A Series of Random Thoughts

1. One of the relevant books I found for a paper I'm working on is by Rabbi Al Axelrod, the former Brandeis Hillel rabbi, whom I know as a very sweet man who chants haftarah abnormally slowly (but with lovely trope and a lovely voice, and trope that I just found out another friend of mine shares- I like it quite a bit better than the more common haftarah trope that has never quite hit me right). My respect for the gentleman, of whom I've otherwise heard rather mixed things, has raised considerably: even mostly skimming parts of his book make me aware of how thoughtful he is. It's also interesting to read what he had to say about the Brandeis of quite a while ago.

2. Another book I read for this project went as far as to say that Christians have higher rates of marital infidelity, abuse and something else than Jewish ones, which is why you shouldn't marry a gentile. While I'm not in favor of intermarriage myself, it has nothing to do with non-Jews being bad people. redlily aschill and I snarked.

3. Yesterday there were three completely naked men running down Rabb steps as I was walking to my Yiddish final. Not something I needed to see.

4. There are two words on my Aramaic quiz that continue to stump me.

5. Shaws is definitely more expensive than Hannafords, nee Victory. But they challah. And more other kosher goods. And I found out why it's so hard to buy kosher Balsamic vinegar. What I don't understand is why if boiling wine makes it no-longer wine and thus no longer a worry for use in pagan religious ritual, why wine or grape based vinegar is still hard to get hechshered. I mean, vinegar is no longer wine or grape juice or anything one would consider religiously valid as far as I know...

A Series of Random Thoughts

1. One of the relevant books I found for a paper I'm working on is by Rabbi Al Axelrod, the former Brandeis Hillel rabbi, whom I know as a very sweet man who chants haftarah abnormally slowly (but with lovely trope and a lovely voice, and trope that I just found out another friend of mine shares- I like it quite a bit better than the more common haftarah trope that has never quite hit me right). My respect for the gentleman, of whom I've otherwise heard rather mixed things, has raised considerably: even mostly skimming parts of his book make me aware of how thoughtful he is. It's also interesting to read what he had to say about the Brandeis of quite a while ago.

2. Another book I read for this project went as far as to say that Christians have higher rates of marital infidelity, abuse and something else than Jewish ones, which is why you shouldn't marry a gentile. While I'm not in favor of intermarriage myself, it has nothing to do with non-Jews being bad people. redlily aschill and I snarked.

3. Yesterday there were three completely naked men running down Rabb steps as I was walking to my Yiddish final. Not something I needed to see.

4. There are two words on my Aramaic quiz that continue to stump me.

5. Shaws is definitely more expensive than Hannafords, nee Victory. But they challah. And more other kosher goods. And I found out why it's so hard to buy kosher Balsamic vinegar. What I don't understand is why if boiling wine makes it no-longer wine and thus no longer a worry for use in pagan religious ritual, why wine or grape based vinegar is still hard to get hechshered. I mean, vinegar is no longer wine or grape juice or anything one would consider religiously valid as far as I know...

(no subject)

I just got an email from the folks from Lishma wanting to know if I wanted to go again this year, and teach part-time at Ramah while doing it. It's strange- part of me would love to, especially if it were more practical. More of me feels like it was a fabulous experience, but I'm not sure I could do it again, with another bunch of people, different directors, and all that. The tempting part is that the Talmud teacher will be there for the full month this time, and I'd Love to learn with him again. But it just isn't practical- I need a job, and even if I'd be paid something for that month, I'd have to cover airfare, find a subletter for the month, and find a job for the rest of the summer- and it's for the month of July, basically: not exactly convenient timing for having some other job. It was a wonderful experience, but I'm not sure about this- it would be like living half in one world and half in another, too. That would be hard too- to be part of a community that's that tight, but not to be in on a big chunk of the jokes, the bonding, etc. I don't know- it would probably be great for someone, but I don't think that person is me, which I rather regret.

(no subject)

I just got an email from the folks from Lishma wanting to know if I wanted to go again this year, and teach part-time at Ramah while doing it. It's strange- part of me would love to, especially if it were more practical. More of me feels like it was a fabulous experience, but I'm not sure I could do it again, with another bunch of people, different directors, and all that. The tempting part is that the Talmud teacher will be there for the full month this time, and I'd Love to learn with him again. But it just isn't practical- I need a job, and even if I'd be paid something for that month, I'd have to cover airfare, find a subletter for the month, and find a job for the rest of the summer- and it's for the month of July, basically: not exactly convenient timing for having some other job. It was a wonderful experience, but I'm not sure about this- it would be like living half in one world and half in another, too. That would be hard too- to be part of a community that's that tight, but not to be in on a big chunk of the jokes, the bonding, etc. I don't know- it would probably be great for someone, but I don't think that person is me, which I rather regret.