Sunday, October 20, 2013

Update...

Hello Readers! Though days sometimes seem to crawl by, weeks are starting to go by quickly, which is why I haven't written for a while! Here are a few updates about us!

Adam: He is doing VERY well! School is hard, and takes a lot of effort, but he is doing well in his classes and keeping up with all of the extra work. Each rabbinical student leads at least two services during the year, along with a cantorial student (There are less of them so they have to do five!).  Adam led Shacharit (the morning service) 2 weeks ago, and it was incredible! He was nervous, but it didn't show at all. He and Jacob, his cantorial student partner each got to sing one of their own songs, and they were beautiful. In February they are leading a whole Saturday morning service, and Im sure they will be amazing.

Each student also does a T'rumah project, a volunteer project that helps the community. He is songleading with a fellow student  once a month at a school near Jerusalem. When he came back from his first time this week, he was in a great mood, having missed songleading for kids! He is also the unofficial "intern" songleader for another Rabbi in town. We have loved spending time with her and her family as I am also their babysitter!

Adam has been keeping busy with other extra things as well, including taking part in a student-led a capella group. They have only had one rehearsal but there is no way they won't be amazing.  He is also teaching a little guitar group for fellow students on Saturdays. They bring food and play guitar...Its really cute. (Does this sound like a cheesy Christmas letter?)

We are both lucky enough to be teaching classes with Shalom Learning, a new program that brings Hebrew and Religious school to a whole new level. The program can be done in conjunction with a Temple, holding a few classes online and a few in person each month, but since we are here, we are teaching only online. Adam worked with them last year through Am Shalom, and they loved his idea of having an only online class. They did a lot of marketing to military families who don't necessarily have a synagogue to go to each week, but still want their kids to have a quality Jewish education. Our students are all over the world, and we meet once a week in an online meeting to learn about Jewish values and concepts, and even teach a bit of Hebrew. Its a very impressive company, and we are both so happy to be a part of it. I am especially happy to add something to my weekly routine...


Me: I've been trying my hardest to keep busy and find things to do, but its not always easy. Its hard not to have a set schedule, and have so much down time, but I'm doing my best to fill my time and enjoy being here. There is only so much "exploring" and hanging around in coffee shops that can be done, but I'm working on it!

In addition to the Shalom Learning class, I am teaching an English "Chug" (activity) once a week to a group of first graders at their school. Their parents are American, and they want them to supplement the English they get at school. Its a perfect thing for me to be doing, and I am creating curriculum and lesson plans to fit their needs.

I have also been doing some volunteering/subbing and a preschool, and babysitting as much as I can. Its a strange life to be living, but I just keep in mind that it is only temporary, and next year I will, God willing, be busy and working hard!

Thats it for now. Though we are having a once in a lifetime experience, really miss home and all of you!

XOXO

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