The Turning of the Leaves of Time

Parsha is pleasant and perplexing, but it’s high time for an update about my program and Cincinnati life! October isn’t even halfway done yet, but holds much in store to perpetuate my excitement. My parents visited the beginning of this month, while the high holidays were still roaring. Last weekend my friend Maria and her mother were in town. Between these two visits, I had the chance to explore downtown, walk the Rhoebling Suspension Bridge twice, enjoy dining multiple times at Marx Hot Bagels and Taste of Belgium, and see the fall foliage during drives to Blue Ash, in Hyde Park, and on the Kentucky side of the city. This weekend my family convened in West Virginia at the New River Gorge for the annual Bridge Day celebration. Next weekend I will travel to Michigan to see many friends, and return to participate in dinners with HUC’s Board of Governors for the annual Tribute Dinner, this year honoring Joan Pines for a generous endowment to the School of Graduate Studies. The month ends, of course, with Halloween – one of my favorite holidays! [I think all these things will help me endure through midterms.]

 Daddy helping his new friend balance

Daddy found out something new in his great-grandfather’s cemetery

Rhoebling Suspension Bridge – prototype for his later design of the Brooklyn Bridge – with the Cincinnati skyline

Maria made some new friends during her visit

The Simons at New River Gorge

The first three weeks of classes flew by as I adjusted to a new place and schedule. I quickly made friends at school and enjoyed attending Shabbat dinners, having study sessions, and getting to know my classmates. My week in North Carolina was a necessary respite from a crazy three months, and it was fun to see friends, make a quick stop in Asheville, and host a Rosh Hoshannah dinner. My parents came back to Cincinnati with me and helped me set up my apartment, toured my new city with me, and discovered family history (we’re still searching for more!) – with a week in Kansas between visits. High holidays were spent at Adath Israel, parties with people from school, and Plum Street (Wise) Temple. Returning to classes felt a little jarring after such a long break, but ultimately it has been good to get back into the swing of the semester. What does that entail? Translating – and a lot of it! – which is a continual effort each night. There is also reading, much of which is highly intriguing (Lawrence Schiffman’s From Text to Tradition, Lester Grabbe’s History of the Second Temple Period, Alex Jassen’s Scripture and Law in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Stephanie Dalley’s Myths from Mesopotamia, E. Theodore Mullen’s Ethnic Myths, Daniel Sperber’s Explaining Culture), supplemented by articles. I will begin some writing work this week.

 Australian Friends from our Israel trip in North Carolina

Plum Street Temple – founded by Isaac M. Wise

 Simchat Torah dancing

So far, my experience has been what I would expect, and I feel that I’m in the right place. I’m excited for what’s to come!