tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84575857221795600472024-02-20T01:50:14.365-08:00A Jewish ThoughtThe Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-2886600126810453742008-10-24T12:43:00.000-07:002008-10-24T12:44:19.854-07:00Is Rosh Hashanah Really Rosh Hashanah?Yesterday I wrote about Yom Kippur so today, naturally, I am going to talk about Rosh Hashanah. What fun is it to go in order. The more I celebrate this holiday, the more of an anomaly I find it. First of all, the holiday combines the theme of repentance, of starting the ten days of awe, or asking and praying for forgiveness, with the joyous aspect of celebrating the new year, of trying to get the year off on the correct foot. That dichotomy has always fascinated me.<br /><br />A second aspect that I find interesting has to do with the fact that biblically, we do not celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Before you think I am not aware of the biblical reference, hold your comment. Certainly there is a reference to this holiday in the Torah. The Torah, however, references the first day of the seventh month. According to the Torah, Nissan (the month of Passover) is the first month. I am aware of all the different commentaries that explain how Tishrei (the month when we celebrate Rosh Hashanah) is really the first month, but the Torah never refers to it that way.<br /><br />In addition, the Torah never refers to this day as the “New Year”, as Rosh Hashanah. The day is referred to as “Yom Hadin” (Judgment Day), Yom Hazikaron (The Day of Remembrance) and Yom Teruach (Loosely translated as the Day of Blowing the Shofar, since the Teruach is one of the notes blown on the shofar). Never is this day called the New Year. <br /><br />It is fascinating how different customs, practices and beliefs come into being. Of course this is an important day and has significance. Still, there appear to have been some changes of the centuries that have been made to this holiday. It is just interesting to consider how things came to be.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-13670769617530481142008-10-23T18:57:00.001-07:002008-10-23T18:57:50.683-07:00Intense Versus SadNow that the Jewish Holidays are over, hopefully life can return to normal. I enjoy the Holidays but it is a bit much. I do have some reflections on the different holidays that I will be posting over the next few days (or weeks). Today I will start with Yom Kippur.<br /><br />It is amazing to me how many people misunderstand the significance of this day. I was planning a lesson for Hebrew School and was looking at some YouTube videos. I look at the discussion that surrounded one of the videos about Yom Kippur. The comments were indicating that this was the saddest day on the Jewish Calendar.<br /><br />Yom Kippur is intense, it is serious and it is important, but it is not a sad day. Judaism does have such a day, that day being Tisha B’Av. Yom Kippur, however, actually has a positive tone. The idea of Yom Kippur is purification, asking G-d for forgiveness so we can start the year with a clean slate. It is like the student who begins fresh at a new school. Instead of having the baggage follow you, you begin anew. That, certainly, is not a sad day.<br /><br />It is true we deprive ourselves on this day in a number of ways. We are even told to afflict our souls. Still, a shehechayanu is made on this day (and it is only made on joyous occasions. We are told that we will be forgiven. So, I certainly disagree with the idea that Yom Kippur is the saddest day of the Jewish year, or even just a sad day.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-78053362551176098642008-08-29T13:24:00.001-07:002008-08-29T13:24:47.296-07:00You Can Come To Israel... But Don't Bring The FamilyMy sister, her husband and their family recently returned from Israel. Their oldest son was studying in Israel for the year and wanted to stay another year. Arrangements were being made and what I recently found out was, the yeshiva where my nephew was studying was putting pressure on him telling him according to halachah (Jewish Law), he was not allowed to return to the States. With finances being an issue, the Yeshiva was willing to help with financial aid.<br /><br />The fact that my sister and the whole family went to Israel complicates this. This is the first time they have been to Israel as a family although both my sister and brother-in-law were there over 20 years ago. Due to the settling of my father’s estate, they were all able to go and my youngest nephew got an aliyah at the Kotel in honor of his Bar Mitzvah.<br /><br />While traveling the Holy Land, my sister and brother-in-law received a call that the head of my nephew’s yeshiva wanted to talk with them and it was important. Apparently it is policy, as best my sister could determine, that they do not offer any financial aid to people if their family comes to Israel. I guess the thinking is, if they can afford a trip, they can afford the ridiculously expensive tuition of such institutions. <br /><br />When my brother-in-law got in touch with the head of the yeshiva, they basically told him that if he interrupted, they would simply end the conversation. After listening to them go on for awhile, telling him that they no longer would accept my nephew because they were in Israel, my brother-in-law said, “But,”. <br /><br />I assume the next step was to tell them how my father had recently passed away, it was the first trip they had taken since they were married, etc. He never got a chance to say any of it. As soon as he said, “But,” the person on the other end of the phone, the head of the yeshiva, hung up.<br /><br />Personally, I think this is ridiculous and unscrupulous. First, trying to convince him that according to Jewish law he needed to stay, I think is unethical. Beyond that, instead of being willing to engage in a dialogue and hear what others have to say, the approach is to hang up, that they can have their say but no one else is allowed.<br /><br />I think it is unfortunate that my nephew is caught in the middle and he is trying to find a way he can get back there. Personally, I think the yeshiva should be told exactly what they can do with it. By the way, my sister agrees but respects the wishes of her son and will allow him (as if she really has a choice) to try and find another way to pay for the schooling.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-74518708828045705232008-08-20T13:31:00.000-07:002008-08-20T13:32:07.387-07:00Learning An AliyahHave you ever wondered what ever possessed you to do something? In one more week I begin classes yet I have inquired about reading Torah in Mid-September. Unlike some people who are very talented, it takes me a number of weeks to prepare. As a result, right as the semester starts hitting the busy season, shortly before I will be taking time off for the Jewish Holidays, I will be busy preparing an aliyah.<br /><br />Fortunately I was smart enough to only “Volunteer” to read one aliyah, and fortunately, it is not that long. Yes, it will take some preparation but it could be much worse.<br /><br />So why is it that I am looking to chant this aliyah? Well, my Mom’s yahrzeit is coming up and I have always tried to mark the anniversary of her passing on the Jewish calendar by chanting at least one aliyah. She had the opportunity to hear my chant a few Haftorot but, other than my Bar Mitzvah, I don’t think she ever heard me chant Torah. Certainly she always knew and, more importantly, believed, I could do it but I never did. Now, as a way to honor her memory, I try to follow the custom of being able to read from Torah on the Shabbat before her Yahrzeit. <br /><br />Certainly, when it comes to parents, they do (or in my case, did) a lot for kids so it is important to me to do the things I can to keep their memories alive and to honor them. So, putting in the time to learn the aliyah will certainly be worthwhile.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-29278549394886123632008-08-15T11:46:00.001-07:002008-08-15T11:46:34.662-07:00Jewish Holidays And TeachingI am currently in the process of devising my course syllabus for the upcoming semester. While I am only an adjunct, and I am only teaching on Tuesday/Thursday classes this year, the Jewish Holidays certainly pose a challenge. For the first time since I have been teaching, I am actually going to need to take off one day for each holiday. Usually because Yom Kippur is 10 days after Rosh Hashanah, (unlike the other holidays which are weeks apart, so they fall on the same day of the week), I don’t need four days. In fact, due to holidays on the weekends, there have been times I have been able to avoid taking days off.<br /><br />I used to feel uncomfortable, bad, maybe even slightly guilty when I had to take classes off. I understand that class needs to be in session for a certain number of hours each semester and I felt I had an obligation. In addition, being an adjunct, it is not as easy as one might think to find someone to cover your classes. <br /><br />I no longer feel guilty. The fact is, when the College wants something out of me, they do not hesitate to ask and I try to accommodate them. Still, and yes I am going back a couple of years, when I applied for a full-time teaching position at the College, I was not even brought in for an interview. So, they are willing to use me for what suits there needs but I am not good enough to even be considered for something full-time. <br /><br />My feeling now is, I do what I need to. I make the necessary arrangements. Either I will send in a video tape, give them an in-class writing assignment or give them out of class time to research their speech. This will fulfill the needs of the college, and allow me to do what I need to do.<br /><br />Still, with four days off over a month period, it does make it difficult to get into a routine. I’m sure, however, I will manage.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-8326196055654424792008-08-12T12:10:00.000-07:002008-08-12T12:11:12.261-07:00All Systems GoThree weeks ago I posted an entry about the trials and tribulations of trying to get in and sign a contract to continue teaching in the computer lab of the religious school where I have taught the past two years. After having the scheduled meeting cancelled numerous times (once by me and four or five times by them), the meeting finally took place. Everything went smoothly and I will be back there again come September.<br /><br />In the meeting, I found out about plans to purchase additional software for the computer, upgrades that they want to make and some purchases for some computer accessories. They did ask for my input, which pleased me. I couldn’t help but think, “Good things come to those who wait.”<br /><br />While I would like to get started, in terms of planing for the first few sessions, things have not yet been finalized. They still have to decide which teachers will be coming to the lab when. Obviously, until I know the age of the students and the subject the teacher is covering, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to prepare a lesson plan.<br /><br />Still, I am looking forward to preparing the plan and to the year ahead.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-83953830854755816952008-08-10T15:08:00.000-07:002008-08-11T13:15:01.464-07:00FastingI know that it is not supposed to be easy but I am glad that the Tisha B’av fast is over. For me, I find this the toughest fast of all the ones on the Jewish Calendar. Although this one and Yom Kippur are both full 25 hour fasts, since this one takes place during the heat of summer and goes longer into the evening, meaning you have longer to go after you wake up the next morning, I find it tougher.<br /><br />Perhaps if I brought my weight back under control, that might make it easier. While logic would seem to suggest that the more you eat heading into a fast, the easier it will be, the truth is that if you eat less, you slow your metabolism and that makes it easier to fast. <br /><br />There was a time when I had my weight under control, I took off a lot of extra pounds. It is time to do that again. Will power, the help of others and maybe some <a href="http://www.sybervision.com/reviews/">diet pills</a> will make it easier. <br /><br />Regardless, I am glad this fast is now behind me.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-59288090188158419462008-08-10T13:15:00.000-07:002008-08-11T13:16:13.867-07:00Should We Tell Him About The Rocks?There is an old joke that has many variation but has to do with walking on the water. The version of the joke I know is about a Priest, a Rabbi and a Minister who go out fishing. While fishing, the Rabbi realizes that he left his ice water back at shore and says he is going to get it. He stands up, walks across the water, gets his drink, walks back and sits down next to his colleagues on the boat. <br /><br />A few minutes later the Minister says that he is out of bait and has more back at shore and he is going to get it. He stands up, walks across the water, gets the bait, walks back and sits down next to his colleagues.<br /><br />The Priest, upon seeing this, decides that if the Rabbi and the Minister can walk on water, certainly he, the Priest, can do so. He excuses himself explaining that he too left something back at shore and has to get it. He stands up and tries to walk across the water. He falls in and drowns. The Minister turns to the Rabbi and says, “Do you think we should have told him about the rocks in the water?”<br /><br />As I indicated last week, for the first time in a number of years, I had the opportunity to listen to someone else do Haftorah. The Haftorah is swithcing back and forth between the traditional melody used for Haftorah and the traditional melody used on Tisha B’Av (which was Saturday night through Sunday night this year). The person who chanted Haftorah did so using the traditional Haftorah melody.<br /><br />I remember the first time I did it that I received a phone call making sure I know about the changes in melody (which I did). I could not help but think someone should have done this for the person who chanted it this past week. <br /><br />He did a nice job and I do not criticize him for not knowing. After all , the way you learn is by having someone tell you. I just felt the Shul fell short in its obligation to let this individual know.<br /><br />Still, it was nice listening to someone else chant Haftorah and, as I said, he did a nice job.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-88483118993818780342008-08-08T17:26:00.000-07:002008-08-08T17:50:55.802-07:00Feeling BetterAn interesting question recently occurred when a friend of mine and I were having a discussion. We were talking about what Judaism had to say about weight loss. Obviously, there are those people who do not need to loss weight (unfortunately I am not in that category). For those who do, however, one can make a strong argument that Judaism strongly supports it, or my friend argued, requires it.<br /><br />The reason is it is Judaism talks about doing what you can to preserve a life, especially your own. So, if ones health would improve if s/he would lose some weight, then you could argue that Judaism requires it. Fortunately, there are all sorts of programs and ways to lose weight, and one can find these almost anywhere, such as <a href="http://www.journeylite.com/">lap band central florida</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://tinyurl.com/6ped2a" />The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-18763422731318161802008-08-08T12:25:00.000-07:002008-08-08T12:26:04.367-07:00Getting The Day OffFor the first time in a few years, I will be getting tomorrow off. Well, I am not really getting the day off but I am not reading Haftorah. As some oe you know and as I have discussed in previous posts, the melody used for this Haftorah (portion of Prophets that is read) switches back and forth between two melodies, the traditional Saturday melody used for Haftorah and the one that is used for Eichah (the book of Lamentations).<br /><br />A number of years ago, after hearing someone chant it quite beautifully, I decided I wanted to learn it. It took me a number of years but I finally did. Certainly the internet helped as I was able to find a website where you can hear the Haftorah chanted. When the person who had done this Haftorah in the past moved out of the area, I volunteered. I have been doing this one ever since.<br /><br />This year, apparently someone else volunteered and will now be chanting it. Both my wife and son asked me if I was disappointed. Certainly there is a concept in Judaism of having a “Chazkah” on something, that once you do something three consecutive times, it becomes yours. <br /><br />The truth is I am not disappointed in the least. When I first volunteered I only expected to do this one once. It is my hope that perhaps my chanting this haftorah, despite my less than wonderful voice, may have inspired someone else to want to try. If so, then this really is a compliment and the highest form of flattery. If not, well then it is what I will choice to believe anyway.<br /><br />And, for those of you fasting this Tisha B’Av, which starts this Saturday night, I wish you an easy fast.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-15486648787583417542008-08-06T09:53:00.000-07:002008-08-06T09:54:08.639-07:00R-E-S-P-E-C-TThis past weekend I was out of town for my youngest nephew’s Bar Mitzvah. He did very well and I was quite proud of him. Since my mother-in-law is now in rehab, following a stroke, my wife did not join us, it was just me and my son. This was fine as I often have been, and sometimes still am, the one who brings him to shul. What I found interesting was the attitude he, and some others, had of the service.<br /><br />My sister goes to an Orthodox synagogue. I am perfectly comfortable davening at an Orthodox shul (as well as Conservative or Reform). I am currently attending a Conservative synagogue since it is where my wife is most comfortable but I have enjoyed more traditional services as well.<br /><br />My son, who does fairly well in services, was lost for part of it due to the “mumbling” sound that often takes place at such services. I do admit, I too prefer a service where people seem to be enjoying it as opposed to be praying to get out. I am not suggesting this is true of all Orthodox services nor that it doesn’t occur at Reform or Conservative services, but at times that did take place here. At other times, they did their fair share of singing.<br /><br />I have a distant cousin who was there. He is not used to this type of service at all and actually fell asleep during part of it. I also have an aunt who was there and during part of the service took out a camera and started taking pictures, with a flash. (For those who don’t know, the use of a camera as well as using a flash are not permitted on Shabbat).<br /><br />Still, for the most part, everyone seemed to try and respect each other’s wishes. Certainly that is important. Often time, the biggest problem we face as Jews is, trying to get along with one another. It is refreshing when you see people from all different backgrounds at least make an attempt.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-82392517421379719612008-07-24T11:06:00.000-07:002008-07-24T16:07:42.548-07:00Stranded<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>In another couple of weeks I will be heading to my youngest nephew’s Bar Mitzvah. I am certainly looking forward to attending the event. Still, this is bitter-sweet. When my oldest nephew was Bar Mitzvah, both my parents were alive. My Mom had passed away by the time my middle nephew’s Bar Mitzvah rolled around but my Dad was still alive. Now, as the event closes in on my youngest nephew, neither of my parents are alive.<br /><br />While I miss them all the time, it is at the joyous events like this that their presence is missed the most. They enjoyed these events and it meant a lot. It would only seem right to be able to look up and see them kvelling , see their smiling faces and being able to watch the schep nachas. <br /><br />It is times like these that the stories come rushing to mind. For instance, when my middle nephew’s bar mitzvah rolled around, my sister, who lives in an Orthodox community, made arrangements for family and friends from out of town to stay by congregants nearby. Knowing that my dad (her’s too) had trouble with his legs and with walking, she made arrangements for him to stay by a family just down the street from the shul. My dad, a Reform Rabbi, indicated that he would prefer driving (a 15 minute trip by car from his house to the shul where my sister davens) but my sister told him it was important to her that he didn’t so my dad went along with it.<br /><br />My family was staying with someone else but after service Friday evening I went with him to walk him to where he was staying. I followed him, assuming he knew where he was going. As we kept walking and didn’t see the house, he asked me to check the street sign and, you guessed it, we were on the wrong street, and we had walked pretty far.<br /><br />Dad was done and unable to walk much further. He said to me, “I told your sister I should drive. I know who I am and what I am”. He then went to call a cab on his cell phone to take him to where he was staying.<br /><br />As my dad is calling the cab company, I hear him say to the dispatcher, “I am a Reform Jew stranded in an Orthodox community”. He said it with such seriousness and not in a demeaning matter but more a matter of fact tone. I found the whole thing quite amusing.<br /><br />Of course, the cab company got there and got my Dad to where he was staying and the rest of the events went fine. Those are the stories, the memories, that will certainly be treasured.<br /></div>The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-46472054378573912682008-07-23T12:57:00.001-07:002008-07-23T12:57:43.139-07:00An Upcoming HaftorahI am curious to find out if I will be chanting the Haftorah before Tisha B’Av this year. I have done this for the past number of years and I enjoy it. It is not such an easy Haftorah to chant as the trope, the melody, switches back and forth four times between what is traditionally used on Shabbat and what is used for Tisha B’Av.<br /><br />Normally, by this time, I have already been asked to do it since I have done it in the past and it is difficult for a new person to learn the switches. Obviously, it can be done as I did it for the first time once myself. In fact, it was not even that long ago, it was about eight years ago.<br /><br />If someone else wants to do it, that is fine. I have done it for a number of years and do not mind letting someone else have a turn. If they want me to do it, again, I am fine with that as I have done it in the past. Still, if I am doing it, I want to look it over ahead of time. I have a feeling that a couple of days before it is time for the Haftorah to be read, someone is going to say something to me, as though it is a forgone conclusion that I will be chanting it.<br /><br />As a result, I will probably look it over, just to be on the safe side. Still, it would be nice if I actually believed that I would get advanced notice if they wanted me to do it.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-80154827089614352222008-07-22T13:34:00.000-07:002008-07-22T13:35:22.352-07:00Are You Trying To Tell Me Something?I think the gods are trying to tell me something. For the past two years I have taught in the Computer Lab of a religious school. I enjoy this and have posted blog entries about my experiences. I expect to be teaching in the computer lab again next year, at the same religious school.<br /><br />It should come as no surprise that what this school does is set up appointments with the teachers over the summer and have the individuals sign letters of intent and discuss and changes or any issues that need to be taken care of. The school contacted me to set up such a meeting about a month ago and we found a mutually acceptable date, or so I thought.<br /><br />A couple of days before the scheduled meeting I got a call from the administration that they needed to reschedule as something had come up for one of the people I need to meet with. We rescheduled the meeting only for me to get another call a couple of days before that we needed to reschedule once again.<br /><br />This time, I had something come up and a couple of days before the meeting, I called to reschedule. Again, we found a mutually acceptable date. Two days before that meeting I got another call and guess what? Yep! We needed to reschedule and we did.<br /><br />I was so excited when I did not get a call two days before this meeting, asking me to reschedule. I showed up to this meeting only to find out that the secretary did not have me on the calendar and one of the people with whom I need to meet was not there. So, we have rescheduled once again.<br /><br />It is a good thing that I know they like me there and that I cancelled one of these meetings, otherwise, I would be wondering (or be getting set to start wondering) what they are trying to tell me.<br /><br />I actually have no doubt that I will be back there come September but honestly, it is getting a little frustrating.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-5519614905454933012008-07-21T11:31:00.000-07:002008-07-21T11:32:42.642-07:00BarbecuesThis past weekend, the family was invited over to some friends for a barbecue. The friends were not Jewish. That, in and off itself, is no big deal. The problem is the food. I will eat dairy food and fish out of the house, as well as Pareve food (food that is neither meat nor milk), unlike some people who keep kosher who insist that all the food must be certified kosher (and that is fine and even makes a lot of sense).<br /><br />Before the first time we went over, my wife indicated to our friends what I would and would not eat. She said nothing meat or poultry but fish was fine, macaroni and cheese was fine, as well as some other items. Our friends ask my wife about chicken and she told them “no”. Naturally, when I went over, what did they have for me?—Chicken?<br /><br />This past weekend it was a similar situation. Again, they made chicken for me. I thought it was thoughtful that they went out of their way to do something special for me, but in this instance, it is not like we have not discussed this issue with them.<br /><br />Hopefully one more conversation will clear this up. I am not sure but I certainly hope so. I would like to avoid a situation where other I am eating food I am not comfortable eating or avoiding eating food that was especially prepared for me. <br /><br />We’ll see what happens!The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-29045053256611974252008-07-09T04:56:00.001-07:002008-07-09T05:19:05.290-07:00Stem Cell Research<img src="http://tinyurl.com/5sphe9" /><br /><br />One issue that has been controversial for some time now has to do with stem cell research. Certainly most people do not argue that we should try and find cures for such terrible illnesses as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Still questions arise, especially out of certain religious circles, as to whether or not one is taking a life in order to perform stem cell research.<br /><br />There is now a belief that stem cell research can be performed using a woman’s menstrual blood because there are stem cells in a woman’s blood. I am not sure how far along this process is and I am not certain if those who oppose such research would still object from a religious perspective. Still, the idea that this could happen is fascinating and, I think, gives no hope to the reality of all sides finding an agreeable solution to conduct stem cell research<br /><br />There is more information about this process available on <a href="http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/200807071328PR_NEWS_USPR_____NYM090.htm">CNNMoney</a><br />I am fascinated by this process, especially seeing my grandfather suffer through the Alzheimer’s disease during the later years of his life. Hopefully articles like this can give hope to those who are currently watching loved ones suffer and in the end make it so many less individuals need to see it.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://tinyurl.com/6pbpla" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.Celle.com"><img src="http://tinyurl.com/5fn73d" border="0"></a>The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-16339949254375972272008-07-09T04:40:00.000-07:002008-07-09T13:59:10.451-07:00No New JobA letter came in today’s mail in regard to the computer position I applied for at the Jewish Day School. The letter was a format letter and basically said “Thank you but no thank you”. The rejection letter indicated that they found someone more qualified than I for the position.<br /><br />I wish it had not been a format letter. I know the school was under no obligation to higher me and I don’t mean to sound arrogant or egotistical but I honestly believe for what they wanted, there was no one more qualified. <br /><br />I am not claiming I am the smartest person ever when it comes to computers, far from it, but in terms of running a computer lab, having a background in the products they wanted to teach and working with teachers who are assigning work to their students on the computer, I have a strong background.<br /><br /><br />Certainly the school was under no obligation to higher me. They let me know from the beginning that if they found someone from within, it would make it easier than having to work around another person’s schedule from the outside. Again, I am fine with this; it makes sense. I just wish the letter would have told me that this is in fact what happened. Now, I am wondering if I did not get the position because they decided there was someone more qualified or if it was due to logistics. That is annoying.<br /><br />I will probably call to find out as knowing, regardless of the outcome, would make me feel better.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-53566734795356559012008-07-09T04:28:00.001-07:002008-07-09T04:30:33.271-07:00The Right Stuff<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Teaching in the computer lab at the religious school where I work is a lot of fun and I appreciate that those in charge have always done what they kind to get me the necessary equipment (which is not always the newest).<br /><br /><img src='http://tinyurl.com/5u8p9l'/><br />For example, I prefer XP to Vista for an operating system. It is also important to be able to see the computer screen. As I get older, I know the type of glasses I wear are important. Sites like <a href='http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php'>zennioptical.com</a>have made it easier to find the right glasses. <br /><br />Whatever your needs for whatever the task, make sure you have the proper equipment.<br /><br /><img src='http://tinyurl.com/5s26eb'/><br /></div>The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-14017213255797772452008-07-08T13:30:00.000-07:002008-07-09T13:31:33.175-07:00Appearances Can Be DeceivingI was recently at a barbecue and I witnessed an unusual site. In fact, I even commented on it only to learn once again that things are not always what they seem.<br /><br />There were a number of Jews and non-Jews at the barbecue. Some of us there kept kosher so they had kosher chicken available in addition to hotdogs and hamburgers. A friend, Jewish, took a piece of chicken but also grabbed a couple of pieces of sausage from a nearby pasta salad.<br /><br />I am not one to preach to other what they should and/or should not do. This is a personal decision that is between each individual and his/her own G-d. Still, upon seeing this I teased my friend. He teased back about some of my own inconsistencies (don’t we all have them).<br /><br />I explained that I was not being critical because he was eating Traiff (unkosher) food but rather because it was on his plate with kosher food as well. He explained that he was being careful with what he ate, healthy eating, and chicken was healthier and a better choice than hotdogs and hamburgers.<br /><br />In fairness, I did see him calculate how many people there needed kosher food and count the number of pieces of chicken to make sure that there was enough for everyone. So, sometimes it is better not to start teasing until you have all the details. Still, it was humorous to see someone take a piece of kosher chicken and put it on the same plate as food that came from a pig.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-1432771248680440872008-06-29T06:37:00.000-07:002008-06-29T06:55:21.620-07:00Responding To Hate SpeechI am grateful that we live in a society that tries to be politically correct. It is important to take the feelings of others into consideration. There are some negatives, however, to a politically correct society. The first is something that we have heard about for quite some time, that sometimes we go overboard (people aren’t fat or even heavy, they are horizontally challenged). Sometimes when we try to be so considerate of others feelings, we end up saying nothing. It does not mean we should not try, just that sometimes we go too far.<br /><br />There is another problem as well. Sometimes when we are so politically correct, people do not know how to handle certain situations. When there are seventh and eighth grade religious school students who do not know about hate crimes and hate speech, perhaps we have taken things too far. When groups like <a href="http://www.theprogressiveactionalliance.com ">The Progressive Action Alliance </a> are looking to spread false information, we need to know how to respond. When this group in Houston Texas takes to <a href="http://www.theprogressiveactionalliance.com">Freeway Blogging </a>, standing on highway overpasses and holding signs that say such things as “Israel out of the Middle East,” we need to know the appropriate way to respond.<br /><br />Fortunately there are websites out there that look to let people know what is going on, let people know the truth. The internet can make it easier for groups like <a href="http://www.theprogressiveactionalliance.com">Progressive Action Alliance Houston </a>to spread their hate speech. Fortunately the internet also makes it easier to get the accurate information out.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-81068009631827748132008-06-26T20:33:00.001-07:002008-06-26T20:34:12.325-07:00A Computer PositionI recently met with the director of a Jewish Day school to find out about a teaching position that was advertised. It was an interesting position and an interesting interview.<br /><br />The job itself has nothing to do with Jewish education, it is teaching in the computer lab. I would be teaching Microsoft office products as well as computer usage, internet and internet safety. It would also involve working with other teachers, especially if the student had an assignment which involved putting some kind of computer presentation together.<br /><br />I like the fact that it would be with a Jewish Day school. While the position itself might not involve teaching Jewish subjects, it would be with a school that clearly understands the importance of that. Certainly I have the knowledge to teach such a class and being able to do it while showing support for Jewish education would thrill me.<br /><br />I think we need to do whatever possible to get children, students, and even adults, interested in Jewish learning. Education is crucial and being able to be involved with any facility that understands its importance, that looks to educate people about Judaism is crucial.<br /><br />The position is actually still being defined but certainly I am excited and look forward to hearing what happens.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-38616128708789845032008-06-23T11:23:00.001-07:002008-06-23T11:23:32.989-07:00Conversational HebrewMy son finishes school this week and is excited about summer plans. He will be attending a few different summer day camp programs; a week here, two weeks there, that sort of thing. He has, however, added something new to the mix.<br /><br />Towards the end of Hebrew school, one of the teachers, an Israeli who teaches Hebrew, asked my son if he would like to be tutored in Hebrew over the summer. It is not that my son needs extra help in this area, but this teacher thought he might want to keep his skills sharp during the summer and have more of an opportunity to influence the material he is studying. I am sure from the teacher’s point of view as well, it is a good way to earn some extra income over the summer.<br /><br />My son is very excited about this and wants to start the day after school ends. His father, on the other hand, has mixed reactions. On the one hand, I am thrilled that learning Hebrew is so important to him that he wants to do it when school is out and wants to keep his skills sharp. On the other hand, I question if he truly realizes the commitment he made and will put the time in to this. He wants to learn conversational Hebrew and he will be meeting with the tutor once a week for an hour.<br /><br />The tutor has already tried to caution me that when it comes to conversational Hebrew, for many weeks it may look as though he is not learning much and then all of a sudden everything clicks. I question that. To expect to learn this while only putting an hour a week is seems unlikely, even if my son follows through with his “homework assignments”. I fear that he will get frustrated and fed-up and refuse to do the work outside of his meeting with the tutor.<br /><br />Certainly it is worth an attempt. I hope that this does meet his needs and expectations and I hope it does help him learn to speak conversational Hebrew. And, given a choice between my son wanting to do this over the summer or do a number of other things, certainly I approve of his choice.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-35118974160168302982008-06-16T12:36:00.000-07:002008-06-16T12:37:18.668-07:00A Double StandardIt is amazing, after all this time, how a double standard can still work. I am not referring to the traditional double standard but I am talking about how it works when one examines religion and the attitudes of society.<br /><br />I am involved with a civic organization. In fact, I am the incoming president. We meet every other Wednesday and I noticed that based on the calendar, we are scheduled to have a meeting on Yom Kippur. I told people I was not going to schedule a meeting on this date as I did not feel it sent the right message. Moreover, I argued that if I were just a member and a president scheduled a meeting on this date, I would be furious so, I refused to do what I would object to any other club president doing.<br /><br />The rest of the Executive Committee objected and fought with me. I heard all sorts of excuses and reasons why it could not be done and basically, I was told with the exception of Christmas day, we do not move meetings, and that exception occurs because there is no place open where we could meet.<br /><br />I then noticed that we had a meeting scheduled for New Years Eve. Certainly establishments are open yet I told the board I did not think we should meet on this day either. They were all quick to agree. Then when I pointed out that if we just switched it with another date, we would end up meeting on Christmas Eve (Not day) and I did not want to do that. Everyone agreed and worked with me on getting creative to avoid that conflict.<br /><br />The Christian holidays still carry much more weight than even a holiday like Yom Kippur. People do not understand its importance. Still, once I led the discussion about Christmas and New Years, everyone was more willing to work with me on avoiding a meeting on Yom Kippur. It just surprises me (although it shouldn’t) the double standard when it comes to holidays.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-30144394805204581502008-06-13T13:20:00.000-07:002008-06-13T13:21:19.037-07:00Jewish JeopardyI made reference to a Jewish Jeopardy game in a post yesterday. The game took place on Shavout. The tradition is to stay up all night and study. While I have done this a few times, it always seems that the shul (synagogue) I am affiliated with at any particular time has older members and they do not go through the night. This is true of both the Conservative and Orthodox shuls where I have gone. Still, they want to do something, so for part of the evening they have a study group.<br /><br />This year, the synagogue had two things going on. First was a discussion about Judaism and the environment. It sounded interesting but not necessarily fun. The second thing was the Jewish Jeopardy game and the rest of the family was into that (so was I), so I decided to attend that session.<br /><br />The first game was a kids only game and the kids teamed up in groups of two. My son showed that he has paid attention and that he understands his Judaism. It makes a father proud. The second game was Adults only, also in pairs of two, and the third game was also supposed to be adults only.<br /><br />For the third game, many adults did not want to play so the third team was made up of kids only. I think I saw my son raise his hand for every question, well just about every question, for that game. Again, it is nice when you can see your hard work pay off. And, I certainly have put in my share of hard work. My wife is not nearly as much of a shul goer as I am so, when he was an infant, I used to get him ready and have him there every week, and deal with the dirty looks of the adults and comments because, as much as they like kids, they want them perfectly quiet. Still, I wanted him to understand right from the beginning that on Shabbat, this is what we do and where we go.<br /><br />He may not go as frequently now as he did in the past but he still goes more often than not and enjoys it and, as I said before, he learns and he remembers. <br /><br />Congratulations on your Jeopardy game.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8457585722179560047.post-50846713624438008322008-06-12T21:04:00.000-07:002008-06-12T21:10:40.573-07:00The Forgotten HolidayThe holiday of Shavout is now behind us. It is the last Biblical holiday of the year. Arguably it is one of the most important ones as, without it, the Jews never got the Torah and then there is no need to keep any of the holidays. <br /><br />I wonder how many people know little about this Holiday. Certainly it does not get the notoriety of Channukah, the attendance of a Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur service, or the appreciation of Passover. To make matters even more confusing, there is not a symbol that is simply and solely associated with Shavout.<br /><br />You could argue the Torah is such a symbol but we use that year round. Certainly the other holidays have their symbols. This is an important and beautiful holiday and it does not get the recognition. Most people, Jewish and non-Jewish, are probably not even aware that there was a holiday at the beginning of the week.<br /><br />I am glad that my son is familiar with the holidays and enjoys them all. I had a chance to watch him in action in a game of Jewish Jeopardy and he knew a lot, but that is a post for another time.The Adjunct Professorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06997451247912489046noreply@blogger.com0