Hey, It's Good To Be Back Home Again

This post title, inspired by a John Denver song, is not entirely true for me. I have very mixed feelings about being back home. I miss Israel in my gut, in my soul...however...I love my family and my congregation who welcomed me home with hugs and wonderful spirit.

For the first week home, I felt in-between, neither here nor there. I wanted to retain my Israel connection and my sleep patterns seemed to agree. First weekend back I celebrate a Bar Mitzvah Service with an amazing young man...a Star Wars fan. Let me just say that the Visual Tefilah Slides were 'out of this world'!

By now, my sleep patterns have concluded that I am indeed back home. High Holyday rehearsals indicate that I am indeed preparing for the year's most meaningful and important services. School wise, I am invited to register for my first year of online classes:

Shabbat Liturgy

Shabbat repertoire

Tanach

Life Cycle

Self and System.

Also coaching, voice lessons and congregational practice.

The tuition bill comes to a large amount ($7500 US) and the book list indicates another $500 of expense. The cost of this program is both expected and overwhelming.

On top of that we Cantorial Certification students are obligated to attended three New York City Retreats yearly for four years. Each one will cost about $1000 with flights and accomodation factored in. The first is this October 26 to 30th. That is the financial reality.

Next, my husband and the Rabbi of our congregation is leaving on Sabbatical, December 27th, 2014 for six months in Australia. This marks a change and extra effort for all of us at our  Temple to maintain the programs and zeitgeist that we are known for. Many have asked me, why am I not going along with him to Australia. Quite simply, the program I am committed and our family lifestyle make it unfeasible to leave my position for 6 months. It is in the congregation's best interest and in my children's best interests that I remain here in Hamilton at this time, serving the Temple Anshe Sholom community. My husband does not entirely agree. He has dreamed of his sabbatical for many many years and at long last this year has arrived. I think it is good for him that he will be be making his own way into sabbatical, finding his own learning path and experience to bring back to our congregation in Hamilton, Ontario.

All of we Cantorial Certification students are scrambling at present to secure accommodations and transportation to NYC for our first HUC retreat learning experience. My friend Laurie and I found an apt online at Airbnb where we will live during our October 2014 experience. 

The next few weeks of High Holydays will fly by. This is unfortunate for these days are so important to our souls. I encourage everyone to take the time to self-examine and to determine your own path to improvement. May these days of soul-searching and re-aligning with our spiritual trajectory, bring us calm, joy and connection with all that is good and holy.

Amen,

Paula Baruch

L'hitraot to Jerusalem

Today was our last day in Jerusalem. True to form the situation in Gaza flared up with over 100 rockets flying out to Israel over the past two nights. Last night even in Jerusalem we were once more in the shelter. The tonight, our last night in this amazing city Hamas warned that flights out of Ben Gurion Airport as of 6am are in danger. Our flight leaves at 1:45pm...long enough to assess the situation on the ground.

Meanwhile, we ordered our Sherut to the airport for a 10am pickup tomorrow right outside our apartment at Shatz and Shmuel Nagid in Jerusalem. This has been a great location for us. Close to all our favourite places and a short 20 minute walk to school. We had no real obligations on our last day here. We walked to school to bid farewell to some of our teachers. Here we are with Professor David Ilan...our own Indiana Jones...who has taken us on several archeology adventures while we have been here. We are very grateful for our learning with him.

 Next we wanted to use the Jerusalem light rail system. Whereas previously we had taken it a few times just to the Central Bus Station, today we jumped on board and rode over the big white bridge in Jerusalem and to the end of the line, which is at Mount Herzl. At this location there is a tremendous view of the En Kerem neighbourhood, the Jerusalem Forest and more. Har Herzl is a cemetery of great import. This peaceful location is next to the campus of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial and education centre. The cemetery is maintained by the World Zionist Organization and at its centre is the Kever of Theodore Herzl, the father of Zionism. Also here lay the national leaders of Israel, such as Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin and many others. Missing only is David Ben Gurion, who is buried in the Negev at Sde Boker. Amidst this peaceful parklike cemetery are groups of graves for various soldier groups, paratroopers, different brigades, and soldiers who died on various missions. It is moving and sombre to walk these pathways and acknowledge and deeply feel the sacrifices for the freedom of this country. In the distance we can hear fighter jets and we know they are headed south to deal with the situation in Gaza.

We take the train back to our neighbourhood. All in all a wonderful last day in Jerusalem. We do not know how flights will work tomorrow at Ben Gurion Airport. Every day has been a new adventure, requiring patience and understanding and lizrom, hebrew for flow...or going with the flow. That is the best advice we received about living in Israel for the summer. I am, of course, excited and happy about seeing my loved ones tomorrow night, but I am sad to leave this extraordinary place. Jerusalem, you have moved me and brought me closer to your heart and I will not forget you!

A View From the Hammock

Recently we were in Tsefat, Tsafat, Sefad, Sefat, Safat, Safad...for a Shabbat. We rented a car and three of us gals in the Cantorial Certification program took to the road. Our trip took us southeast to Jericho and north up the Jordan Valley. Boy was it hot! The Jordan Valley route separates Israel from Jordan along the Afro-Sryian rift...two tectonic plates that never really made friends. The terrain is desert like...especially in the summer. As we travelled north the two and a half hours it took to reach the Kinneret/Galil, we noticed several things; date palm groves (with the dates bagged on the tree), banana groves under burlap awnings, the Jordan River valley's fertile ground which appears to be utilized by Jordan, since there were border fences all along the route preventing us from getting near the river, and LOTS of the following graffiti.

Na...Nach...Nachma...Nachman...M'uman (in hebrew letters of course!)

What is this strange graffiti we find everywhere? Apparently it is a special string of words with a mystical meaning:

Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman (Hebrew: נַ נַחְ נַחְמָ נַחְמָן מְאוּמַן‎) is a Hebrew language name and song used by a subgroup of Breslover Hasidim colloquially known as the Na Nachs. The complete phrase is Na Nach Nachma Nachman Me'uman. It is a kabbalistic formula ^[1] based on the four Hebrew letters of the name Nachman, referring to the founder of the Breslov movement, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, along with a reference to his burial place in Uman, Ukraine.
~Wikipedia
You can read more about this popular string of words online, and the Na Nachs are an interesting group in Israel. Their head covering is a white knitted cap bearing the Na..Nach...words, as in the picture. Na Nachs are thought of kind of like religious hippies here. The magical words originated on a note allegedly written by  Nachman of Breslov. 
The note is here on the right.



When we arrived at Tsafat (choose your own spelling) we were blessed to stay at a childhood friend of Alisa's. Ricki and her husband, Dubi run a B&B in Tsafat called the:
SAFED INN. It was a wonderful oasis in our time in Israel. Ricki and Dubi made us feel completely at home. Ricki is a spectacular cook, making her own cheeses, jams and liqueurs from their garden. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful the food was a the Ruckensteins Safed Inn!
The old city of Safed is a delight to explore. Hundreds of years of mystics, Kabbalist Rabbis have studied and taught here. Their graves are pilgrimages to thousands. The Thursday evening and friday we were there was the yahrzeit of Ha Ari, known as Isaac (ben Solomon) Luria Ashkenazi (1534 – July 25, 1572). Lots of pilgrims are in town to sit at the grave. 

On Friday we three explored the old city of Safed. It is a charming and enchanting place of artist studios, small synagogues. Here are some of the sights that drew my attention.

The engraving of the city name on the garbage receptacles.











An old city alley way.

A Safed cat with two kittens.

View inside an interesting sculpture shop.









Self portrait in shadow.

 Safed Candle Shop...gorgeous multicoloured candles. 

 View down towards the gravesites of famous Safed Rabbis.

Beautiful stained glass synagogue doors.

Beautiful window.

Stained glass window featuring the Sephirot.

Street scene.

Saying affixed to a wall in the street.

Directions to one of my favourite artists, David Friedman.

Alley view with afternoon sun.

David Friedman's studio.

My friends, Alisa and Laurie taking in the view.

 Bar Yochai Street...just cool!

Sunsets on the old city of Safed.












All in all it was a magical Shabbat in Safad...no matter how you spell it. I waited a long time in my life to be able to visit this amazing place and I hope to return one day soon!

Why This Post is Overdue

The מצב (matzav), not to be confused with matzah, is the hebrew word for 'situation'. Here in Israel it is the common way of referencing the battle against Hamas currently being waged in the south.

Example heard on Jerusalem street:
"I won't be travelling to Eilat this weekend because of the matzav".

I realize with chagrin that I have not written a blog post for far too long...also because of the matzav. Not because I was unable or too busy with studies or too often in a shelter. Rather it has been because there is so much to say each day that I am overwhelmed with choosing what to focus on and I cannot possibly capture all that occurs in the course of a day in Israel at this time. I have felt that anything I write will seem small and out of context. I want to share the many interesting class trips and learning I have encountered so far, however it has felt strange to write about the learning when the entire world is focused on the matzav! None-the-less and however disjointed this post will turn out...I am longing to stay in communication about my time in Israel this summer. So, here goes...

Hebrew Studies:
I cannot say enough about the quality of language teachers in Israel. Through decades of acculturating new immigrants to Israel the system of teaching immersion modern hebrew, called Ulpan, is remarkable. Every Sunday through Wednesday for four hours we progress in our hebrew language skills. Along the way, all those little missed understandings and grammar points that create big aha moments punctuate a typical day at Ulpan class. If you get an opportunity to study Ulpan in Israel, don't miss the chance. You will gain not only the ability to negotiate shopping and living in Israel, but also an appreciation for the word meanings that often hearken back to the biblical text. This past week culminated on Wednesday with a concert where each class presented an Israeli song. What fun and a great way to end the week!

Biblical History and Archeology:
Naturally, living in the land where the narratives of bible are said to have occurred is awesome in and of itself. Still, without an expert guide it is very difficult to understand and appreciate the significance of the evidence of past cultures found and preserved in Israel. We are very fortunate to have Dr. David Ilan, our own Indiana Jones, to show us around Israel. Visiting the various 'tells' where strata upon strata reveal culture on top of culture leading back to Neolithic time in some cases. We are learning to recognize the indications of Phoenician, Philistine, Canaanite and Israelite settlements across the expanse of time. What I really value is learning about the significance of the various geographical areas of Israel and how the various traditional trade routes affected how the Israelite kingdoms survived or didn't. All fascinating learning which I will definitely continue over the coming years.

Experiential Learning:
Just living here is an education. This week on Thursday after biblical history I packed my small suitcase and walked a short distance to Jaffa Street in Jerusalem where the new light rail system runs. A friendly woman helped me use the machine at the stop to purchase a ticket (6.9 shekels), the train came and I jumped aboard. I nervously studied my whereabouts on google maps and managed to get off three stops west at the Jerusalem central bus station. Sensory overload abounded as dozens of soldiers were rushing to catch buses home for a Shabbat off with their families, plus the usual bustle of many commuters. There was no choice but to follow the flow into the mall like building and up an escalator to the first floor...hmm, no sign of buses...just little shops and felafel stands etc. Finally I spy another escalator and go up...more chaos...but....ah...buses. I find the bus to Tel Aviv. I slowly figure out how to purchase a ticket...25 shekels to Tel Aviv and a 1/2 hour to wait. I search for a washroom. There is one but it has a barricaded one way door with a funny machine beside it...no writing on the machine! I stand back and watch others put coins into the machine and gain entry to the washroom. Finally I ask someone how much....he says...1 shekel. I can handle that:) After that I know I can manage the 50 minute trip comfortably. I spend 15 minutes in a book store there and then cue up for the bus. It is one of the green Egged buses. We are going to Tel Aviv so everyone getting on is mostly secular. The driver is lovely and I sit in the front seat behind him.

As we leave city of Jerusalem the high hill country is gorgeous, mysterious and foreboding. How did our ancestors live there? What a hard life...how difficult to defend yourself or grow food on that terrain. Passing by Modiin the high hills give way to the Shephelah...the low hills. Here life looks easier with big flat fields of corn and orchards and vegetables growing, river beds and springs providing water to grow to subsistence and extra to trade. This was the plum land from ancient times until today. The Shephelah gives way to the coastal plain. Greenhouses and palms abound here and of course the buildings begin on the kurkar ridges leading up to the Mediterranean Sea. The bus ride from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv is worth taking if only to appreciate the contours and elevations of the land. 

Here in Tel Aviv I have some old and beloved friends from my younger days living here. It has been lovely catching up! Tonight I am very much looking forward to attending the Bet Tefilah Kabbalat Shabbat service. It begins at 6 pm. Usually it is held outdoors right at the TelAviv marina overlooking the sea. For security reasons however, it is currently being held in Gordon Cultural Centre, just around the corner from my hotel. This service is a wonderful musical service using familiar secular tunes and universal messages. It has drawn out hundreds of secular Israelis to the experience of prayer they had never encountered in Judaism before. Check them out online at Bet Tefilah Israel.

If you read all that, you deserve a bit of multimedia!

Below a YouTube I made this morning while having breakfast at a Dizengoff street cafe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SVTvgO8rYE&sns=em

Here the traces of Iron Dome intercepting rockets over Tel Aviv this morning.

May this Shabbat bring peace to the world.

Shabbat Shalom, Paula

The Learning Begins

On Sunday, July 6th, 2014 orientation sessions began for my class. My class in its largest sense is made up of 32 people. Here is how it breaks down:

• five of those 32 are in my exact cohort of first year Cantorial Certification students (hereinafter known as CCerts) 
• six of those 32 are in the previous cohort of the CCert program and therefore are halfway through their studies already
• the remaining 21 students (by far skewed much younger than us) are in the first year of either the Rabbinic program or the Cantorial program 

Left to Right: Adam Davis, Cantor Ellen Dreskin, Sarene Apelbaum, Lori Shapio, Rabbi Aaron Panken, Alisa Fineman Rachel Kalmovitz, Neil Michaels, Sheera Ben-David Rachel Reef-Simpson, Adam Kahan, Laurie Weinstein, ME:), ?, ?, Harriet D., ?

I feel badly about those question marks in the caption above, however they are not in our program and I have not had the opportunity to learn everyone's name yet!

Monday, July 7th

Today began with T'filah and a Torah service led by the summer interns. The summer interns at HUC in Jerusalem are fifth year Rabbinic and Cantorial students who apply and are selected to work on campus in Jerusalem. This summer we have two Amandas...almost Rabbi Amanda and almost Cantor Amanda. We also have Udi, who is an Israeli Rabbinic student at HUC. I am not used to weekday davening and the nusach or melody of prayers is very different, something I need to learn. I also learned that when we chant Nissim B'chol Yom on Shabbat morning at Temple Anshe Sholom we have been using the weekday nusach *gasp* instead of the Shabbat nusach. Well...that was the only nusach of the weekday service I DID know:) Clearly there is LOTS to learn!

After the service we all walked across the campus to the president's apartment. The president of HUC-JIR is new to the position. The previous president Rabbi Dave Ellison was a beloved teacher of my husband, Rabbi Jordan. The apartment on campus is made available to the president whenever he is in Jerusalem. Of course, he visits all the campuses and happens to be in Israel this summer with us. We gather in the apartment and file along a long table to collect a plate of yummy bagels, smears and veggies, coffee, cakes and fruit. We gather in the very large living room and Rabbi Aaron Panken, the new president of HUC, begins to speak. It is a lovely talk framing the year in Israel directed mostly at the 21 students who will remain here all year long. We appreciate the advice as well though. We are told; get out and experience different forms of Jewish worship, talk with Israelis, meet with Israeli Arabs and talk about their lives, soak in the country as much as you can.

By Tuesday evening though everything changed to a great degree. For the first time sirens rang out in Jerusalem and we all hurried to the bomb shelters. In hotels, there is always a Miklat (bomb shelter) in the basement (ours doubled as a workout room). In apartment building there may be a Milat, and if you do not have one you are to rush to a room in your apartment or house that has no windows. If you are in the street in transit you go into a building in the stairwell. If you are in a car you get out and lay on the ground belly down with hands over your head. After ten minutes the threat is over (if the siren is not sounding) and you can resume your activity. 

Our experience was in our hotel (the Prima Royale) and as the siren began there was also an announcement that came through speakers throughout the hotel that we should proceed on the stairs to the basement. We did and, along with the other residents, gathered for about 20 minutes in the Miklat. I can truly say that friendships are made in Bomb Shelters. We try to stay calm and be positive for each other. We chat and get to know each other. We never forget with whom we spent those 10 to 20 minutes!

Wednesday, July 9th

Our program director, Cantor Ellen Dreskin, leads morning T'filah. It is a beautiful service of melodies and contemplative tunes. After the service our security team briefs us on last night's bombings and what is happening in the escalation of military activity.

A special happening...we have a Biblical History field trip today with Dr. David Ilan. We board a tour bus and travel to Haas Promenade. The view is the classic postcard view of Israel (sometimes in winter with snow).

View of Jerusalem from Haas Promenade

Dr. David Ilan helped us orient ourselves to the view we have and what directions we are looking. Our goal today is to view Jerusalem from the four directions. Here at Haas Promenade the view we have shows us the Temple Mount, the Kidron Valley, the City of David, the Mount of Olives (to name a few). A short walk from this view brings us to a tunnel vent to the Roman aqueducts. Dr. Ilan explains the technology of the Roman aqueducts (lower and upper) to bring water to Jerusalem. I am fascinated by this information!

We travel next to Ramat Rachel. This area is just south west of Jerusalem. Ramat Rachel is a kibbutz. We stop first beside the kibbutz at a park area with a landscape art installation. It is fascinating. Three tall pillars and on top of each is a live olive tree. The roots of the three trees atop the pillars intertwine with the other trees. The symbolism of the art is of the three Abramhic faiths.

Three faiths from Abraham

Beyond this moving and living sculpture is an edge of a cliff with a view of the land South West Israeli. It is beside Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. At Kibbutz Ramat Rachel there is a hotel with sports facilities and lovely gardens. They are surrounding by groves of olive trees and cherry trees. Just beyond the Kibbutz hotel through the parking lot, Dr. Ilan leads us to an archeological site.

Kibbutz Hotel at Ramat Rachel

Here just north of Jerusalem, high on a hill, a palace was built. Later in Byzantine times the site was used as an olive oil processing plant.  We learned what identified the site as originally being a palace were the distinctive pre-ionic capital stones. There are 4 of these found on the site. They are the pre-cursor form of the ionic capitals later found in Roman and Greek architecture. We learned that the stylized pattern on the capital at the palace at Ramat Rachel is of a date palm, the classic symbol of the area. One theory is that this palace was of the Kings of Judah. Another more recent theory is that Assyrian usurpers built the palace to rule over Jerusalem (there are great views from this hill of the area all around and of the Patriarchs highway which was the established travelling route up to Jerusalem in ancient times).

Pre-ionic Capitals

Later in the week we receive our results from the Hebrew and Biblical History Placement tests. I am thrilled to be put in Kitah Bet for Hebrew and in the higher level class for Biblical History. Bring on the learning!

Words of Peace

This morning in the Jerusalem Post president Shimon Peres speaks the words of peace that I resonate with.

"Peres asked Sakhnin Mayor Mazen Ghnaim to convey a message of reassurance to all Arab mayors in Israel, urging them to help ease tensions.

“Your heart and my heart are in pain, it’s our duty to call for restraint from all residents,” the president told Ghnaim.

“All the responsible leaders, Jews and Arabs alike, must come together as one in order to prevent a disaster and a loss of life. My heart aches for every death. Together, we can lower the flames and defend innocents.”

Ghnaim, who also serve as the head of a council of Arab mayors, said he would try to calm the situation."

~ The Jerusalem Post, Sunday July 6th, 2014

Kotel Bli Mechitza

 It is always imperative to visit the Kotel when in Jerusalem. To be as close as possible to the Temple that once stood on Mount Moriah. Even if it is just the retaining wall that Herod built to hold up the expanded Temple of his day, there is something powerful about being in the presence of these Jerusalem stones.

I have prayed in the women's section of the Kotel quite a few times. I have been in the women's section for a service with 'Women of the Wall', a group of progressive religious women who pray with Tallit and Kippot and have experienced harassment from the religious leaders who run the Western Wall Heritage Foundation. But for the first time on this trip to the Kotel with my husband, who is a Reform Rabbi, we were able to walk to the platform created for mixed gender prayer at the Kotel (see picture left), and continue right down to the stones of the wall together! I have to say that for both he and I, it was a powerful moment. There are the prayer notes of the people who came before us. The stones are lower down than the ones visible in the Western Wall plaza and have the older form of framing border around the stone face (see picture right). We were asked as we entered this new area for Jewish prayer if we were indeed going down to pray, to which we answered yes. My prayer was that we as Jews can learn to appreciate all the diverse paths to our God and decrease the judgements and separations that keep us from being fully in community together.

Side note: There are restrictions to how one can pray in this new egalitarian section of the Kotel. No musical instruments are allowed and no candle lighting. I must say personally that I look forward to the day when all of Israel can celebrate with voice and instruments together.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem.

A Very Sad Canada Day

Here, on July 1st, 2014, there is no celebration of my home country. Instead the day is marked by mourning and by a state televised funeral for the three boys, Gil-ad, Eyal and Naftali, murdered on their way home for Shabbat.

I am riveted to the television in our hotel room watching from 3pm on to 6:30pm as three separate funerals begin in three different locations. The eulogies are heartbreaking and the pain of the family members, and indeed all of Israel, is choking in its magnitude. These three families are so dignified and so unified in their belief that love must come from this and not revenge. It is very moving and fills my heart completely. The three bodies are clothed in Israeli flags. There are no coffins in the burial practice of Israel. You must connect with the earth from which you were created. After the three separate local funerals the bodies and families are driven to Modi'in for burial side by side. These boys will forever be remembered together, as victims of violence in a place where peace is sought after but rarely achieved. Modi'in...the home to the Maccabees, who fought against hatred towards Jewish practice. As the funeral is broadcast the police tape of the emergency call the boys made in the midst of the kidnapping is shared with the country. It is the voice of Gil-ad, only 16, who whispers 'they have kidnapped me'. The phone falls to the floor of the ambush vehicle and after a minute cuts out. How brave was that call? How stoic was that voice? Gil-ad's father speaks about that in his eulogy of his only son. Four police officers have been fired for not responding to the call quickly enough...for not taking it seriously enough. Because of that call, it is likely, the boys were shot immediately and disposed of in the field by Huldah.

When the bodies and the families come together in Modi'in, thousands have gathered. There have been free buses to Modi'in from nearly everywhere in Israel to be with the families and Israelis have responded in great numbers. This is important, this is galvanizing, this is something that needs to be witnessed. Netanyahu and Shimon Peres speak beside the three flag draped bodies. The entire country is together in tears.

Later that evening, Rabbi and I are at a lecture at the Hartman Institute. The lecture turns out to be an interview with Ari Shavit, author of My Promised Land. We are outdoors in an amphitheatre. In the background we hear many sirens and some shots. If we were at home, we would think 'fireworks'...but here we know there are riots happening.

By morning time the news in Jerusalem is that there was anti-Arab protesting by some Jews and the body of a 15 year old Palestinian was found in the Jerusalem Forest. It is reported that some of the protesters were shouting 'death to arabs'. Somewhere in the west bank, it is reported that grafitti appeared that read in hebrew...'price tag: Jewish revenge'. How quickly are my emotions being challenged. But that has always been my experience in Israel. Things move quickly here...and you are affected deeply and you have to question where is it that you will stand.

By late afternoon I get notice of a gathering in Jerusalem. The title of the gathering is 'We Mourn: not Avenge'. The group organizing the event is Tag Meir. This inter-religious organization promotes peace through education and action. There are many groups and factions in Israel and I am nervous about supporting any one of them. So often there are hidden agendas I would not be comfortable with. I investigate and I find out that IRAC, Israel Religious Action Center, is supporting the event. That helps me. I am an admirer of Anat Hoffman, well known for heading Women of the Wall, who oversees IRAC in Jerusalem. Reading more I find that the goal of the gathering is to mourn not only the three Israeli boys murdered, but also three Palestine youth killed in the search for the murderers of the Israeli youth.

I walk to the area and the location has been changed so there is no gathering at Kikar Hachatulot. My friends and I stop to eat dinner at a small pub...Hummus, Israeli Salad and Breads. While we are eating a parade of youth with Israeli flags draped around their necks and police following them go by. As demonstrations go it seems there are two camps...those who would mourn both Israeli and Palestinian deaths and not avenge and those who would seek revenge for the deaths of the three Israeli youth murdered. Later I learn that the Tag Meir gathering moved to Kikar Tzion.

Read more about the gathering by clicking here.

This is the complexity of Israel. This is the place of discernment and the asking of where you stand. It is not a simple question. I am not entirely sure where I stand.

Jerusalem of Gold

By Saturday evening in Jerusalem, when this picture was taken at Havdallah by the Kotel, Rabbi and I had already:

~ unpacked Friday afternoon at the Prima Royale Hotel

~ walked over to Kehillat Har El (Israel's first Reform congregation) to enjoy lovely Kabbalat Shabbat services

~ partook of Shabbat dinner at our hotel

~ walked to Hebrew Union College after breakfast for 10AM services, where we were greeted by a few friends and colleagues

~ enjoyed a long Shabbes shluf

~ walked into the old city for Havdallah 

Which brings us to the above picture! The light at the Kotel at Havdallah time is so unique and lovely. Naomi Shemer certainly captured this feeling beautifully in her iconic song Yerushalayim Shel Zahav. Many groups rushed to the Kotel plaza to make Havdallah and as the sun was setting the chanting to evening prayers could be heard from the minnerets near and far. We noted the green lights on all the minnerets (in photo behind my head left) to indicate prayer was "on". Never saw that before!

We still had some energy at Motzei Shabbat so we walked into the Ben Yehuda area where restaurants and bars were opened up again. Everything was buzzing with the Brazil -Chile World Cup match. We found a comfy couch at one such establishment and enjoyed dinner watching the game outside projected onto screens, which were everywhere. A note to beer lovers...I tried a Negev, a light summer beer with passionfruit overtones...very lovely and recommended!

Tomorrow, Sunday, we have no obligations and will enjoy a sleep in and some exploring.

One More Sleep!

As much as I have dilly-dallied, laid out and re-laid out clothing, made dozens of 'last minute' trips to shops, time has closed in on me. In a classic Paula move, I decided yesterday that I simply had to sew a pair of wrap around pants to take with me. Sewing doesn't work out so well when you are rushing and anxious. Those pants are staying at home!

Meanwhile, Rabbi (my dear hubby) is the consummate traveller. He has little cases for everything. All of his bits and pieces are logged and charted and in the perfect place. At one point today, I passed by his dresser where he had laid out various items. I called downstairs to him. "Honey, what's with the emergency wind up radio? Are you expecting the world to end?" "I like to be prepared", he answered.

Fortunately for me, being married to this WonderTraveller, I can pretty much forget anything I like and be fairly confident he will have remembered to bring it! Oh, and in case you were wondering...I solved the guitar dilemma. Actually I followed Rabbi's advice:) I am taking my old blue Yamaha guitar in a soft backpack case. I am going to try to take it onboard with me and if it has to be checked, so be it. This guitar was a gift from an Israeli boyfriend 30 years ago. It is not the end of the world if it gets broken in transit. Although it doesn't sound half as good as my Martin guitar, it is decent enough to get by.

Now to the real issue of tomorrow....the flight. The main reason I do not enjoy travel is the airplane trip. I love airports...the cool shops and great coffee, the vibe of people going to and fro. It is actually being airborne that totally freaks me out! I am one of those who believes that people are not meant to fly. Over the years I have developed a few ways to deal with my anxiety.  I am pretty good at pretending I am not in the air. I distract myself from this reality. Try as I might though, there is always a terrifying 10 to 15 minute period where I allow myself to acknowledge that I am 30,000 feet up over the ocean and I go through the scenario where the plane loses altitude and plunges down, smashing us all into a billion bits. Sometimes in my scenario I survive, but I have completely lost my memory due to the trauma and I live out my life somewhere else, never knowing who I was or where I came from. I realize chances are I will make it to my destination tomorrow.

When we arrive, after our 11 hours of flying, the plan is to shuttle to the hotel and drop off our stuff. It will be noon on Friday in Jerusalem by then. We will walk over to Machaneh Yehudah, the market, and gather some provisions for our hotel fridge and get ready for Shabbat. We plan to attend Shabbat Services at Kehilat Har El. This was the founding Reform Synagogue in Israel! If all goes well this is where we will be by Friday evening.

This will be my last blog post until after Shabbat. Wishing everyone a wonderful Shabbat of peace and joy. Prayers for Eyal, Gilad and Naftali's safe return. Happy Shabbat to everyone on their way to Camp this week!

Where I Come From VERSUS Where I Am Going

All of the Hebrew Union College clergy programs begin in Jerusalem. Whether you are a Rabbinic or Cantorial student you commence your learning in Israel. Full time Rabbinic and Cantorial students will being with my group and stay on for an entire year in Israel. Since the Cantorial Certification program is for those Soloists already working in a congregational setting, the idea is that we can learn while working in our Temple communities. Our home congregations become our learning laboratories as we learn the complexities of various worship services and begin to apply our learning.

So what am I learning this summer in Jerusalem? Hebrew, Hebrew and more Hebrew (plus Biblical History &vArcheology, and the history of Israeli music).

Ulpan Texts

 This is the first level book for Hebrew Ulpan in Israel. The title translates 'Hebrew From Scratch'. I had to master this book to pass the Hebrew exam during my audition week in New York City. I didn't exactly master it...but I am solid on the three quarters of this book. This is 'where I come from'. Hmmm....two years of living in Israel and this is all I remember. Sure I was just 20. Sure I worked for a tour company hired for my fluency in English. The truth is...you can get along quite well only speaking English in Israel. What I did not attend to diligently enough then, I now have to seriously work at.

This is the second level book for Hebrew Ulpan in Israel. I look inside the front cover and I can barely follow anything! This is 'where I am going'. My goal is to master the last chapters of the first book as well as this book. I wish I could take Morah Zehava along in my back pocket...she has been a great help when it comes to learning to speak Hebrew more fluently. When I was preparing for the Hebrew exam back in February, I would run down to see her during her break teaching at Kehila Jewish Day School and ply her with my daily questions. So many verbs and verb forms to remember.



Still...Hebrew is a beautiful language, a holy language. I am thinking of the story about the poor man, a labourer, who had no time to study Hebrew. When it came time to pray at Yom Kippur was was reciting his Alef-Bet over and over again. Someone who knew more than he, chastised him for being so frivolous in prayer to God. The poor man stated that all he was ever able to learn was the Alef-Bet and by reciting it over and over he hoped that God would take the letters and arrange them into the proper prayers. I love stories where students become teachers!

So...I am packing up these two volumes. These are the only books I will be taking with me to Israel! That's because I have a Torah, a Mishkan Tefillah, Jewish Sheet Music and more on my iPad:) With my deep desire to improve my Hebrew and soak up as much as I possibly can, I am hopeful I will achieve my goal of mastering level 2.

4 more sleeps!

7 More Sleeps

A week from today I am flying to Israel to begin my 4 year journey to become a certified Cantor. I am beyond excited to embark on the learning I have been seeking for many years.

My congregation at Temple Anshe Sholom is full of supportive and encouraging members who have inspired this blog...my way of keeping in touch along the path and letting me know more about my studies and adventures in the Hebrew Union College Cantorial Certification Program.

The Israel portion of our program will last 7 weeks. I return to Hamilton on August 21st. Even while in Israel I will be maintaining work to be done at Temple, such as tutoring Bar and Bat Mitzvah students using Skype, preparing the Program Book for the fall, and coordinating the many activities that begin with the Jewish New Year. I am sad about missing faculty time at Camp George this summer. It is truly a highlight for me...especially this summer when all of our teens are CITs or Staff, including our son Sam and daughter Rebekah.

All the home stuff being out of the way, here's what I expect the summer to be like for me.

I arrive in Jerusalem, along with Rabbi Jordan Cohen (my dear husband, hereinafter referred to as 'Rabbi'). Rabbi is studying at the Hartman Institute for two weeks. This is a wonderful learning experience for him...like summer camp for Rabbis! It is a chance to really delve into Torah texts at a deep level and he always returns full of wonder and deep thoughts and the excitement that new learning brings. We will be staying at the Prima Royale in Jerusalem for those two weeks. This hotel is centrally located to both of our locations (Hartman and Hebrew Union College) and is reasonably priced for a stay of this length. At the same time, because I am staying on for 7 weeks, I have rented a one bedroom apartment in Katamon, Jerusalem. I am sharing it with my new friend and fellow Cantorial student, Laurie Weinstein....also a Rebbetzin so we have so much in common. Laurie is from John's Creek, Georgia. I am really looking forward to sharing this adventure with her!

My main concern right now is what to pack and how to best transport my guitar. Such first world problems! Stay tuned for updates on this adventure...

Comments are welcomed and responded to below:)