tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17189735144666045082024-02-08T11:00:28.871-08:00Sara's Year-in-Israel!Starting June 7th, 2010, I will be living in Jerusalem and will begin my studies at Hebrew Union College - School of Sacred Music. We'll see how long the blog lasts, but for now, I am really excited about it!Sara Weiss - HUC Year-in-Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11906791755672523458noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1718973514466604508.post-48008366532656393902010-08-01T12:16:00.001-07:002010-08-01T13:37:28.838-07:00ok... so it's been 2 months - about time for a blogpostSo... I realize that it has been wayyyyy too long... 2 months almost... since my last blog post. So much has happened in the last 8 weeks...its been wonderful, but rough, and my homesickness is sticking around longer then I hoped it would. In the last 2 months, I left my apartment, spent 4 wonderful weeks with 2 of the most amazing people in the world, came back to my apt, started the official HUC Ulpan, and pretty soon, my Mom and Dad will be here, and then I will be back in LA for Sukkot break.<br /><br />I am really making some amazing friends here and life for the most part is going well. Missing home and Andrew but I am figuring out ways to cope, and thankfully... I am not the only one in my situation. There are so many people who are dealing with being away from their significant others (or SO's as we call them here). <br /><br />My big announcement is that I bought myself a new tallit! It is really amazing! For so long now, I have wanted a big one (like my Daddy's). It is however much more feminine and girly - will upload pictures soon. It is something that I am so proud of and will wear it and always remember that I got it during my year in Israel. Why, do you ask, did I not wait to buy one until I really looked around? Well, I unintentionally went into a very well known tallit store off of Ben Yehuda to just look, and of course, after describing what I was looking for, the owner said he had the perfect one for me. As soon as I put it on, I knew it was the one. It is a lot to get used to though, as I am constantly having to fold it and I am not sure if I have it down yet. <br /><br />Got my first Ulpan test back! 94%! can't get much better then that...I am now in Kita Bet. At first, I was unexpectedly placed in Kita Gimel - which proved to be very hard - I went from Pre-uplan to the 3rd level... missed a ton in the middle. So I decided that instead of struggling and driving myself crazy, I would go down a level and now, I feel like that was the best decision. I am doing well, and still learning things that I didn't know before. My teacher is hilarious too. Her name is Hannah, and I am pretty convinced that she wears the same black dress everyday and puts a new pin on the front to change it up. She is so great! <br /><br />Living in Jerusalem, I am learning not only things about myself, but also about being a reform Jew here. I am learning how we are viewed by the Haredim, which is not in a positive light. But learning that, also empowers me to want to do more. Becoming a Reform Cantor is not that far out of reach, and I want it even more now that I am here. <br /><br />On a lighter note, I have fallen 2 times and really hurt myself. The first time, I fell down a set of stairs and landed straight on my tush... the second time, I slide done a cobblestone ramp... banged myself up a bit... but I survived. I know that most of you are probably laughing and are not surprised at all. Even in Jerusalem, my inner klutz comes out... oy vey. <br /><br />Love and miss you allSara Weiss - HUC Year-in-Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11906791755672523458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1718973514466604508.post-43836533414388077702010-06-09T04:06:00.000-07:002010-06-09T04:22:45.759-07:00UpdateSo, it is Day #3 in Jerusalem. Got to the apartment and despite it being a bit dirty, it is really amazing. Cleaning ladies coming tomorrow c/o our landlord in the states. Got new bedding, towels etc. yesterday. I am completely overwhelmed here, mostly in a good way. It is such an incredible place and so full of different kinds of people. We live in a neighborhood called "Musrara" - which is a quiet neighborhood with all kinds of people - apparently we live next door to a music school - always hearing music and different kinds of instruments. Last night, there was a gathering of all of us that have arrived in Israel so far at an Israeli Rabbinic students apartment - very close to campus. A bunch of us went to dinner after on Ben Yehuda which was really nice. <br />This morning, a few of us braved the Shuk - which was really cool. We got a ton of food for the apt and spent very little. <br />I miss home a lot, especially Andrew, but I know this is only going to be a brief moment in time. I have been told over and over that this year will be wonderful and that it will go by very fast. I am settling in slowly, but know that I am going to be okay. <br />Ok, out to buy a new fan for the apt - the no A/C thing in the dead of summer kind of sucks. But it actually stay pretty cool in the apt - but those of you who know me well, know how much of an A/C sucker I am. <br /><br />haha, ok that's it for now.<br />Stay tuned for a new video of the apt! coming soon!<br />SaraSara Weiss - HUC Year-in-Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11906791755672523458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1718973514466604508.post-27602044373597211232010-05-25T12:11:00.001-07:002010-05-25T12:14:08.115-07:00Last day at FederationSo, here I am. Believe it or not, today is my last day at Federation. I must admit, this is all very surreal. I actually got accepted to HUC, I am actually finished with work, and I am actually moving to Israel. It's pretty amazing.Sara Weiss - HUC Year-in-Israelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11906791755672523458noreply@blogger.com0