We did it.
President Barack Hussein Obama!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Night
I'm watching Fox news, which is unfortunate. Sadly, it is the only new station available to us right now. Exit polls are starting to come out, and we are excited.
Apparently 21-23% of people will be "scared" if Obama wins. Wisdom from Fox.
Apparently 21-23% of people will be "scared" if Obama wins. Wisdom from Fox.
Creation!
Chumash class Monday, November 3
Differences between Perek (chapter) 1 and 2
Chapter 1
G-d/cosmos centered
Creation by fiat
Generic characters
Chronological-
Literally and in reality (connected to theme)
G-d is “outside” (distant)
Structured procreation
Anthropomorphic G-d
Man has domination in Eden
Creating life
Chapter 2
Man/Earth centered
Hands-on creation
Characters particularized
Jumps around (more chaotic world)
G-d is responsive
Gender!
Interaction is more dynamic
Man has responsibilities and limitations
Death (contrast to life creation)
Eden מקדם
-Eden in the east? East in the garden of Eden?
-עדנה- used in context of Sarah having Yitzchak at 90 years old: she will become
refreshed (also related to word for enjoyment)
-Related to waters in Eden: source of water and life
Water plays an important role in this perek. Water existed before "Creation" and plays an integral role in the creation of everything else to come after it. According to Rashi, everything was created on the first day in potential. The seeds and potential of everything existed, but the world lacked rain. The cycle of life and nature as we know it could not start without rain, and the rain would not come until Man was created. Man is necessary for the tilling and caring of the soil: to start the cycle without man would be dangerous.
There are two types of water in this perek. There is the water that wells up from the ground אד and the water that falls from the sky מטיר. According to Rashi, the water in the ground came up to water the dust of the earth so that G-d could mold man from the clay.* After this creation, Man could pray for rain, and it would fall, nourishing the soil. According to Ramban, the water under the ground existed to sustain the potential plants until man could be created because until Man was created, no rain would fall.
Before the rain and Man, land was called aretz ארץ; after these two catalysts, the land becomes adama אדמה, which comes from the same root as the name for man, adam אדם. (Interestingly, once woman is created, Man becomes איש, as there is now an אישה.) In the same way that the land changes name, the water that sustains it changes its name/essence, going from אד to מטיר.
Water catalyzes and determines the essence of all things.
I wish I could go into everything we discuss, but putting a 3.25 hour course into a blog is tough.
*This is one example of the extensive anthropomorphizing that happens in this chapter. The word that is used for G-d's "forming" is יצר, which is the word for sculpting. צור, meaning "rock," is a name for G-d: "צור העולמים'', Rock of the Worlds.
Differences between Perek (chapter) 1 and 2
Chapter 1
G-d/cosmos centered
Creation by fiat
Generic characters
Chronological-
Literally and in reality (connected to theme)
G-d is “outside” (distant)
Structured procreation
Anthropomorphic G-d
Man has domination in Eden
Creating life
Chapter 2
Man/Earth centered
Hands-on creation
Characters particularized
Jumps around (more chaotic world)
G-d is responsive
Gender!
Interaction is more dynamic
Man has responsibilities and limitations
Death (contrast to life creation)
Eden מקדם
-Eden in the east? East in the garden of Eden?
-עדנה- used in context of Sarah having Yitzchak at 90 years old: she will become
refreshed (also related to word for enjoyment)
-Related to waters in Eden: source of water and life
Water plays an important role in this perek. Water existed before "Creation" and plays an integral role in the creation of everything else to come after it. According to Rashi, everything was created on the first day in potential. The seeds and potential of everything existed, but the world lacked rain. The cycle of life and nature as we know it could not start without rain, and the rain would not come until Man was created. Man is necessary for the tilling and caring of the soil: to start the cycle without man would be dangerous.
There are two types of water in this perek. There is the water that wells up from the ground אד and the water that falls from the sky מטיר. According to Rashi, the water in the ground came up to water the dust of the earth so that G-d could mold man from the clay.* After this creation, Man could pray for rain, and it would fall, nourishing the soil. According to Ramban, the water under the ground existed to sustain the potential plants until man could be created because until Man was created, no rain would fall.
Before the rain and Man, land was called aretz ארץ; after these two catalysts, the land becomes adama אדמה, which comes from the same root as the name for man, adam אדם. (Interestingly, once woman is created, Man becomes איש, as there is now an אישה.) In the same way that the land changes name, the water that sustains it changes its name/essence, going from אד to מטיר.
Water catalyzes and determines the essence of all things.
I wish I could go into everything we discuss, but putting a 3.25 hour course into a blog is tough.
*This is one example of the extensive anthropomorphizing that happens in this chapter. The word that is used for G-d's "forming" is יצר, which is the word for sculpting. צור, meaning "rock," is a name for G-d: "צור העולמים'', Rock of the Worlds.
More meetings
I met with Moshe at Cafe Cafe on Emek Refaim after a phone conversation in Hebrew that ended in a dead battery. I surprised myself. Even though I am devoting this year to combating discrimination and stereotypes, I found myself judging Moshe. He is a very intelligent man, earning his degree at Hebrew University in psychology. I figured that someone with such an education would have pretty solid English. Moshe worked through our conversation, occasionally switching back into Hebrew for a full sentence or two. I could understand him perfectly well, but I was surprised at how surprised I was that he didn't speak fluently.
We discussed the program with Moshe, and Elyssa and I will begin next week volunteering after school from 2:00-5:00 with a group of 5th and 6th graders.
We discussed the program with Moshe, and Elyssa and I will begin next week volunteering after school from 2:00-5:00 with a group of 5th and 6th graders.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Class Discussion
I am going to make a conscious effort to make this blog a place for me to post what I've learned from day to day, whether it be about chumash, or about disciplining 6 year olds.
In this past week, I have been inspired and discouraged, excited and scared, in control and out of control, elated and sad.
My work at Yad Byad is unlike anything I have ever done. Not many people will ever have such an appreciation for the wonders of the human mind as seen through the context of a child's brain. I slowly gain confidence with Hebrew andthese children learn in Arabic and Hebrew; they translate for each other, play with each other, argue with each other, steal each others erasers, work very hard, daydream, scream, cry, laugh... I don't think I would be in such awe of the people who work and learn there if I didn't feel so out of my element. (note: I get to sit in the teachers room; sweet.)
Passing from this zone of newness to the comfort zone of Pardes, I feel like I'm recharging my confidence battery. I continue to be surprised with the inspiration that fills me (and I daresay everyone else) when we learn there. Today, we met Eliezer Jaffe. The founder of the Israel Free Loan Association, he had much to say about poverty, social justice, charity, loans, and economics in Israel. He started an organization that now gives about 350 loans a month with a 1% default rate. These loans are interest free and the organization is therefore a non-profit. It was incredibly inspiring to hear about the successes of a moral loan-giving organization that is also based in Jewish halacha. Professor Jaffe says: "Life is a loan. We pay it back, with interest, throughout our lives with מעשימם טובים, good deeds." I have much more to add about charity and giving, I'll keep you posted.
Tomorrow I have a meeting about volunteering with an afterschool program for 5th and 6th graders. I'm pushing my way farther into the world of business and full schedules!
In this past week, I have been inspired and discouraged, excited and scared, in control and out of control, elated and sad.
My work at Yad Byad is unlike anything I have ever done. Not many people will ever have such an appreciation for the wonders of the human mind as seen through the context of a child's brain. I slowly gain confidence with Hebrew andthese children learn in Arabic and Hebrew; they translate for each other, play with each other, argue with each other, steal each others erasers, work very hard, daydream, scream, cry, laugh... I don't think I would be in such awe of the people who work and learn there if I didn't feel so out of my element. (note: I get to sit in the teachers room; sweet.)
Passing from this zone of newness to the comfort zone of Pardes, I feel like I'm recharging my confidence battery. I continue to be surprised with the inspiration that fills me (and I daresay everyone else) when we learn there. Today, we met Eliezer Jaffe. The founder of the Israel Free Loan Association, he had much to say about poverty, social justice, charity, loans, and economics in Israel. He started an organization that now gives about 350 loans a month with a 1% default rate. These loans are interest free and the organization is therefore a non-profit. It was incredibly inspiring to hear about the successes of a moral loan-giving organization that is also based in Jewish halacha. Professor Jaffe says: "Life is a loan. We pay it back, with interest, throughout our lives with מעשימם טובים, good deeds." I have much more to add about charity and giving, I'll keep you posted.
Tomorrow I have a meeting about volunteering with an afterschool program for 5th and 6th graders. I'm pushing my way farther into the world of business and full schedules!
Solid Schedule?
I've completed my first week with the outline of my weekly schedule. It is as follows:
Sunday:
Yad Byad 8:15- 1
Pardes (Social Justice): 2:00-5
Monday:
Pardes (Chumash): 8:30-11:45
Pardes (Modern Jewish Thought): 12:00-1:00
JVP (afterschool programming): 2:30 -5
Tuesday:
Yad Byad 8:15-(undetermined)
Open House 12:00-4:00
Wednesday
Pardes (Chumash): 8:30-11:45
Pardes (Modern Jewish Thought): 12:00-1:00
JVP (afterschool programming): 2:30 -5
Thursday:
Yad Byad 8:15- 1
Pardes (Social Justice): 2:00-5
Friday:
travel and/or cook for shabbat
Saturday:
Best day of the week. By far. Shabbat Shalom.
Sunday:
Yad Byad 8:15- 1
Pardes (Social Justice): 2:00-5
Monday:
Pardes (Chumash): 8:30-11:45
Pardes (Modern Jewish Thought): 12:00-1:00
JVP (afterschool programming): 2:30 -5
Tuesday:
Yad Byad 8:15-(undetermined)
Open House 12:00-4:00
Wednesday
Pardes (Chumash): 8:30-11:45
Pardes (Modern Jewish Thought): 12:00-1:00
JVP (afterschool programming): 2:30 -5
Thursday:
Yad Byad 8:15- 1
Pardes (Social Justice): 2:00-5
Friday:
travel and/or cook for shabbat
Saturday:
Best day of the week. By far. Shabbat Shalom.
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