion, these readings, if we use too much of them, can become repetitive and take away from the meaning of the prayer. Yet, if you take them out, you are at risk for the congregation to not be able to have meaningful prayer as well. In a more practical sense, the role of the Rabbi dramatically changes as well. Over the past two days, the Rabbi barely participated in the service up until the sermon. The cantor and the choir guided the congregation in prayer. While the music of the prayer is gorgeous and it's wonderful to hear the cantor and choir, I feel that it takes away from congregant participation. As a future rabbi, and Jewish professional, I really want to be able to explore the balance in roles, where all parties can have a meaningful prayer experience.

Nevertheless, it was quite powerful to see some of my friends have their solos and empower us with Avinu Malkeinu. In addition, I prayed looking directly at the Old City - an opportunity that I will rarely have once I leave Israel. I was able to have some sense of "family" here, attending a dinner with many friends on Erev Rosh Hashanah and lunch yesterday. The city itself is as dead as it is on Shabbat - stores are closed, and it's much easier to cross the street!

Next week, I'll have another full week of classes before Yom Kippur. This sacred day is apparently intensified in Jersualem. While small 24 hour stores can be found open during Rosh Hashanah and you still can see cars on the road, Yom Kippur brings Jerusalem to a halt - you can't get away from the Day of Atonement, and I'm looking forward to experiencing the most sacred day of the year in the most sacred place in the world.

After Yom Kippur, I head with my classmates to the Galilee/Golan. When I return, I have my last break before I have three months straight of studies and schooling. I am going with a bunch of friends to Sinai, to relax at a Marriott Resort and hopefully get to see some pyramids and sights if it's safe! I'll take pictures, and share with you my adventures soon!

PJ

My First Year Has Begun!

2007-09-07T14:29:00.000+03:00

After having such a spiritually amazing trip in Poland, I returned safely to Jerusalem with the infamous stomach bug that has spread throughout campus. Nevertheless, four days of drinking tonic water and taking Imodium settled my stomach and thank goodness, I have my appetite back!

School began on Sunday and I must say that I was quite overwhelmed at first. Maybe it was just back to school jitters, but I really was concerned about balancing everything and not having time to myself. Yet, as I reflect upon the past week, I realize that as long as I utilize the time I have throughout the week, I will be fine and will continue to enjoy what I am learning.

I began my day with Hebrew. On Sundays, I am taught by a different Hebrew teacher than the rest of the week. Her major focus is for us to expose ourselves to Israeli culture and politics through the news. Each week, we'll practice reading newspaper articles and learn more practical vocabulary outside the average grammar related words. I found it very difficult to apply my Hebrew to a more practical form of study, but after walking myself through the text and learning the new words, I was able to adjust to the new texts.

Next, I had Biblical Grammar. I only have this class one day a week (as I do most of my courses, with the exception of Hebrew and Bible), so it is primarily an introductory course. My teacher is the same teacher I had during my ulpan, who also is my "main" Hebrew teacher throughout the week. As a result, both of these classes will be challenging but I am fortunate to have one of the best Hebrew teachers on campus!

I ended my Sunday with Bible. Each class we'll go over a text with in the Tanakh and discuss in detail certain passages. For the first time I am actually translating some of the text rather than just reading the English, which is a really neat experience as you are able to see what the text literally was trying to say.

On Monday, I had Hebrew, Bible, and my Liturgy class. Liturgy will be probably one of my most difficult courses, as I will be learning and translating unfamiliar prayers, reading commentary about liturgy, and learning about the structure of the service. By the end of the year, though, I definitely will know my prayers! After the Holidays, I will be taking enrichment courses in Jewish Nusach, Torah/Haftarah Cantillation, and the High Holy Days.

On Tuesday, I had Hebrew for 3 hours and then finished my day with History. It will be a lot of reading, but interesting material on the rise to Zionism and the State of Israel. Beginning in a few weeks, I'll be participating in the Community Choir as well.

On Wednesday, I will usually be taking a seminar course on Contemporary Israel. We'll have lectures, discussions, watch films, or go on trips throughout Israel to learn about Israel "today."

However, this past Wednesday we had a Professional Day which was really interesting. We discussed the use of Iyunne Tefillah, poems or readings to supplement prayer. We often find this in responsive readings or meditations. We talked about when to use these supplements, how long they should be, and how to utilize them to enrich prayer for the individual.

In addition, we had a session on writing a D'var Torah, or sermon. One of the most striking discussions we had was about the use of politics within a sermon. Whether it be a statement about the government or politics within the congregation itself, Rabbi Marmur, Dean of the Jerusalem Campus, seemed to be advocating discussing these things in a sermon. I have always had a problem with this idea because I not only want to avoid offending people, but I also feel that it is unprofessional to discuss this type of business on Shabbat, or even the High Holy Days. Furthermore, talking about politics may affect the mood of the service or even inhibit individuals from having a holy experience. Yet, Rabbi Marmur pointed out that with the right balance between sharing opinion and teaching, one can use it as a positive example in a sermon.

We finished our day with learning about the Jewish Bookshelf and explore the major texts that every rabbi should have in their own personal library and slowly learn to use. It is amazing that I am slowly acclimating myself to these sources, and using them as a tool to share and teach will be quite an experience!

Thursday, I had Bible and Hebrew, and was happy to say I finished my first week of Rabbinical School!

More to come about the upcoming High Holy Days and next's weeks programming about them!

Shanah Tovah,

PJ

Auschwitz

2007-08-25T22:45:00.000+03:00

Today, like many Jews before me, I walked into the Aushwitz concentration camp and Birkenau death camp. However, unlike the massive amount of victims that suffered through the Holocaust, I walked out. It's difficult to imagine that such a short time ago the world was a very different place. Like me, many have struggled with the idea that such a place could exist, such a mass extermination could occur, and such forced power over others could strip one's dignity away from them and destroy one's sense of humanity.

I walked through the concentration camp with one goal: to recite the Mourner's Kaddish at the right time and the right moment. As I walked into one of the barracks, I saw about 50 or so prayer shawls hanging in a glass case. I continued walking and saw thousands upon thousands of shoes piled on top of one another. And then, as I turned to my left, I saw a case filled with the hair of nearly four thousand victims whose hair was cut off them when they arrived. As I looked at the closest thing that I saw to the remains of these individuals, I recited "Yitgadal V'Yitkidash Shemay Rabbah..." I began to think about if these victims realized as they entered the camps what they were going to experience. Did they know that they were going to be forced to work all day, perhaps starve to death, and no longer have a name as identification but a number? Did they believe that they one day would be free or did they personally accept that all faith was lost?

We walked into Block 11, the death block of Aushwitz and saw the only remains of the gas chambers. As empty as it was, you could easily imagine the screams of those who once were in these chambers.

A short drive away we went to Birkenau, and the first thing we saw was the entrance to the death camp that trains once drove through to drop off the victims. The death camp itself was so big, and the thought of the many people that were exterminated kept me in shock. As I walked closer and closer to the remains of the crematoriums, I slowly became speechless. I saw a marsh with left over ashes of victims and the basement of the crematorium where individuals undressed and prepared themselves for death.

I continue to have respect for all the survivors of the Holocaust - those who struggled to survive in so many different ways. It's ironic, you know - that the main goal of this tragedy was to eliminate a group of people thought to be the same. Yet, no one account can truly encompass the events of the Holocaust. No one account can serve justice to the pain and suffering of the many victims. No one can truly understand it or even grasp it. I just stand in silence, realizing that my own challenges in life no longer seem to be a challenge once I compare them to this.

Zichronam l'Vracha,

May their memories be a blessing.

http://community.webshots.com/user/pjschwartz

The Next Stage

2007-08-23T22:34:00.000+03:00

As I begin my week long vacation, I reflect upon how much I've actually learned over the past two months. It's hard to believe that so much time has flown by so quickly, and it's amazing to think that the rest of this year will do the same. In about four hours I will leave for the Ben Gurion Aiport to catch a flight to Krackow, Poland and I will spend five days exploring Jewish history, including a Shabbat trip to Aushwitz and Birkeneau. While I can't say that I am "excited" for this trip, I can say that I am looking forward to having what I hope to be a spiritually restoring experience. To stand outside the barracks that many victims once did, including theologian Elie Wiesel who in his famous book, Night, challenged his relationship to God but refused to turn his back on God. For me, the greatest test of faith is having faith even when there is no reason to keep it. For Wiesel, "God behaved badly." He held God accountable for God's actions and that profound statement continues to be a mark of the evolution of Judaism. I promise to have pictures to share with you when I return.

A week ago we began the Jewish month of Elul, which is a month of introspection. This month is encompassed by our preparation for the New Year, and it is important for us to reflect upon the past year and reevaluate our relationship to ourselves and the world. It's very appropriate that I have ended my Ulpan with great success and now am shifting gears in a week for the academic semester. My liturgy professor, who will be a mentor to me this year, made it clear that our only expectation for this year is to know more than you did coming - but it doesn't mean one will know everything. This year is a year of skills - understanding the structure of Liturgy, how to read the Talmud or Midrash, and how to interpret the Bible theologically, historically, and culturally. I'll learn to chant Torah and Haftarah, and learn how to lead a High Holy Day service (a skill I must have as I will return to the states and lead High Holy Day services!). I'll continue to emerse myself in Israel and its wonderful (and not so wonderful characteristics). And more importantly, I'll continue to grow as a human being and a future Jewish professional.

I'm ready. Bring it on.

PJ

It's Time to Catch Up

2007-08-21T21:10:00.000+03:00

After a really busy few weeks, I thought it would be nice to divide my update into two posts. Last Thursday night, to celebrate the nearing end of ulpan (which ended today...more about that in post 2!), we had a Beit Cafe (Coffee House) talent show. So I can't juggle, do magic (I should of kept my magic set I had as a kid), or lift a car, but I can do one thing well: make jokes. What's interesting about what I actually did for the Beit Cafe is that I turned something horrible that happened into something that I can laugh about....

About a month ago I couldn't sleep and woke up early to try and find coffee to start my day. While I knew where I wanted to go, I didn't know exactly how to get there and I ended up getting lost. I was on the phone as I was trying to find it and two police officers stopped me and questioned me. The asked for my name, what I was doing, where I was from, etc. After telling them I wanted to get coffee at the local shop, they pointed me in the right direction. When I found that it was closed, I ended up heading back in the other direction. The officers again questioned me and began to interrogate me (they really thought I could have been a terrorist or something). They didn't accept my ID, copies of my Passport and Visa, or my Insurance Card. They ended up hand cuffing me and putting me in a holding cell at what I've learned to be a part of the President's Residence (score! I got a VIP tour...ha, ha). I felt like I was in an episode of 24...I was sweating, scared, and they really were breaking me down.

What was the end result? They let me go eventually, but I was really thrown off by the entire thing. It appears that the officers were just wanted to have fun with a foreigner, and they did.

And while I was scared and had a hard time with the whole thing for a couple days, I finally can joke about it. How could I, PJ, be a terrorist? So, for the Beit Cafe, with a lot of help from my roommate David, who did stand up comedy in college, I did a comedy routine with a top 10 list: The Top Ten Things PJ Learned in Prison. While some of the jokes may not seem funny to you, it has great references to my program or life in Jerusalem.

Below is the transcript (all rights reserved. David Gerber. 2007)

Hello everybody, as you all know my name is PJ Schwartz, and I am up here tonight because I want to talk with you about my experience in Israel so far.

I’m from Greenville, South Carolina, which I am proud to say, is ranked 49th in literacy and 48th in Math, and 53rd in Geography.

I have noticed that Israel and South Carolina are a lot alike. The only big difference between living in Israel and living in the south is that in Israel, more people hate Jews.

This is my first trip to Israel, so naturally I am impressed with all of the amazing sights. The Kotel…David’s tomb…the Shuk…the inside of a jail cell.

If you didn’t hear the story, or notice my shiny new prison tattoos, I, your fellow classmate, had a little run in with the law this summer.

But I am not bitter about this experience as you might expect. Instead, I would like to use this experience as a way for us all to learn, should you find yourselves in a similar situation.

So here we go…here are the Top Ten Things PJ Learned in Prison

10. There is no 10 o’clock break in prison Ulpan
9. I am not saying that I escaped from prison, I am just saying that in the future, people may or may not be exploring PJ-Kiah’s tunnel.
8. The only difference between being behind bars in jail and being in bars on Ben Yehuda street is that people in jail have better bathing habits.
7. There are surprisingly few other people in jail with the name PJ.
6. If you don’t give them the information they require of you, you have to watch a video of Condoleeza Rice and Benjamin Netanyahu making out in a hot tub.
5. There are better ways to break the ice with the other prisoners than by saying “Hey guys, I’m American.”
4. Ahh, so this is what the other side of the mechitza looks like!
3. In Israeli prisons, you get the same kind of abuse as in America, only here it is from right to left.
2. They arrested me because they needed a Rabbinical student to lead their Shabbat services. They let me go when they found out I was Reform.
1. Prison? I thought I was at Jerusalem day!

Welcome to Graduate School, Professional School, and Seminary

2007-08-12T18:04:00.000+03:00

It's going to be a busy year ahead of me - a realization that becomes more and more clear everyday I am at school. I finally found out the truth behind all the rumors about what the Fall semester is going to look like, so here it is....

Not all my major courses will be taught in Hebrew - only my Hebrew courses will be taught in Hebrew. I'll also take Rabbinics or Bible (one in the Fall, one in the Spring), History, Israel Seminar and Liturgy. I'll have a weekly Professional Forum that will address major Contemporary Issues within Reform Judaism and explore Life Cycle ceremonies. In addition, I'll be taking enrichment courses after the High Holidays in four, six week sections: Jewish Music, Torah Cantillation, Haftarah Cantillation, and High Holy Day Prep. I am going to be participating in the Community Choir on Tuesday nights (possibly as my 2-4 hr/wk community service requirement) and do a community service project (TBA, more in detail once I find out).

Classes will be long days...8:30-4:30 or 8:30-6....

I'm going to learn ALOT but will ENJOY every minute of it.

More to come once I find out more details on the Fall...

PJ

I "New" That

2007-08-03T11:13:00.000+03:00

As the summer semester comes to a near close (19 days!), the feel around HUC is changing. No longer is HUC new to all of us, and a routine is starting to form. We have had a variety of liturgy and synagogue skills workshops to ensure that every classmate is on the same page - I now have had a general introduction to the entire Blessing after the Meal, the traditional Havdallah (ending of Shabbat) service, and Kiddush (blessing of the Sabbath wine). I'll learn about the Torah (its blessings, dressing and undressing, etc.), putting on teffilin (the leather phylactaries traditional Jews wear), and other synagogue skills. Come the High Holy Days we'll take a step back from regular study and learn about rituals related to Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). While liturgy and ritual is something that I am not strong at, I have had a general understanding of basic prayers and rituals all of my life. Now, as I both review and learn new things, I realize the complexity of a prayer and am beginning to understand the "why" rather than the "how."

During my break I plan on also exploring the "why" and "how" on what I know will be a powerful experience. I am travelling to Auschwitz, and while I don't want to say that I am excited to go, I am patiently waiting to have such an opportunity of a lifetime. The understanding of evil and suffering in the world is something I have tried to tackle before, and going to a place where the greatest evils occurred definitely will provide insight into the matter.

As solemn as my trip will be, it seems to be a fitting transition from the summer to fall. I'll be challenged to ask questions and reconcile with these issues, which is something that I will do a lot as a rabbi. This fall, my schedule will change dramatically - I'll be taking Hebrew (Classical and Modern), Liturgy, Rabbinic Literature or Bible, and History of Israel. In addition, I will participate in 2-4 hours of community service a week. The big surprise is this: my Hebrew, Liturgy, and Bible course will all be taught in Hebrew, based on my current Hebrew level. It's going to be an intense year, but I definitely am looking forward to it!

Okay, I'm off to finish cleaning my apartment because I'm having 20 people over for Shabbat dinner tonight...I'm getting my camera soon, so pictures will come ASAP.

PJ

Walking the Bible

2007-08-03T08:33:00.001+03:00

It's hard to believe that I have already been in Israel for six weeks! It seems fitting, then, that perhaps my most spiritual experience in Israel has occurred this week. The focus of this week's Jerusalem Days programming was the Second Temple Period - both the glory and destruction on one of the most important periods in Jewish history. During the Second Temple period, Jerusalem was at its height - but eventually fell to destruction by the Romans.

Each Jerusalem Day is meant to bring the Bible to life, but yesterday seemed to do so more than any other trip we have had thus far. As I walked through the Dung Gate to arrive near the Temple Mount location, one could see the Dome of the Rock. I got chills knowing that below the Muslim influence of archecture and faith, lie history, both unknown and known of the Jewish people. Beneath the Dome of the Rock is Mount Moriah, where Abraham may have nearly sacrificed his son, Isaac. Now a Muslim Museum and a Mosque, the area next to the Dome was originally the Temple Mount. One can see how massive the structure truly was, as stones and rocks weighing tons lay on top of one another. Rocks from the original destruction are on the ground, with people performing Bar Mitzvahs at the wall. Stairs that led up to the Temple Mount are still intact, as well as ritual baths used to purify oneself before give a sacrifice to the Holy of Holies. We walked the Western Wall tunnels where original stones from the time of Herod are still the foundation for the remnants of the wall, we could see the original city beneath current Jerusalem, and walked below the approximate location of where the chamber for the Holy of Holies was.

I got constant chills throughout the day and felt and overwhelming amount of emotion. For some reason yesterday I felt so connected to Israel and the history behind it. The purpose of this year is for us find our own Judaism and determine Israel's relationship to it, and yesterday truly served that purpose.

I'll update more later on what the Fall semester is going to look like and the amazing opportunities that lie ahead!

PJ

Jerusalem Days

2007-07-28T12:38:00.000+03:00

View of Jerusalem from the Tayelet Promenade.

One of the best ways to immerse yourself into the study of Torah is to actually go to the places that the Torah refers to. During the summer session of HUC, every Thursday is devoted to travelling throughout Jerusalem to explore the world of Abraham to the Davidic-Solomic Empire, study the reign of King Hezekiah, and learn about the outside influences that helped shape Jerusalem today.

Last week, we began our tiyul (trip) at the Tayelet, a promenade overlooking the walls of the Old City. To the left, one can view the mountains and desert of Jordan where Moses looked out into the Promised Land. Straight ahead, one can see the Dome of the Rock and Mount Moriah, where Abraham nearly sacrificed his son Issac.

We continued our journey to the City of David, the early Jerusalem. Near the city, we walked in Hezekiah's Tunnel, a water tunnel that ends at the location of a pool, the Shiloach, where many individuals wash their sins away on Yom Kippur.

This week, we travelled to the First Temple Period of Jerusalem and viewed early burial and sacrificial sites. We studied in the Hinnom Valley that was practically an international highway system to the Dead Sea. We climbed up Mount Zion to the Old City to learn more about the lasting survival of Jerusalem despite its many destructions.

Next week, we'll head to Israel Museum where we will view artificats and early recordings of the history of this spiritual city. More to come!

The Art of Jewish Prayer (Week 1, Part 2)

2007-07-21T09:34:00.000+03:00

So how does a rabbi learn all the stuff he needs to learn? Well, he prays.

I keep mentioning that I need to learn my liturgy. There are so many prayers and tunes to these prayers that I don't know, and this is the year to learn it. But, how? Well, I indeed, will pray.

Every Tuesday morning during the summer ulpan semester various faculty and adminstration leads our class in teffilah, prayer. As we learned the other day, however, we won't always actually have a "service." For example, Rabbi Michael Marmur, Dean of the Rabbinical School, spent a session on examining the prayer Modeh Ani, a prayer that thanks God for allowing us to wake up and having our souls return to us. While sleep is something that I value, our ancestors used to fear sleep because they were afraid that they would die. Nevertheless, this prayer often is sung during morning services. We examined Modeh Ani through the eyes of Abraham Joshua Heschel, a prominent rabbi and philosopher. The lesson to be learned is that our individual prayers are integrally related to those of others, and the intent of our prayers affect if they will be answered.

In addition, beginning this Wednesday, I will participate in Ritual Workshop that will focus on particular rituals in the Jewish tradition. More to come on this.

Finally ... if I don't have enough opportunities to learn liturgy, I am helping lead the Tisha B'Av service this coming Monday, commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temple (and other horrible events that occurred on the 9th day of the Jewish month of Av). I have decided to audition for the High Holy Day Choir as well -I will learn the High Holy Day service, work on my voice, and possibly learn to read basic music. I am joining the Tefillah Committee to help assist in planning student-led services and events. And ... most of the class will participate in the FSU Project (Former Soviet Union), where we will travel to Russia during Pesach (Passover) to lead seders. In preparation for this project, I will learn how to lead the seder (and will learn basic Russian).

Yeah, its a lot of stuff. It will keep me busy, fresh, and ready to learn. So something tells me I might know my liturgy at the end of the year, and by the way ...

Guess what course I am taking come September? You got, it, Liturgy!

Week 1, Part 1

2007-07-20T07:49:00.000+03:00

This weekend marks my first full month in Jerusalem - it's amazing how quickly it has passed and how much has already been done (and how much more there is to accomplish!). The greatest lesson I have learned this month is that the Rabbinical Program, especially the Year in Israel, prepares one for their lives as Jewish professionals more outside the classroom than inside the classroom. We all have challenges in our lives that tests our dignity and our capacity to overcome stressful moments. HUC is quite aware that they admitted 53 type A personalities who all at their weakest moments will clash because of their type A personalities. Yet, as a community, and as individuals, we can truly shine.

I remember during orientation how we were told that we are the "gateway" to Judaism. While many charge Reform Judaism as a faith that brings people out of tradition, in many respects we are truly allowing people in (especially those who wouldn't be as accepted in other communities, i.e. homosexuals). I have chosen a path where I am part of the future of Judaism - and with the changes that lie ahead, these challenges that I have today are great preparation for the rest of my life. Whether it be questioning whether to wear a kippah in non-kosher restaurants or supporting friends in times of need or even just learning how to recieve a discount on property tax for apartments in Jerusalem, EVERYTHING here is a lesson to be learned. Israel is going to force me to let go of attempting to control all my surroundings and sometimes just go with the flow - the Rabbinical program truly helps ground you (which is a much more exciting experience than having sand bags placed on your feet for at least 5 hours in cold lake water ... that's another story for another day, but if you know my father, you understand his unique ways of teaching me things ... but yeah, it happened, and yeah ... it really worked).

School is in full throttle (and it is funny that is actuality, it really isn't because the summer is much more laid back). Classes started last Sunday and ulpan is going well. I've been placed in Hebrew Alef, but after a fiasco about Hebrew placement it seems that there is not much of a difference between Alef and Bet, as we all scored within 10 points of each other on the placement exam. Nevertheless, I am sticking with Alef because it gives me the opportunity to re-learn old material in a different way (that is, she teaches the class in 80% Hebrew), strengthen my weaknesses, and learn new vocabulary. The teacher is absolutely wonderful and she's really wanting us to succeed - and if I work hard and study hard, I can be placed in a higher Hebrew class come fall.

Next entry: All about Teffilah (prayer) and Jerusalem Days (with pictures borrowed from friends, because my camera isn't working!)

And finally part 3 (if needed): Extra Curriculars

Shabbat in Jerusalem

2007-07-14T21:50:00.000+03:00

Every Shabbat in Jerusalem is very much the same, yet very different. Around 4 PM every Friday Jerusalem suddenly just stops. There are few cars in the road, stores are closed, and there is this level of peacefulness that emerges. Shabbat here is truly a day of rest - a halt from the mundane reality of things.

This Shabbat was very HUC-filled. On Friday, we arrived early to have a pre-Shabbat seminar with Rabbi Kelman, the Year in Israel Director. We explored major sections of the Torah that referenced Shabbat and discussed and examined the little description their is about this sacred day. We then proceeded to one of the gardens on campus in smaller groups to share our Shabbat memories. Perhaps one of my favorite memories is very recent - in April, my 7th grade Religious School class led services. Rather than present a D'var Torah (sermon), the students came to the bimah ("stage") and stated why they were Jewish. Many of them expressed their reasons without stating the age-old answer: because my parents are. Hearing 13 year old verbalize their connection to Judaism has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in the Jewish world.

Following the activity, we attended services and a dinner sponsored by an HUC alumnus. It's been an alumni filled week here, as the President of the College, Board of Trustees, and influential alumni have been present in our orientation. On Saturday morning, services were held in the Blaustein Hall, a huge conference/event hall overlooking the Old City. Not only is the view amazing (I will take a picture eventually and post it), but it was such a spiritual experience to attend services with a background such as the Old City.

My Shabbat afternoon was quite relaxing - I talked to my parents, organized my room, took a walk, and napped before we had a Havdallah reception (with gelato ice cream I might add).

School starts tomorrow - my lunch is packed, notebook is in my bookbag, and I'm ready to learn! I'll let you know how it goes in the next couple days....

PJ

Finding a Teffilat Ha Derech

2007-07-13T07:50:00.000+03:00

The final session of my first day of orientation was a group activity in which we explored three different accounts of the Teffilat Ha Derech ("The Traveler's Prayer") , a prayer recited by one who is on a personal journey. A version of this prayer is below:

May it be Your will, Hashem, our God and the God of our ancestors, that You lead us toward peace, guide our footsteps toward peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace. May You rescue us from the hand of every foe, ambush along the way, and from all manner of punishments that assemble to come to earth. May You send blessing in our handywork, and grant us grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us. May You hear the sound of our humble request because You are God Who hears prayer requests. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who hears prayer.

After discussing each version of each prayer we were asked to write our own:

God give me the strength to overcome my fears, the courage to act with dignity, and the opportunity to embrace and enjoy my journey.

This mantra, while short, truly reminded me of how much I have learned from my family. Mom, Dad, and Austin - I miss you every day, and while you are not here, our table talk discussions still are part of my life :)

Yesterday, the Vice President of Strategic Planning came to talk with our group. He emphasized the fact that each of us has something unique to share, and that our education at HUC will fill in the blanks of things we don't know. HUC President David Ellenson reminded us that we will have to work hard, but to choose this journey is a blessing.

I am being taught by some amazing people, and am working with pioneers in Jewish life. Whether it be stateside where I will learn from famous Judaic scholars, or here in Jerusalem where the Director of the Year in Israel Program was the first Women Progressive Rabbi in Israel and is related to the individual who made the deciding vote of the Columbus Platform (through Reform history, there have been various platforms that outline the theology of the Reform Movement), I am becoming part of an elite group who embraces Judaism in a way I have never been exposed to.

We also found out yesterday that the Cincinnati Campus is undergoing a 12 million dollar renovation for a new, state of the art library that will be completed in two years. Technologically, video courses will allow students to have access to scholars that they might now otherwise. Beginning in September, students will have access to various Hebrew wordprocessing databases, Biblical databases that allows you to search for words, phrases, or ideas, and it tells you how many times it appears in the Bible.

This weekend will be a special one. Alumni are in town and will be joining us for Shabbat at HUC. I'll fill you in later.

PJ

You are the Gateway to Judaism

2007-07-11T17:23:00.000+03:00

As I participated in Shacharit Services this morning and for the first time the entire HUC class of 2012 (Rabbis, Cantors, and Jewish Educators) chanted the Shehekeyanu, I got goosebumps. It was made clear to us throughout today that we are embarking on an adventure - it is our responsibility to embrace this journey and soak in everything that comes our way.

The Rabbinical Program at HUC is not only a seminary, but also a professional and graduate school. These elements are encompassed by our immersion to the Hebrew language, participation in Israel (through text study, field trips, and community service), workshops (Reform Jewish Liturgy, leading services, chanting Torah, and writing a sermon), and exploration of history (Rabbinic Literature, Jewish Thought).

On Sunday, I begin my immersion program to the Hebrew language. I was told that there was no way I would be fluent in Hebrew at the end of the year, simply because I will be learning so many different "Hebrews:" Modern, Ancient, Rabbinic, Liturgical ... the list goes on. My immersion to Hebrew will never end - it is a lifetime experience.

Nevertheless, I have been placed in Hebrew Alef, so the only direction I can go in my Hebrew ability is up. While it will be no less difficult than the other levels, it starts you from the beginning and you have plenty of space to improve.

In addition to my Ulpan, I will attend a "My Israel" Series where Israeli Rabbinic Students talk about their experiences in Israel and the Progressive Jewish Movement. On next Thursday, I will travel to the Tayelet, a Promenade with a view of the Old City that's amazing. In addition, I will go to Warren's Shaft and Hezekiah's Tunnel, both locations which played a role in early Israel Monarchy...

So yeah...I am kinda excited :)

More to come!

PJ

The Journey Formally Begins Today

2007-07-10T08:03:00.001+03:00

Well, it is safe to say that I have internet in my new apartment and the only thing left is to set up Vonage and get that working. It is extremely nice though to wake up and be able to check e-mail!

For the remainder of the week, I have a formal orientation to HUC and the Year in Israel Program. I'll learn more about the adventure to come and school will officially be in session. Sunday begins ulpan, and I really am hoping to be placed in Hebrew Alef, the first level, not because it will be easier than the other levels, but Hebrew Alef teachers are known to be the best and students are known to demonstrate the most improvement. I'll also begin to explore Jerusalem more in depth next week, going to sites where Jewish history still is vibrant.

I'll update more later, I'm off to morning services!

PJ

Transition: It Can Be A Blessing

2007-07-04T14:46:00.001+03:00

Things have been quite hectic and overwhelming lately here in Israel, but at the same time quite amazing and spiritually uplifting.

This past weekend I spent my first Shabbat in Israel, and it was during this Shabbat that I learned of an even broader range of practice within Reform Judaism. "Progressive" Judaism, as Israelis call it, incorporates many dynamics of more traditional religious practice (i.e. the use of no power on Shabbat, eating Kosher, and demonstrating a clear division of the service itself with prayers that I had never been exposed to). My classmates as well range from individuals who have grown up using their cell phones on Shabbat to those who keep Shabbat as if they were Orthodox. My point is not to separate my classmates or Israelis from what I am used to, but to stress that the great thing about Reform Judaism is that one can define their faith the way they feel is best.

Sunday I moved into my new apartment - things have been stressful as I am still trying to get internet (I am using wireless at a friend's house as we speak), making my room feel more at home, and buying the essentials for my home for the year. I hope that within another week or so I will have everything set up - including Vonage! Nevertheless, things are falling into place.

One of the biggest struggles that I will have is learning the liturgy. There are so many prayers that I don't know, and I definitely feel that I need to catch up. There are morning services at HUC almost every day and I am slowly understanding the format. We are using the new Mishkan Teffilah prayer book which is awesome! The good news is this: I am working with a fifth year rabbinical school student who is serving as an intern to help ease the transition to Israel. She is going to be teaching me some of the liturgy. Also, one of my classes beginning in Sept. is Liturgy - I will learn Orthodox, Conversative, and Reform structure of services and prayers and by then I'll be set!

School/Orientation officially begins next Tuesday....more details to come on what I will be doing for the next two months.

Talk to you soon!

PJ

Home is Where the Heart Is

2007-06-28T09:08:00.000+03:00

It's been a crazy week here in Israel, adjusting to the food, culture, and time difference. I am finally starting to find my way around town and have been fortunate to have things go very smoothly. I've walked at least 15 miles since I got here - whether it be to the Old City (where I prayed at the Kotel, the Western Wall, for the first time) or Ben Yehuda Street (where you can shop and eat till you drop) or the Shuk (where everything you need and more can be bartered and is cheaper than everywhere else).

The wonderful news is that I found an apartment about 10 minutes from campus, located near a supermarket and ATM (which is very convenient!). It's a 3 bedroom apartment with a kitchen, living area, A/C, washer/dryer, and the rooms are relatively large in size. My landlord is this very nice old man who has worked with me in making the lease 11 months (rather than 12, as we leave no later than May 26), and we don't have to pay in advance (many apartments here require you to pay up to 5 months in advance, which is difficult because there is a withdrawel limit at ATM machines). I move in on Sunday, and hopefully by Wednesday of next week I will have settled in and made a home for myself.

I am meeting my roommates this afternoon, one male and one female, one rabbinical student and one Jewish Education student respectively. Tonight I'll attend the 1st birthday party of a cantorial student's daughter and go to a local bar with the class of 2012!

I'm getting more and more excited each day as I experience Jerusalem at its best!

PJ

I Don't Have Jet Lag...Really

2007-06-25T15:55:00.000+03:00

Well, I made it to Israel safe and sound! Things went surprisingly smoothly - I arrived to Jerusalem last night at 8:00 and took and adventure to the supermarket (I've learned that the best way to figure out what you are buying without knowing Hebrew is to look at the box...if it's familiar, its good!), and wandered around to Ben Yehuda Street (a Market area that has a huge social scene at around midnight), and bought myself a nice birthday present: 2 kippot and a Star of David necklace. I didn't fall asleep until 2 am, but got about 5 hours of sleep.

This morning I went to HUC to check in and introduce myself and I already felt at home. I met the interns, fifth year rabbinical school students, who are here to help the class (53 of us) adjust to our new lives. Over the next few weeks there will be lots of events going on with them.

The good news: I am off to check out an apartment tomorrow :) Hopefully it will all work out. If it does, I'll have a place on July 2 and hopefully have my own place set up before orientation!

I'll update more later...I miss you all.

PJ

Bon Voyage

2007-06-22T23:35:00.001+03:00

Well, the moment has finally come for me to finish packing my bags and head to Israel. Two days from now I will have safely arrived in Jerusalem after an 11 hour, 45 minute plane flight from Atlanta, Georgia. It will be nice, though, to spend one last day with the family - we are leaving bright and early tomorrow morning to relax over coffee at a spa about 45 minutes outside of Atlanta while my Dad receives a tennis lesson. We'll grab a bite to eat for lunch, and go to one of the nation's newest aquariums in Downtown Atlanta. I'll have my final meal with my parents and check in at the airport around 7. I am very fortunately to be travelling with one of my classmates' who is bringing his wife and daughter with him, and I will be staying with them until I find an apartment.

Classes and Orientation doesn't officially begin until July 10, but I will be quite busy -- searching for the apartment, buying random appliances for the apartment, exploring Israel, and participating in a variety of pre-orientation activities with my new classmates and future colleagues.

I'll likely not be able to update my blog until I have adapted to my surroundings and found an apartment, but I'm really excited for the adventure to come!

PJ

I Am Going to Need Winter Clothes

2007-06-13T17:37:00.000+03:00

Over the past few weeks, I have been frantically getting ready for Israel. In the midst of finding luggage, clothes, and random accessories needed for the trip, I have FINALLY found out that I have been placed at the Cincinnati campus of HUC when I return to the states. Cincinnati is the historic center of Reform Judaism where Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise first established the Union of Reform Judaism in 1873, a huge reason why I have been wanted to attend this campus. When I went for my interview, I was welcomed by the students, enjoyed the small community, and felt very comfortable in such a wonderful environment. Leading scholars and rabbis whose books I have been using as guides in my studies teach in Cincinnati, and this campus is the heart of the movement's progressive decisions in contemporary issues. I'm thrilled to be able to attend the campus, and for the first time in my life I will experience what winter really is like! When I was in Cincinnati in March it was in the 3o's and I was freezing, but I am quite aware that it definitely gets colder!

I have only 10 days until I begin my journey, and the excitement and nervousness continues to grow!

I'll speak to all of you soon,

PJ

I'll Be Rabbi PJ in Five Years

2007-06-04T01:00:00.000+03:00

Dear Friends and Family,

Many of you have asked me to keep in touch with you during my Year in Israel, so I figured that this would be an easy way to share with you my experiences and post pictures.

I'm quite excited and thrilled to finally be able to say that in five years I will be ordained as a Rabbi in the Reform movement. As many of you know, I will be assigned to one of three campuses when I return to the states: Los Angeles, New York, or Cincinnati. I will know in a few weeks which campus I will be placed at, but I am hoping that I will spend the remainder of Rabbinical School in Cincinnati. During my interview, I was welcomed with open arms and already felt "home."

I offically leave for Israel on June 23. In the meantime, I will spend the next weeks in Greenville spending time with family and enjoying the little break that I have. Fortunately, I recently met one of my classmates who will be travelling on the same flight with me! In addition, he graciously offered to let me stay at his apartment with his wife and daughter while I spend my first couple weeks in Israel searching for an apartment. I do, however, have a 27 year old roommate who has been working in Finance and Telecommunications for the past 5 years. He will arrive a few days after me and we'll begin the search process.

The program does not actually start until July 11. I'll begin my studies with a four day orientation and then start what is called an "ulpan," an intensive, two month Hebrew course. In addition to the ulpan, I'll participate in community service projects, attend and lead services, and have field trips throughout Israel. Once I have completed the ulpan, I will begin taking courses in Biblical Hebrew, Grammar, Liturgy, Bible, and Rabbinic Literature in September. The service projects, services, and trips throughout Israel will continue throughout the entire year.

While I will not be back in the states until early June of next year, please keep in touch! I will keep my e-mail address, Gemini61415@aol.com and will also keep my phone number (864) 350-0304. I have signed up for a great service called Vonage, which allows me to keep this phone number. For $25 a month, I have unlimited international minutes and you can call me without any international fees!

I'll be sure to write as frequently as possible and look forward to sharing my journey with you.

PJ