Back to the Bustle – 2016 Style!

There’s been a break in my dvar Torah – and I promise to return to those soon, even this week! The end of first semester and return to school have proven hectic and stressful, interrupting my regular routine. However, the new semester promises to organize itself soon enough.

First semester uncovered a workload most similar to what I experienced at NCSSM, which was not particularly surprising. I learned that my apparently starved left brain jumped as it surged right back into the translating methodology, rendering writing a more difficult task to undertake. However, I am happy to be once again Accepting the Greater Challenge, albeit at a new school. This is largely what my time at NCSSM prepared me to wrangle.

Cincinnati has so far been a great place to study. The Classics department at UC is one of the best, and has afforded me the opportunity to keep improving my Greek at a dramatic pace. HUC offers various perspectives of Judaism throughout history. I have enjoyed becoming part of the rich spiritual life on campus and in Cincinnati’s Jewish community. Shabbat dinners, holiday services, and artistic performances have all been part of my experience in Cincinnati.

Second semester will include more Greek and Hebrew translation, a class studying the Biblical prophets, and a Mahzor class. I will translate four books from Homer’s Odyssey this semester, write a journal comparing Jeremiah with Isaiah, and observe Pesach while immersed in learning the liturgy. Rich experiences and an expanded understanding of ancient cultures will be the prize of diligent studying and participation during the next few months.

I hope I grow as big as this Shabbat’s challah with my new understanding!