Let's see, 7 times 3 equals 21. David Wilensky is not sure that 21 has any important fact to do with Judiasm..there for I have nothing exciting to put in here with the number of posts and such.
Anyways.
Breaking the fast. MEATLOAF. Some say it was great. Others would rather puke.
But me personally, I was eh so so. I was so hungry I tried it. David Wilensky (the Librarian, EIE Alum and friend) told me to try it. I said hey, why not. And I ate some meat loaf. It was kacha kacha. Hows THAT for Hebrew skills. And you cant even hear my american accent because its a computer. :]
Then we had Israelie movie night. Once again I went to the same movie. Someone to Run with. It was by accident. But I watched it again. It's a good movie. I was just not in the mood to watch it. And we were full from food. And from the breaking of the fast.
For some reason we decided to stay up late. Not fun. I mean it was good because I talked to people and bonded, but I'm tired today so it's not worth it. Oh well.
Today. Today. Today.
More great things in Torah to the Max. We figured out our t-shirts. They are going to be black a pink! Ah SO excited. I love black shirts. You can never have enough of them. I will be coming home with two more black shirts. I know I don't need any shitrs, but these are FANTASTIC. :] so excited.
We talked about our staying up all night thursday night. I cant wait for that also. The sched. sounds fantastic. Services. Studying talmud. Messiah. Prayer choragraphy. AHH I'm such a J.Studs dork. And I cant wait for it. :]
We talked about the next part of the Amidah. I really like how we are breaking down each prayer. We studied some more of Momonodies. He's becoming one of my favorites in Judiasm.
I just got done with Hebrew. Eh it was alright. I didnt really feel like being there.
I have to go to Theater.
Shalom!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
the big 20 just like...
The night of Tush B'av night service which has 20 blessings to the Amidah.
Oh Snap..again :]
Anyways.
It's Tshu B'av and I'm hungry. I mean I guess thats what happens when you fast. Its just like my Dad says, you always seem so much more hungry when your fasting then on a normal day. I'm not dying hungry yet...but I was this morning. I feel like obligated to do this because I said last summer that I wasnt doing it becuase I didnt know anything about it. Now I do, and now I am. And theres no other place I'd rather be celebrating this holiday than here at the URJ Kutz Campus for Reform Jewish Teen Life. What a mouth full. What a joke. But not. :]
Anywhoo.
Last night's program. We had Beit Midrash. It was in the chadar ochel instead of the Beit Am. Bad descion. But I understand why we did it that way because of space and rain and other issues. I went to Josh Winstons and D.Singer's tables again. Josh's table was really good. We talked about the reason why the temple was destoryed by Caesar. I never knew about the arguement that happend between Kar Bama and someone else. My memory is running on low because of lack of nurishment. Anyways. It was suppose to make you realize that having little stupid arguments can actually lead to bigger things and bigger issues. Not that I have that issue as much as others, but its always something to think about. At D.Singer's table (which was on the ground) we studied some Talmudic Texts. I couldn't really hear that much becuase it all the talking of other groups and the echoing of the room, but I did get something out of it. It was talking about Jerusalem in a metaphoric matter. Saying how Jerusalem is a woman who is a widow and how people betray her. It was really interesting. We then had Ma'ariv. For some reason I felt soo connected to everything. It was a moving service. I felt holy. I felt community. I felt everything. From the tunes we sang and the davening I did. I davened like I've never daven before. I really don't know why. I think it's because I pushed myself and felt that I needed to do this. I needed to push myself.
Brilliant.
This morning I went to services. We didn't even have a minyan so we couldn't read torah. It was sad.
After services I went to the library and looked at my J.Studs folder from last session. At my notes and such.
And then it hit me like a Torah in the forehead.
I've changed. I can't deny it. My personality has not changed. But the way I think has. I question more. I want more out of things. I don't daven the way I use to. I like new things. Things I though I like I hate now. Things I hated I love now.
Why?
Maybe because this Kutz Campus for Reform Jewish Teen Life has done more for me then I thought it might of been. I love it. I LOVE it.
I found holiness today. I made connections today.
I'm loving Torah the Max more and more everyday. My class is getting better.
I love Kutz.
I'm still hungry. Oh well.
Shalom.
Oh Snap..again :]
Anyways.
It's Tshu B'av and I'm hungry. I mean I guess thats what happens when you fast. Its just like my Dad says, you always seem so much more hungry when your fasting then on a normal day. I'm not dying hungry yet...but I was this morning. I feel like obligated to do this because I said last summer that I wasnt doing it becuase I didnt know anything about it. Now I do, and now I am. And theres no other place I'd rather be celebrating this holiday than here at the URJ Kutz Campus for Reform Jewish Teen Life. What a mouth full. What a joke. But not. :]
Anywhoo.
Last night's program. We had Beit Midrash. It was in the chadar ochel instead of the Beit Am. Bad descion. But I understand why we did it that way because of space and rain and other issues. I went to Josh Winstons and D.Singer's tables again. Josh's table was really good. We talked about the reason why the temple was destoryed by Caesar. I never knew about the arguement that happend between Kar Bama and someone else. My memory is running on low because of lack of nurishment. Anyways. It was suppose to make you realize that having little stupid arguments can actually lead to bigger things and bigger issues. Not that I have that issue as much as others, but its always something to think about. At D.Singer's table (which was on the ground) we studied some Talmudic Texts. I couldn't really hear that much becuase it all the talking of other groups and the echoing of the room, but I did get something out of it. It was talking about Jerusalem in a metaphoric matter. Saying how Jerusalem is a woman who is a widow and how people betray her. It was really interesting. We then had Ma'ariv. For some reason I felt soo connected to everything. It was a moving service. I felt holy. I felt community. I felt everything. From the tunes we sang and the davening I did. I davened like I've never daven before. I really don't know why. I think it's because I pushed myself and felt that I needed to do this. I needed to push myself.
Brilliant.
This morning I went to services. We didn't even have a minyan so we couldn't read torah. It was sad.
After services I went to the library and looked at my J.Studs folder from last session. At my notes and such.
And then it hit me like a Torah in the forehead.
I've changed. I can't deny it. My personality has not changed. But the way I think has. I question more. I want more out of things. I don't daven the way I use to. I like new things. Things I though I like I hate now. Things I hated I love now.
Why?
Maybe because this Kutz Campus for Reform Jewish Teen Life has done more for me then I thought it might of been. I love it. I LOVE it.
I found holiness today. I made connections today.
I'm loving Torah the Max more and more everyday. My class is getting better.
I love Kutz.
I'm still hungry. Oh well.
Shalom.
Monday, July 23, 2007
This is my 19th post, which makes a circle..
D.Singer if youre reading this there are 19 parts to the Amidah.
oh snap.
Anyways I have a lot of updating to do.
Torah to the Max today was sooo good. I felt a lot better about it today. We are breaking down prayers and figuring out why we do them. IE The Amidah. We talked about the 19 parts and how there is petition, thanksgiving, and praise. Yadda Yadda. I really like how enthuastic people are around me. Our class is big. At first I was really hesitant about the class just because of the dynamic, but I guess I was worried about that before? I donno. It's all tov. I'm enjoying myself.
Conversational hebrew is fine. It's not all that exciting but I am learning about different stuff. I really hope I can pick up how to read and write in script. We are learning script. It looks funny in the book, but it is different. Ehhh moo? Anyways. The library is so chaotic. Hmp.
Okay. Just did theater. It was kind of odd and weird. I'm not sure what that class will be like. I hope it will be fun. We had some of the autstic kids. One of them is Ben Kaufman's little brother. He's so cute. I love all those kids. They are so much fun. I was thinking I might come back next Summer as a Mitzvah Core Consuler for 2nd session. It would be quite the experince.
Anyways.
I think thats about it. I'm a little bummed. I'm making new friends though. People know I play guitar and my silly songs.
Lovin B3. I'm getting use to 2nd ACA its getting normal and im missing 1st aca less and less everyday.
It's tov. :]
oh snap.
Anyways I have a lot of updating to do.
Torah to the Max today was sooo good. I felt a lot better about it today. We are breaking down prayers and figuring out why we do them. IE The Amidah. We talked about the 19 parts and how there is petition, thanksgiving, and praise. Yadda Yadda. I really like how enthuastic people are around me. Our class is big. At first I was really hesitant about the class just because of the dynamic, but I guess I was worried about that before? I donno. It's all tov. I'm enjoying myself.
Conversational hebrew is fine. It's not all that exciting but I am learning about different stuff. I really hope I can pick up how to read and write in script. We are learning script. It looks funny in the book, but it is different. Ehhh moo? Anyways. The library is so chaotic. Hmp.
Okay. Just did theater. It was kind of odd and weird. I'm not sure what that class will be like. I hope it will be fun. We had some of the autstic kids. One of them is Ben Kaufman's little brother. He's so cute. I love all those kids. They are so much fun. I was thinking I might come back next Summer as a Mitzvah Core Consuler for 2nd session. It would be quite the experince.
Anyways.
I think thats about it. I'm a little bummed. I'm making new friends though. People know I play guitar and my silly songs.
Lovin B3. I'm getting use to 2nd ACA its getting normal and im missing 1st aca less and less everyday.
It's tov. :]
Sunday, July 22, 2007
First few days of 2nd ACA
Well we've had a shabbat.
can you say a tad bit awkward? It's too soon to have Shabbat with a community that hasn't established itself yet. There for it felt funny. At least I looked really cute. :] Thats always a plus.
New cabin. New people. New visiting faculty. New community.
I'm trying to embrace it, and take it by the horns.
But what happens when you lose and seem to not get the last community out our heads.
I missed 1st session during song session on friday night. I went up to my cabin and called Matti to make me feel better. And she did. I love her.
I really have gone with the change a lot better though. I'm doing well. A lot better than last summer.
Torah to the max...well it's a classic D.Singer style class, I'm just feeling a little behind. It's like when I'm running laps in field hockey, when they all know I'm trying hard but I'm just not fast enough. It's like that where everyone else seems to know what's going on but I'm in the back just trying as hard as I can.
Love my cabin. Bayit 3, its the place to be. :]
I cant really type more just becuase I have to, my next posts are going to be better.
I still LOVE kutz...and I might be finding a new friend. :] Hah.
can you say a tad bit awkward? It's too soon to have Shabbat with a community that hasn't established itself yet. There for it felt funny. At least I looked really cute. :] Thats always a plus.
New cabin. New people. New visiting faculty. New community.
I'm trying to embrace it, and take it by the horns.
But what happens when you lose and seem to not get the last community out our heads.
I missed 1st session during song session on friday night. I went up to my cabin and called Matti to make me feel better. And she did. I love her.
I really have gone with the change a lot better though. I'm doing well. A lot better than last summer.
Torah to the max...well it's a classic D.Singer style class, I'm just feeling a little behind. It's like when I'm running laps in field hockey, when they all know I'm trying hard but I'm just not fast enough. It's like that where everyone else seems to know what's going on but I'm in the back just trying as hard as I can.
Love my cabin. Bayit 3, its the place to be. :]
I cant really type more just becuase I have to, my next posts are going to be better.
I still LOVE kutz...and I might be finding a new friend. :] Hah.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Goodbye 1st ACA, welcome 2nd aca!
To a great session, to a great cabin, to a great major, to a great group of people, to a great community,
an online toast! :]
And now we have to move on. Of course you can't just be all like, I'm moving on! But for some reason I feel like it's going to be a lot easier than last summer.
I say this now, only because I haven't met any of the new kids and camp is feeling kind of emty.
I slept in B1 last night with Jess Goodman. It was fun. I had fun last night.
I was so tried from sleeping all day though. And had a bit of a migrain.
I'm excited for Torah to the Max. I'm excited for my new cabin. I'm excited that I have good RA's again. It's going to be fantastic.
I took the exact same amount of pictures as I did last year first session. Crazy? I think so.
I hear Seth GL yelling. It's funny.
This is such a bad post. Oh well.
an online toast! :]
And now we have to move on. Of course you can't just be all like, I'm moving on! But for some reason I feel like it's going to be a lot easier than last summer.
I say this now, only because I haven't met any of the new kids and camp is feeling kind of emty.
I slept in B1 last night with Jess Goodman. It was fun. I had fun last night.
I was so tried from sleeping all day though. And had a bit of a migrain.
I'm excited for Torah to the Max. I'm excited for my new cabin. I'm excited that I have good RA's again. It's going to be fantastic.
I took the exact same amount of pictures as I did last year first session. Crazy? I think so.
I hear Seth GL yelling. It's funny.
This is such a bad post. Oh well.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Last full day of 1st ACA....
It's a sad day at Kutz today. The last full day with some of the greatest people I've ever met. But as I type this, people are dancing israelie dances in front of me, so being sentimental is a bit hard, but I can do it. :] Hah.
Last night was the TYG Leadership program. SO GOOD. We went around to different parts of camp and talked about the five senses. And we wrote down all the stuff we felt. It was really well done. And the groups were done by however you wanted..which means I had an amazing group. (aka my friends) The first station we listened. We talked about the sounds of Kutz. A lot of people talked about the playing of guitars and song sesssions, others talked about the screams and laughter all that kinds of stuff. Then we went to what we see. And watched a slide show of what camp looks like and the cabins and stuff. I wrote down all the stuff that reminds me of kutz and such. Then we went to things that we smell. And talked about all the different smells like grilled cheese and that gross smell of the kitchen. Then we went to touch and felt grass and bowls and random things like that. We went to taste and had ice cream. We ended the night with a big bond fire and people playing guitar and stuff. It made a lot of people cry. I didn't cry becuase its too early for me to cry about leaving..even though I did came close. I just made people who were crying cry harder because I told them how much they mean to me. I thought it would be good. :] But it was really depressing.
Today in J.Studs we kind of wrapped up about things. We talked about different things. First we talked about what we have learned and how we've progressed. I didn't really have all that much to say today. And I had no big realizations which is always upsetting. But I still have second session for things like that. :] Then we asked D.Singer every question that we've wanted to ask him and things like that. I didn't really have that many questions. But it was interesting to hear what he had to say about movements of Judiasm. And how the whole idea of being part of a movement is so...I can't even explain. But I know what he's saying and I'm not sure if I agree with it. Why should I feel wrong not to agree with him? It's odd actually. But I don't think I do. I just need to learn more. Learn, learn, learn. I love it. I love learning so much here. Its the fact that I learn more here than I do sitting in a classroom for an hour and half listening to lectures from Mr. Randall about American History. Of course you always have those few good teachers that make you feel something behind the learning. That's why I love kutz. Theres meaning to everything. Even when you think there is none, you can always find the meaning behind it. But hey, it's life. Then we went to Pagoda Issac where we had the first day of class. Did a prayer, and ate lots and lots of icing with gram crackers. It was so much fun. D.Singer got some in his face by Josh Morris (he's on NFTY Board as RCVP and helps out in our class sometimes) it was crazy fun. I'm going to miss my class so much.
This session has been very roller coaster-y and crazy. But whenever I was down, J.Studs the class would always be good. I would always have to smile and think. It was the one thing that was never wrong or made me angry. I mean it did, but in good ways. It made me think so much. I think I've finally used a part of my brian that's been a little dead for too long. It's incredible what one class can make you do. That's going to be the hardest thing next session is to not have that amazing class there. Although I will still be having the D.Singer class of Torah to the Max it won't be the same people which makes it all so real. It will be another adventure.
Tonight is banquet. It's going to be sad. I'm going to cry.
Here's to the nights we felt alive. :]
I'm going to take pictures.
I'm going to shed tears.
But in the end, it was all worth it.
Goodbye first ACA, thank you so much for everything you've given me.
Shalom.
Last night was the TYG Leadership program. SO GOOD. We went around to different parts of camp and talked about the five senses. And we wrote down all the stuff we felt. It was really well done. And the groups were done by however you wanted..which means I had an amazing group. (aka my friends) The first station we listened. We talked about the sounds of Kutz. A lot of people talked about the playing of guitars and song sesssions, others talked about the screams and laughter all that kinds of stuff. Then we went to what we see. And watched a slide show of what camp looks like and the cabins and stuff. I wrote down all the stuff that reminds me of kutz and such. Then we went to things that we smell. And talked about all the different smells like grilled cheese and that gross smell of the kitchen. Then we went to touch and felt grass and bowls and random things like that. We went to taste and had ice cream. We ended the night with a big bond fire and people playing guitar and stuff. It made a lot of people cry. I didn't cry becuase its too early for me to cry about leaving..even though I did came close. I just made people who were crying cry harder because I told them how much they mean to me. I thought it would be good. :] But it was really depressing.
Today in J.Studs we kind of wrapped up about things. We talked about different things. First we talked about what we have learned and how we've progressed. I didn't really have all that much to say today. And I had no big realizations which is always upsetting. But I still have second session for things like that. :] Then we asked D.Singer every question that we've wanted to ask him and things like that. I didn't really have that many questions. But it was interesting to hear what he had to say about movements of Judiasm. And how the whole idea of being part of a movement is so...I can't even explain. But I know what he's saying and I'm not sure if I agree with it. Why should I feel wrong not to agree with him? It's odd actually. But I don't think I do. I just need to learn more. Learn, learn, learn. I love it. I love learning so much here. Its the fact that I learn more here than I do sitting in a classroom for an hour and half listening to lectures from Mr. Randall about American History. Of course you always have those few good teachers that make you feel something behind the learning. That's why I love kutz. Theres meaning to everything. Even when you think there is none, you can always find the meaning behind it. But hey, it's life. Then we went to Pagoda Issac where we had the first day of class. Did a prayer, and ate lots and lots of icing with gram crackers. It was so much fun. D.Singer got some in his face by Josh Morris (he's on NFTY Board as RCVP and helps out in our class sometimes) it was crazy fun. I'm going to miss my class so much.
This session has been very roller coaster-y and crazy. But whenever I was down, J.Studs the class would always be good. I would always have to smile and think. It was the one thing that was never wrong or made me angry. I mean it did, but in good ways. It made me think so much. I think I've finally used a part of my brian that's been a little dead for too long. It's incredible what one class can make you do. That's going to be the hardest thing next session is to not have that amazing class there. Although I will still be having the D.Singer class of Torah to the Max it won't be the same people which makes it all so real. It will be another adventure.
Tonight is banquet. It's going to be sad. I'm going to cry.
Here's to the nights we felt alive. :]
I'm going to take pictures.
I'm going to shed tears.
But in the end, it was all worth it.
Goodbye first ACA, thank you so much for everything you've given me.
Shalom.
Monday, July 16, 2007
BRING OUR BOYS HOME!
I just got back from the city from a protest, but wait a second here we are getting wayyy ahead of ourselves.
Let's go back to...
Yesterday
We had services led by B3 and they were I donno I feel like the same services are boring me.
Okay so I can't even complain becuase the services are all Hebrew, no english, (i know im repetitive) no guitars, that's what I thought I liked. But heres the thing, I didn't. In fact I'm even getting tired of it. What's up with that? Well I am a teenager, who is Jewish, who rebels...(in a happy way) haha really..i just chuckled out loud. I'm just confused by that. I think it's because the service wasn't as good as my morning shacharits. I love our barely minyans and (basiclly) same tunes every morning (except for some). I like tradition and familiarity.
But at the same time I want to do something new. Gosh I'm so picky today. That's alright though. I am a Jew. I just want change, but not too much. I am open to new types of services. I have figured out though what I feel about Hashem and how I connect to that idea. Which is always a plus...but the downer is that it's not through services. I go to services for the community aspect of it. I might of talked about this already, but its alright.
We had an Israel program. Poorly done. We made signs for the rally tomorrow. (and by tomorrow i mean today)
Yadda yadda..
MONDAY! (today)
Woke up WAY to early. 7am is not a pleasant time for me or anyone else at kutz. Did not enjoy my cold shower. Made the bag lunch and there was
KOOL AID!!!
I can't tell you now why that's funny...its not for your eyes but when I look back it will be funny. Anyways..
We went to a rally to be all excited/passionate about freeing the captive israelie soilders that have been MIA for almost/over a year. It's crazy. I saw some old friends. We sang, we chanted, we had fun. I had fun. I got a milkshake. It was great. Matti and I tried to get back to the bus. We ran into D.Singer and started to follow him...but what happend was that we werent sure where we were going and almost got lost but luckily i remembered that we used celebration bus lines. We were in the golden.
On the bus ride back to camp D.Singer sat across from me...Let's just say the ride was interesting and filled with stories and such. That's what I'm going to say about that.
Im tired, I had fun. I can't believe 1st ACA is almost over..
I actually have changed. :]
<3
Let's go back to...
Yesterday
We had services led by B3 and they were I donno I feel like the same services are boring me.
Okay so I can't even complain becuase the services are all Hebrew, no english, (i know im repetitive) no guitars, that's what I thought I liked. But heres the thing, I didn't. In fact I'm even getting tired of it. What's up with that? Well I am a teenager, who is Jewish, who rebels...(in a happy way) haha really..i just chuckled out loud. I'm just confused by that. I think it's because the service wasn't as good as my morning shacharits. I love our barely minyans and (basiclly) same tunes every morning (except for some). I like tradition and familiarity.
But at the same time I want to do something new. Gosh I'm so picky today. That's alright though. I am a Jew. I just want change, but not too much. I am open to new types of services. I have figured out though what I feel about Hashem and how I connect to that idea. Which is always a plus...but the downer is that it's not through services. I go to services for the community aspect of it. I might of talked about this already, but its alright.
We had an Israel program. Poorly done. We made signs for the rally tomorrow. (and by tomorrow i mean today)
Yadda yadda..
MONDAY! (today)
Woke up WAY to early. 7am is not a pleasant time for me or anyone else at kutz. Did not enjoy my cold shower. Made the bag lunch and there was
KOOL AID!!!
I can't tell you now why that's funny...its not for your eyes but when I look back it will be funny. Anyways..
We went to a rally to be all excited/passionate about freeing the captive israelie soilders that have been MIA for almost/over a year. It's crazy. I saw some old friends. We sang, we chanted, we had fun. I had fun. I got a milkshake. It was great. Matti and I tried to get back to the bus. We ran into D.Singer and started to follow him...but what happend was that we werent sure where we were going and almost got lost but luckily i remembered that we used celebration bus lines. We were in the golden.
On the bus ride back to camp D.Singer sat across from me...Let's just say the ride was interesting and filled with stories and such. That's what I'm going to say about that.
Im tired, I had fun. I can't believe 1st ACA is almost over..
I actually have changed. :]
<3
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