Anxiety and Hope

[debka_notion]

I'm pretty nervous about tomorrow's interview.

On the other hand, the dean of admissions just told me that he's rooting for me, the dean of the rab school has wished me good luck, and the second and third years' dean keeps checking in on me. Oh, and one of the rabbis on my committee is one of my teachers and the rabbi who really encouraged him to come to the seminary is the father-in-law of one of my favorite teachers from Hebrew High, who is, with his wife, one of two families in the conservative shul at home who have ever had me over for a shabbos or yontif meal. I write all this to try and calm myself down.

I really need a good question to ask my committee when they're done asking me questions. So far my list of potential questions is as follows: asking for a piece of advice, or asking what they'd want me to take away from this year at JTS, regardless of whether or not I get in.

Comments

[hotshot2000.livejournal.com]

At a testing the waters schmooze, J asked them what their ideal vision for their rabbis was, which proved to be stumpful to them.

I have some suggestions, but you seem to want to actually get in, so I'll keep them to myself. ;-P

[hatam-soferet.livejournal.com]

I didn't say ideal vision, I just said what was their vision for their graduates as rabbis. You could also ask what their vision for the laity is - both of those are good professional questions. Or how they see the Sem riding the tension between the shift to the left and the shift to the right. I'd be interested to hear what they had to say about that one! Maybe how they think the recent staff changes will affect the ethos of the school (just because "ethos" is a terrific word).

You'll be fine. I bet you two tubs of Ben & Jerry's.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Thanks. That's a good idea though- I've been thinking that I should do something either to celebrate getting in or to console myself that my friends still like me even though I didn't get in, after this whole business. Perhaps a melave d'malka type Saturday night thing with ice cream might be a good way of doing so... (Not this week, no time to plan and invite people and such. Next weekend or something maybe.) This worthy of your bet?

[hotshot2000.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me. You like chocolate, I hope?

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

I do. I'll start planning soon. Either that or I'll start planning if I can't sleep tonight.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

I'll take the funny/troublemaker-type questions after the interview, if you feel like sharing sometime after noonish tomorrow...

[mbarr.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Thank you. 'Tis appreciated.

[scaberry.livejournal.com]

good luck

Rabbi Scolnic has said this to me and it helps, they don't just say and do these nice things to people they aren't really interested in.

Anyways, I probably should know but who's father-in-law teaches at JTS??

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

I think he was a congregational rabbi or something- but Henry Cohen's father-in-law influenced this teacher of mine to come to JTS, I think as a support as having been his teacher or rabbi or something before he applied.

[scaberry.livejournal.com]

I really like Henry Cohen.

[jakal88.livejournal.com]

Well, first, I have no doubt that you'll get in. Second, you may want to take the rest of this with a grain of salt.

Bleeagh, those are BORING questions. I would guess they aren't especially looking for boring people. You are not boring, so don't pose questions like you are. You shouldn't ask something offensive, but put a little point on it, something that says "I'm a smart person who doesn't shy away from thinking about difficult things." Unfortunately I am not educated enough in this subject to suggust anything specific. Maybe, "What do ya'll think is the most serious problem facing Conservatism today, and how might it be solved?" and make sure to have your own answer ready as well. (Texas accent optional, for you Northerly-type folks).

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good question- only one problem: that was almost Precisely one of the 4 essay questions I had to answer in my application. That's the problem- they snabbed the good questions already, and if I ask anything with too much of an edge- well, let's say that one of my classmates did so, or tried, and got basically yelled at for it.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

As for the accent- y'all is properly used in only one context for us northerners- and that's when aiming for precision in translation exercises from languages with different singular and plural second person pronouns to English.

[gimmelgirl.livejournal.com]

I would ask something like, "if you could go back in time, knowing what you know now as a rabbi/teacher in the field, and give a piece of advice to your new rabbinical student self, what would you tell yourself? I.e., what do you know now that you wished you'd known then ... but with the implication of how to "seize the day," rather than something deep and philosophical.

You're gonna be fabulous. Just enjoy the "conversation," rather than thinking of it as an interview....
Heck, they let me in. You'll be fine. :o)

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Please don't put yourself down- you're fabulous, and you instinctively get those people-skills things that I have to remind myself about.

[eliyahu5733.livejournal.com]

I have to say.. if they don't accept you into the Rabbinic School its more of a reflection on the school than it is on you. While I am not myself a rabbinic student, I have been in the graduate school here for quite a few years and seen and known many many student rabbis. I had (and have) a hard time seeing many of them as rabbis (for numerous reasons I need not go into here) and a good number of them actually make me fear for the future of this movement under their leadership. Aside from my nutty hang-ups about seeing women as rabbis (They just don't "look like rabbis") I have no trouble at all seeing you as a Rabbi. The way you carry yourself, your commitment to Judaism, your priorities and your mindset are all things I would look for in a rabbi. I would feel very comfortable with the C movement in your hands. If they can't see it its their loss (well, its a loss for all of us...)

I'd wish you good luck, but I really don't think you need it. You'll do great! :)

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your confidence and the compliment. We'll see what happens...

[chinchillama.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[ploni-bat-ploni.livejournal.com]

YOU WILL GET IN!

Chill out! :-)

I doubt that I will get in though... GRE dramas... ugh. Not to mention Crap Hebrew.

[debka-notion.livejournal.com]

Around here, as long as you've taken GREs, or have some plan for doing so, your actual scores don't seem to matter much... As for Hebrew- the worst they are likely to do is either a. want you to come take Hebrew in the summer before school starts, or b. put you in my current program and make you reapply next year.

Sorry I don't do chill terribly well.

[ploni-bat-ploni.livejournal.com]

Well... as hatam_soferet would say, have more tea. More tea! :-)

Honestly, Debka... you seem to have all it takes, so why worry? I know that is easier to say from an outsider's perspective, but still.

Besides, the Seminary already knows you, and your commitment/dedication. It is a far lesser risk to admit someone they know and can trust rather than a random Northern European girl :-)

You will be fine!