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:
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!
PJ
