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
