Week One, Summary One

Monday, February 23, 2009
Today I helped Rabbi Adler prepare for her Taste of Honey class from 4-6pm. I assisted Rabbi Adler in collecting materials for her class, making copies and discussing the topic for the night. While I was helping Rabbi Adler, she was informed about an elderly woman who was in hip surgery that needed a visit. After, I took down pictures on the temple bulletin board and obtained ideas for organizing Rabbi Adler’s library. From 7-8:30 pm, I observed Rabbi Adler’s class, A Taste of Honey that teaches basic Judaism. The topic for the night was the difference between the different movements of Judaism and how they interpret Halakhah, Jewish law. I was unable to observe a D’var Torah meeting and meet with Judy Marshall today.

I learned that rabbis prefer to meet B’nai Mizvah students in person because they enjoy making personal connections with their student. While I was helping Rabbi Adler prepare for her class, I learned how to use the different settings on the synagogue’s copy machine. I never realized most hospital visits are not schedules, but can occur anytime a rabbi is notified about a congregant that needs visiting. During Rabbi Adler’s class, I learned about Judaism’s change to Rabbinical Judaism after the first temple was destroyed, the Reform Movement Platforms and Humanistic Judaism.

I now have a better idea of how to prepare for a class I will be teaching.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009
This evening I observed a B’nai Mitzvah family meeting from 5:15 to 6 pm. Rabbi Adler conducted the meeting for one of my family friends, who was preparing for their youngest son’s Bar Mitzvah. Many of the items Rabbi Adler discussed, I remember hearing in my own Bat Mitzvah meeting five years ago. From 6: 15 to 7:15 pm, I observed Amy Gavel, who taught the confirmation class this week because Rabbi Spilker was in Israel. During the class, Amy talked about many aspects involving the Torah.

The B’nai Mitzvah meeting started off with Rabbi Adler giving the family a list of expectations for becoming Bar/Bat Mitzvah that the student and the parents had to sign. She than asked the student if he knew his full Hebrew name because they will be the name his is called to the Torah. Next, Rabbi Adler went through the different roles needed during the B’nai Mitzvah service including Aliyot, parent participation, candle lighting, opening ark, Hagbah and Gelilah. Next, Rabbi Alder discussed the Kiddush practices of the temple, honoring relatives that have died and an optional torah passing ceremony. At the end of the meeting, Rabbi Adler gave the student a Kiddush cup and challenged him to reflect on the meaning of his Bar Mitzvah after the ceremony. I learned that the three musketeers saying “all for one and one for all” comes from the mitzvah Kol yisrael aravim zeh le zeh, meaning all Israel is responsible for one another. The three ways that signal a new day in the Torah include: seeing 3 stars in the sky to start havdallah, when the sunsets to start Shabbat and differentiating between a blue and purple thread to start any other day of the week. Amy discussed the concepts of placing a stumbling block in front of the blind and insulting the deaf. From this discussion, I learned that as a Jew I am obligated to help a person who has a stumbling block in front of them according to Jewish Law but not according to American Law.

Observing the B’nai Mitzvah meeting and the confirmation class, reminded me of my experience as a Bat Mitzvah student and taking confirmation.

Sunday, March 1, 2009
On Sunday I mentored with Rabbi Gordon from 9:30 to 12: 30 pm. During that time I helped Rabbi Gordon with Hebrew prayer testing. Some of the things I did were: giving the written test, helping students on written tests, listening to students read and chant prayers for testing, charting student’s progress and assisting kids on their Hebrew packets. From 5 to 6pm I practiced my torah portion for the following Shabbat.

I began the mentoring by helping Rabbi Gordon make a list of students who were behind in their ramot, prayer packets, for the year. Many students came to the testing room. Rabbi Gordon and I were almost overwhelmed. I listened to many students read and chant the prayers: Mi Chamocha, Otzer Or, Baruchu, Amidah, Kiddush, Torah Blessings and G’vurot. For the students that passed their reading and/or chanting test, I charted their results and gave them a retreat. For the students that did not pass, I sent them back to class to either study or practice more. I gave out a written test on the Mi Chamocha, Shema/ V’ahavta and a few others. I also helped one boy on a matching worksheet in his Mikadem prayer packet. Every time I assist or test students on the Hebrew prayers, I learn new methods. This time I learned that I should not give the students too many clues because it could confuse them and that I need to give students more time when they sound out Hebrew words. From practicing my Torah portion, I learned that next week’s Torah Portion, T’tzaveh, describes the anointing of priests and making their special clothing.

My overall goal for next week is to prepare a service I can lead in the future and finish my informational interview.