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!