Another Training Ride & In Joshua's Shoes: Riding for Reform

I went out for a training ride with Dusty and Steven on Friday morning. What a way to start the day.

I was up at six in the morning to eat a little and warm up before getting on the bike. By 6:50 I was on the road and meeting up with the two of them. Then the skies opened up and started to rain on us. Only for the first hour of the ride did we have to deal with the water. We went out to the separation barrier, through Gilo, towards the old city of Jerusalem, up into the Jerusalem Forrest and back to my apartment.

We took a long time to get through the ride, a solid three hours, and went 23 miles. I think it was better that we took or time because it's been a while since I've rode for that long. Usually I ride hard, but for less time. This was much better and more similar to what we're going to do on the Ride for Reform in three weeks.

I had a little problem during the ride. There was a point that a car tried to cut me and Dusty off. It ended up pulling put after me, before Steven. I couldn't see him as we continued down the hill. So as we made a long left turn I spotted my line and tried to look back over my shoulder to see if I could pick him up behind us.

Apparently I didn't get my line correct and as I was looking back for him, I smacked into the curb. BOOM! Over the handlebars I went, scraping my knees up pretty nicely. Nothing deep, nothing bloody. Just some skinned knees. The problem I'm having is that I didn't realized that I hurt my shoulder when I went over the top.

It's killing me now. I don't have pain free range of motion and it's really bugging me. But there's nothing I can really do, just hope I heal before the next flag football game on Tuesday.

I have a running now at TCJewfolk about the Ride for Reform. I'm trying to raise money to help the IMPJ and the Reform Movement in Israel. If you are able to contribute, any donations help! For those of you in the states, it is a tax deductible donation and you can donate at their website.

In Joshua's Shoes: Debbie Friedman (z"l) Tribute

A month ago, the Reform Movement lost a power house of a musician, songwriter, leader, teacher and woman. The community here in Jerusalem came together to remember her life and her contributions to Judaism, the Reform Movement and my own life.

I have a new TCJewfolk post that ran recapping the evening. You can read that post at the following link.

In Joshua’s Shoes: A Tribute to Debbie Friedman (z”l)

In Joshua's Shoes: Happy Hanukah

With the singing of the Maccabeats, "Candelight", Matisyahu's "Miracle", and Adam Sandler's "Hannukah Song" ringing in my ears, I can't believe Hanukah is already over. I know, I know, it's not that big of a deal. It's a really minor holiday. But that doesn't mean I couldn't have a great experience. And I made sure that happened.

Whether it was unfortunately missing the incredible opportunity to join the "Parallel Lives" soldiers at their base (which I'm still bummed I missed), the latke eating contest at HUC, Kabbalat Shabbat complete with Hanukah melodies for the opening psalms, trying sufganiyot from various bakeries or just having some time off, I had a fantastic Hanukah. Check out my experiences on my new TC Jewfolk post, In Joshua's Shoes: Hanukah in Jerusalem.

In Joshua's Shoes: 5-Minute Drash

I know I've already posted my drash in video and printed form on this blog. But are you curious about the process?

Check out my new post at TC Jewfolk.

You can see the new talit I bought a few weeks ago.

In Joshua's Shoes: 5-Minute Drash

I Guess This Means I Need A Tie

One of the best parts about having a major role in services at HUC today is that I needed to dress up. Slacks, button down shirt, dress shoes and a tie. I was a little bummed that I didn't bring a sport coat to Israel with me. What was I doing today? Today was delivering a D'var Torah. I'm not going to spoil too much of the process since there will be a post up on TC Jewfolk later this week. It was exciting, nerve-wreaking and fun all at the same time. The hardest part, though, was watching myself afterwards.

HUC records the D'var Torah that we deliver so we can learn from it. As my advisor said, it's more about the process this time. Clearly there were things that I didn't do the way that I wanted to. And there were little things that I wish I hadn't done, like go too far off what I wrote out and lose myself.

On the whole, it was a great experience. I'm trying to not dwell on some of the little things and remember that this is still a learning process. And now it's on to working on my service that I get to lead in late January. I probably don't need two months for it, but I love leading services. I'm going to have fun working on that!

In Joshua's Shoes: Then The Army Stopped Us

A few weeks ago I joined a group of volunteers from Rabbis for Human Rights to help farmers in the Occupied Territories harvest olives. My experience was posted on TCJewfolk.com or follow the direct link at Then The Army Stopped Us.

I have many other posts at their website. You can find everything in my archive page.

In Joshua's Shoes: A Refresher

At first I was concerned that something had gone wrong with my post that I sent in to TCJewfolk. Usually they go up on Thursday, and when I checked before I went to bed, it still wasn't up. Since I had other things on my mind, I just went to bed. When I woke up in the morning, I had an email from one of the editors telling me that I had been held over a day and they are going to post it on Friday as a featured post!

The title doesn't give it away, but last week the Israeli Rabbinic Program held their ordination. It was incredible. They was just something amazing about the ceremony, the setting, everything. Please check it out at this link, In Joshua's Shoes: A Refresher. Their website is great and has blogs written by a variety of people around the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Feel compelled to browse around TCJewfolk too.

I want to add a little nugget that I didn't mention in the post, there is this communal clapping thing that happens in Israel. It starts out as an "American" applause, sounding spontaneous. A few seconds into it, the clapping settles down into a rhythm and everyone claps on the same beat. It was strange to hear.

In Israel Seminar on Wednesday, someone asked one of our teachers about it. This Israeli phenomenon is a good thing. It is another way the the community shows that they are together. The communal response shows their appreciation. I'm not sure how I feel about it, it still felt strange.

Before I sign off I want to throw in one last shameless plug. One of my great friends from college (kind of an important person in my life) is writing for TCJewfolk too. Check out her author page here, or her blog, Tenaciously Yours.

Okay plugs are over, and so is this week! Shabbat Shalom!

In Joshua's Shoes: The Sounds of Zion

Israel is an interesting place with all of the various cultures that are around here. There are crazy smells and even cooler is the incredible range of sounds that you can hear around the city.

I wrote a blog post for TCJewfolk about it, and it went up today.

Check it out here, Sounds of Zion, and tell your friends.

In Joshua's Shoes: It's A Wrap

Back in August I tried wrapping tefillin for the first time. Please check out my post at their site or

TCJewfolk.com

- or through this direct link -

In Joshua's Shoes: It's A Wrap

Feel free to pass it around to anyone interested in reading it.

In Joshua’s Shoes: High Holy Days In Jerusalem

I had a interesting and difficult experience during the High Holy Days. At times I was frustrated with services and had a hard time because it didn't feel familiar to me. I really missed being at Adath for N'eilah and Kol Neidre. Something just didn't feel great about not being there for it.

Nevertheless, Yom Kippur was a a much better Holy Day than Rosh HaShanah was for me. Today my post is up and running at TCJewfolk. You can either access it directly through the link; In Joshua's Shoes: High Holy Days in Jerusalem. Or if you chose to go through their site at TCJewfolk you can find it on the right side under the Voices section.

In Joshua’s Shoes: The Long and Short of It

Not only am I blogging here this year, but I am also writing occasional pieces for the Minneapolis Based website TCJewfolk.

A new post of mine went up on Thursday. It's all about the little adventure I had with Brian A, Leah and Dusty walking down the side of Mount Carmel on the way to the beach during our break. You can link right to the post here or go to their site and peruse. There are some interesting articles and some great information about things happening in Twin Cities.

In Joshua's Shoes: Home Shul?

I just realized that I never posted that I had a new article up at TCJewfolk.com.

It's all about my experience trying to find a comfortable community to pray with outside HUC.

Check it out here atl

http://tcjewfolk.com/joshuas-shoes-home-shul/

Also;
Anyone reading here have any interesting ideas that I could write about there, give me a heads up.

My Hat It Has No Corners

My second post of the year is now up at TCJewfolk.

Since I have gotten to Israel I have been trying new things. On the list are things like; wrapping T'fillin, praying three times a day and a variety of others. One of the easiest on my list to try out was wearing a kippah at all times. I have experimented with all the time, only when studying or only taking it off when we go out for a night on the town.

Check out the new post here.

L'Shalom,

Blogging at TCJewfolk

I mentioned in a blog a few posts back that I had been approached to write every so often for a Minneapolis website that tied together local, twenty-something, Jews. I sent in my first post to them a few days ago and they ran it today. I am excited to see the response that it receives. After looking through it a few times I realized that there are some minute errors in my writing, but I hope that people enjoy what I'm writing and that I will have a chance to continue to write for them through the rest of the year and maybe even into the future.

I'm sure you're wondering, "Why should I read something else you're writing?" There will be subtle differences between this blog and the one on TCJewfolk. The blog I will be writing for them will focus on what it is like as a twenty-something from Minneapolis to pickup and move to Jerusalem and start rabbinic school. This blog will continue to focus more on my daily happenings and the other one will focus on how my Minnesota background and my development as a Reform Jew.

I also want to thank TCJewfolk for asking me to write for them and I hope you check out their site for information about Jews around Minneapolis.

Post number one "Born in Minneapolis, Blogging from Jerusalem" is up already.

Shalom,