A few items:

Yesterday, met with Aleph, did interview. Need to write to them. First, quick recap of all 10 programs

Not heard from:

1) University of Virginia

2) Towson State

3) Hartford International University

   Head partially from

4) Chicago Theological, acceptance anticipated

5) Aleph - have interviewed

6) Athens State - will interview today, but based on options at both Missouri and Denver, seems unlikely

   Accepted

7) Academy for Religion, NY - but, I don't have hebrew chops to start, and they report having no prep program in place for me, to commit to, now.  I'll attend March 4 probably an open house

**8) U of Denver, accepted. In April, they'll have an open house. They say 4/15 must say yes or no

**9) Missouri State - accepted.  Have clarified programming for fall.  Scholarships possible.

10) Western Michigan - accepted, but with early communication, appears ALL asynchronous. Not promising, besides a strong structure otherwise.

 A new learning?

Daily, figuring out best practices for who to talk to about what....may be the most important thing?

The SHN item is continuing.

After a couple of back and forth with only a couple of folks at SHN (George & Lori), later last night, Debbie Warden, bless her heart, pointedly wrote to the community list serve, and asked if board members would give voice to why they voited?  I chose to second her.  And, I added the idea that, on sensitive matters (this idea suggested by Lori, which I sought to lift up), there be an effort to widen the group of people whose voice would be counted.

I think I did identify an important point. How would...whichever body....whether the ritual committee, or the board...determine it could speak for its represented body.  George replied badly, saying the members could only do the best they could.  I told him that wasn't right....and surfaced Lori's idea.

Not done, was point to SHN's origins.  I should look for a context for doing that.

And, in only the last few minutes, I did just a simple thing.  After suffering through at least 2 very cold mornings at SHN, where the space was in lack of repair, I decided, and did write to both George and Barbara, presidents both, and copyied Janet, asking for an update on the heating system, and a communication to the community about same.  Not added on....was a request for a member's list.  Not known...is whether George has yet sent in my letter of support for scholarship.

 Bringing forward....I did write to 2/4 of our ritual/avodah committee...being to George & Lori...sharing a number of things...but requesting 2 agenda items, and notably....that we figure out how our work is represented by the larger community....and at the same time, asking in substance that the same principles be sought for by our board.  And, I said, please consider this lobbying....that we engage this topic.  Because, if we don't pursue, I'm a candidate to leave, since I'm not just a member of a community, wishing to pray together, but also, to probably be progressive together, and that's not happening here.  I did not include Rabbah Arlene, who is just leaving/has just left for vacation.  And, was asking them, as a function of getting buy in, for them to agree with me, and we could ask Rabbah Arlene that we engage this topic.

Lori did write back...saying maybe more formats for us to talk these things through together could be good.  And, I thanked her for the other and or different idea, copying George.  Lori did say she appreciated George's engagement, and that she'd wait to weigh in, until he replied.

I did, as much, say that if this wasn't affirmed, I could leave, and might prefer to...not using that affirmative language, but implying as much.  And. I copied both Scott and Susan.

 I think the creation of a congregational community I'm a part of was consistent with the start of this blog in 2008?  My involvement with the same community is motivating my post today.

Shirat HaNefesh, like many Jewish communities, has been socially progressive.  But, in the last 6 years, that's been changing...but by seemingly somewhat random events.  A person I'm reluctant to name became active then, I think, and now, I'm moved to leave the organization, for the change of this fact pattern.  We've recently had presented to us a letter to sign, saying we stand up for immigrants, who have been spurned by Trump.  It asked for clergy signature, representing the congregation, it was presented to the board for their agreement, requiring 2/3 agreement, and they said no...we won't sign. Very much recently before this, in another set of actions, it came forward that the board was asked for the community to agree that we'd be politically quiet, for the sake of shalom bayit, respecting that we disagreed on many things.  In substance this came forward.

Minor notes to the above from the board request we be quiet as a community, the request bifurcated into 2 letters, being most things, and Israel.  The one on most things approved, and I missed that meeting. The second meeting on Israel did not conclude, but in substance, joined with the other one.

Scott Schneider, thank goodness, has been active, and pushing against this, as seemingly our conscience.  He points to language in the most recent request re immigation, calling it non-controversial, and this being a cause to bring to the board for our ratification.  But, he alone reports back to the community, saying the board does not approve this.

And now....the question(s) all go to "right action."  Specifically, first...what is right action for me, in relation to this congregational community.  Inclusive of the questions:

• do I stay
• do I alert (any) others to my consideration of leaving
• If I do, am I inappropriately causing divisiveness

I had stepped back already, becoming an associate member, when we went from meeting weekly, to meeting twice a month. And, this cause seems easy to explain. I joined Fabrangen, where I've been going sometimes.  There, I've not connected that much. But, I'm a full member there, and can attend without any regrets.  But, I can't say the same for Shirat HaNefesh.

I reduced my membership near September.  And, right at that time, after having complained in the summer about our lack of good attention to some details, like attention to the torah, I was asked to lead a ritual committee. I pointed out I was associate, and George affirmed, and said this was ok. He did also ask for my leadership.

Confidentially (I say this...noting this is a public space I'm writing in), I think George may be between a rock and a hard place.  I observe, only, that he may be (can't be sure) personally sympathetic with being progressive, and his wife may be more hard line.  She recently somewhat revealed herself on our discuss list.

We CAN have all sides.  But...there is a question of...who are we more fundamentally.

Back to my engagement with the ritual committee.....an early proposition for the establishment of the committee....included a question of....representation. On what basis should we regard, the work of the committee is representing the congregation.  I wrote, in establishing the committee, about 4 things to be mindful of, and this was the 4th, which I took to be foundational.

We've only met about 3 times, this committee. In the first meeting, when the question came up about how often to meet, since there seemed a question about it, I suggested every other month.  In our 3rd meeting, it was suggested....maybe only meet as needed, and our Rabbah (also) suggested too many emails, and she may need to charge us for them.  Maybe this is all on me.  Then again, our Rabbah also uniquely, though while she was sick, had initially agreed to provided letters of reference for me to schools I was applying to, DID do this for Aleph, but bailed on others.  So, her ability to relate to email is in some question.  And, although my exposition on email is known to be problematic.....this is all elective.  I have one voice.  And, some have shared they value it.  I've not been inclined to silence myself.  But, I do try to measure my emails.

Right now, I'm motivated to write out some thoughts, here, before writing a new email. Which, I'm moved to do...re both this vote from last night, and the ritual committee.

 Good morning.

Following past practice....there has been ANOTHER 6 year gap, since I've returned to this blog.  Let's see if I stay this time.

It's 2025, February (18).  I rediscovered this space a few weeks ago. Lately, I'm thinking about the fall, when I'm likely to begin a graduate program. I'll also have just turned 70, be eligible for, and anticipate taking my maximum social security benefit.

Particularly, having applied to 10 graduate programs, and I'm trying to give meaning to the underlying decision of which program to select, it's occured to me, today, that using this blog to dialog with, or document, or post to...some ideas I have, could be hepful.  So....that's my intention, right now.

For now, closing this post, to see how this presents.

Questions are raised here...

https://turnitturnit.substack.com/p/rabbis-authority-and-evolutions-of

...about what a rabbi is.

It's partly relevant to me, since one of the 10 programs I'm applying to, is Aleph, which is a rabbinical school program, where I would train to become a rabbi.

The other 9 programs are master degree programs...of 3 different flavors.  Main line Religious studies for 5 of them, 2 are masters in Jewish Studies, and 2 are from Christian Theological schools, and most specifically "interreligious" in nature.

Ostensibly, as I tell it, I am wishing to explore, deepen, and enhance my ability to communicate about the idea that the Jewish liturgy would best be practiced as a visualization text.

I did discover this idea near 20 years ago, when I found the book by Rosenberg - Jewish Liturgy as a Spiritual System.

So, questions would seem to be....

• where can I learn more about this best
• from which degree "platform" and program, can I be most effective communicating about this.

And, the related questions, including

• Is there a question about whether I can "stomach" the program?
• The cost and time demands of the program
• where will I fee most satisfied
• Where is it least like mental masturbation
• Where might I be most genuinely challenged

Testing, Testing, one two three.

Seemingly, after 6 years...I've rediscovered this web space.

Can I re-adopt it, continue to use it?

Testing right now!

towards a year of study at SHN, and finding a partner in crime...

Our Jewish Community, Shirat HaNefesh, is planning a theme for the year for its members, where we work both as individuals and in pairs to grow.

Earlier in the week, I created a set of ideas and shared with our shul leadership.  Now that people are posting their ideas to our listserve, I thought I'd just make this post that had been to leadership....public...and largely unedited.  It may help to share how I've thought about this.  The note is immediately below...

----------------------

Gerry, Ramon, Andi, Nan,

Getting ready for Yom Kippur, reflecting on our community theme, I believe I’ve honed in on a likely target (though I’m flexible and can change it), and am open to advice on a match/chevruta partner.  I think this program is set up, is that I would more formally ask for this assist on Yom Kippur, and maybe you won’t have cause to reflect on this before then…but I thought I’d grease the skids with this note.  And, maybe I can identify a partner before Yom Kippur, with or without your help.

I do think…of the 3 prompts given, #3, and tefillah, or Jewish prayer, is a likely target.

I continue to reflect on this idea, and a different focus occurs to me as time progresses.

I think both keva and kavvanah are targets…i.e., developing skills with the service, and also, finding meaning in it.

Re the latter, I was reminded that Lawrence Hoffman has either a combined book, or multi-volume series that is something I and my partner could read.  Doing a fresh look, I realize that Schwartz’s Megatrends may be a new look into a similar idea that COULD be more broad based.  If a heavy effort were made, Kadish’s Kavanah is another book that could be read together.  Or all or none of these.

Also, I think appreciating and developing doors into the service….for others….so…developing pedagogy and/or learning tools for the service is an idea I have.  Possibly helping with service instruction is something I can do. This article I pulled up provides some ideas:

http://www.lookstein.org/online_journal.php?id=144

But, this morning, I further reflected that the very big questions about tefilah might well be a target.  For example, probably near 16 years ago, my wife and I decided to become active within the Jewish community, as something we would do together.  But, right now….this intention is not being fulfilled.

If my personal growth covenant were like our country’s decision to invade Syria, I should think about what my strategic intent is.  And, if our original intent is not being addressed, anything I work on that does not have the potential to feedback into that intent…may be missing the point.

Adam frequently, and sometimes Betty do complain in finding meaningful connections between what we might do during prayer, and what is meaningful to them in their lives.  Of course, social action is another avenue, but if there were ways to link the big questions concerning prayer, and the value in our participation in synagogue, with Jewish practice…that would be a good direction.

And, it may be a bridge too far.

Anyway, this is what I’m thinking.  It’s too long for the 3 lines on the yellow form.  Advice meanwhile is welcome.

I’d thought of asking Rain, and maybe she’d consider being a partner, but she probably gets enough of this in her rabbinic program.  Also, all things being equal, I have a gender preference for a man, but a best fit would trump that.

Thanks for reading.  Matchmaking suggestions are welcome.

Shana Tova,

Ira Z.

P.S.  Feel free to forward or bury as appropriate.  Some of you have your own partners to find, I know.

----------------------------

So...to Shirat HaNefesh friends, here's some more spelled out ideas from me.  Be in touch if some of this sounds cool, or alternately, if another but related direction makes sense instead.

Shana Tova,

Ira Z.