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:)