Goodbye Summer

I am now four weeks through my seven-week-long Ulpan. It has been a very intense four weeks and the class of two or three of us is moving very quickly. I think the class is a tad above my level but since I plan on re-taking Hebrew 3 in the fall anyway, I will be re-covering this material again, which is great, I think. I did so poorly on my last grammar test that I have to re-take it on Monday. But, I'm learning a lot and my vocabulary is growing so quickly. I have even learned exponentially more grammar than I ever knew before starting learning Hebrew last year. (July 2nd is my one-year anniversary of starting my Hebrew studies in Hebrew "Zero" in Jerusalem.)

I've been meeting fellow students and I've met with a few rabbis in the area and am feeling a bit like Goldilocks in regard to synagogue "shopping." "This synagogue is too big." "This synagogue is too small." "This synagogue is way too different to what I'm used to in Israel." Hopefully I'll find the local synagogue is "just right" for me. I have several contenders.

After Shabbat ended tonight Jen and I finished watching the five-episode-long A&E reality show God or the Girl, about four 20-something guys who are considering entering the Catholic priesthood or choosing not to pursue a life of celibacy. For a new seminarian such as myself, it was really interesting to see this reality show based on people going through a similar decision making process as I. One of the four guys was a little older - he left his successful career and sold his house to take the time to decide. I won't spoil the show for you but it was worth seeing.

A few weeks ago was the Yahrzeit for my father. A friend and fellow student arranged a minyan of ten faculty and students for the previously unscheduled Mincha (afternoon) service. I led the service, which was intimidating in front of a distinguished group of rabbis/faculty. It was also my first time leading a service at the university, where I will participate in hundreds and lead dozens of morning and afternoon services over the next few years. Being able to pull together a minyan really made me feel part of the community (and a warm, very inviting and supportive community at that.)

Jen and I are slowly getting settled into our new apartment. We still have a plethora of cardboard boxes that are yet to be emptied in our office but for the most part, the place is livable, the kitchen is kosher, and the mezuzot are on all the doors. I just haven't had much time to help unpack (let alone blog ;) I do homework in the morning before class and in the afternoon and evening after class. I really thought I would have more time to practice and learn other things that I wanted to work on learning this summer. Time management once classes start will certainly be an interesting issue.

Ulpan, Take Three

Late last week I "moved" to Los Angeles so that I could begin a new Hebrew Ulpan (intensive learning program) at the AJU. I stayed with my grandmother for a few days and then on Sunday, the day before class was scheduled to begin, I started house sitting for a friend who lives in the San Fernando Valley, nice and close to the university. Jen and I move into our new apartment later this week. And yes, I did buy a pair of new shoes!

This Ulpan runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is very intense (which, as you may recall was also intense but only intense from 8 to 12:30) as there are only three of us in the class and so, unlike my previous Ulpan, I can not avoid speaking or answering questions by avoiding the eyes of the teacher. Not only does the Ulpan (which runs for seven weeks) take up most of the day, there is also a lot of homework. Tonight I spent four hours doing the following...

• Writing a page in my Hebrew class journal.
• Reading and rereading a essay about Theodor Herzl because we have to be able to read it very, very well tomorrow.
• Listening to an audio file of my teacher reading said essay in order to pronounce everything correctly tomorrow (as if).
• Filling in blanks with missing words on another essay.
• Creating a resume for Herzl.
• Doing research on a famous person in order to "play" 20 questions tomorrow.
• Reading a newspaper article and highlighting the sections that I actually understood (about half the article ended up pink).
• Completing four grammar worksheets.
• Writing out vocabulary words that are new to me and trying to memorize them.
• Preparing for a daily in-class 5-minute speech (I only had to do this once in my entire year back in Israel).
• Reading a short story and complete two worksheets about the story.

So, I'm gong to learn a lot over the next seven weeks but my plans to improve my tan this summer won't come to fruition. But, I will be well-prepared after this class and then another three weeks of Biblical Hebrew Grammar!

It's wonderful to finally be on campus, the campus where I will be spending the next five or so years learning. It's a beautiful place and I've been meeting some wonderful people, both faculty and students, so I'm very excited about the fall! Off to bed to do the same thing tomorrow...