My future

[xiphias]

So, I've been talking about this to a couple people in person, and it's been mentioned obliquely in this journal a few times, but I wanted to actually talk about what I'm planning on doing with my life, at least, the next step in it.
I'm now working on my application to Hebrew College in Newton, for their combined BA/MA program.

As many of you know, I don't have a bachelor's degree. Yet. And this has actually held me back from doing things I've wanted to do (I can't teach in the public schools, for instance.) It's not been terrible, but it has been an annoyance. I flunked out of Brandeis (I looked at my Brandeis transcript when I was looking at grad school -- it's downright embarrassing, I failed just about every class for three semesters before they asked me to leave.)

I went through the readmissions process for Brandeis, and was readmitted, and then chose not to go back. (So why did I go through readmissions? So that I need not say I flunked out of Brandeis if I don't want to.)

A few years later, I went to Bunker Hill Community College (that's the one in Good Will Hunting), and, after that, did a couple years at Northeastern. And I did a lot better.

But I never finished my degree. Not entirely sure why not: I really enjoyed my Speech and Rhetoric major, even more than I'd enjoyed my Computer Science major. But I never finished it.

So, remember when I was talking about seeing my old rabbi and folks on the last night of Channukah? When I got home from that, I took a look at the website of The Academy for Jewish Religion. That is a non-denominational rabbinical school. They had degree requirements listed. I looked at them. I looked at the course listings. I realized that there are no classes listed for their rabbinic program that I don't want to take.

And I started thinking about it.

There are so many things I'd need to learn before I could even start such a program. I'd need a bachelor's degree, for instance. I'd need to be fluent in Biblical Hebrew. I'd need a lot more backround in Judaica. And, besides, the Academy is in New York. What could I do closer to home?

So I started looking at <a href="http://www.hebrewcollege.edu/>Hebrew College</a> in Newton, seeing if I could complete my bachelor's there, and get my Hebrew up to snuff. And noticed that they had a combined BA/MA program, which covered a lot of the things I'd need to learn, anyway. And they have programs in Jewish Education. Which is what I'm doing, anyway. So I need to decide whether I'm applying for the BA/MA in Jewish Studies (which is, sorta, a generalized pre-rabbinate program), or the BA/MA in Jewish Education. So, I've signed up for an online Hebrew class to take while I'm going through the admissions process, and I've got the admission materials, and I'm starting to work on the essays. And one of them is, basically, "why the heck are you doing this?" And so I'm thinking about that, and would love to bounce ideas off of you guys, using this journal, seeing your reactions to my answers to that question. See, I don't know if I'm going to end up as a rabbi. I don't know if that's what I want. But I have a feeling that going to Hebrew College is a good next step, for where I do want to go. Hey, Ford? I gotta joke for you: a rabbi and a druid walk into a bar. I don't know what the next line of the joke is, but, in seven years, ya wanna find out?

Comments

[griffen.livejournal.com]

Wow. Congrats, Ian. I can't think of a better path for you at this point.

(Doesn't "rabbi" mean "teacher"?)

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Given that you care about words as much as I do, I'm going to go into more detail than I might if someone else asked. :) That's the literal translation (or, rather, the literal translation is "my teacher".) But there are many different kinds of teachers in Judaism, and the different words mean different things, just as a "kindergarten teacher" is a different job from a "professor", which is different from a "tutor", or a "mentor", or so forth.

(It's interesting that, when you take a word into English from another language, it gets all sorts of context that it may or may not have had in the original language: consider "sensei", for instance. But that's beside the point.)

A "rabbi" is someone who, after a course of study, is granted "smicha", or ordanation. Basically, what this means is that a rabbi's interpretation of Jewish law is binding.

Let me make an analogy to USAan law. If someone was to ask me a question about law, I could give my opinion. But it wouldn't mean anything. If I was a lawyer, and had studied law, then my opinion would be more likely to make some sense.

But, if I was a judge, and someone asked me, in court, to make a ruling on a point of law, then what I said about that would actually *be* the law, at least in that case, in that courtroom.

That's what a rabbi does. If someone asks a rabbi for a rulling on Jewish law, then the rabbi's answer *is* Jewish law. For the person who asked.

A rabbi often works as a "kol bo" -- someone who leads services. And a rabbi often teaches classes. But the thing that makes a rabbi a rabbi, and different than other people, is that a rabbi is a judge and can make rullings on Jewish law.

I'm not sure that that's something I want to be able to do. But I do want all the knowledge that woudl lead up to that.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

What you said about taking a word into English giving it context it didn't have in the original? I'm constantly amused by French words that are utterly neutral in French and mean something else in English. Borders has a sign saying "Recherche' Searches" which they think just means "Searches" in both languages, but which I can't help reading as English with recherche' as a modifier...

And I think whatever you'd make of being a rabbi would be a good thing for there to be in the world.

bounce away!

[gingicat]

Everything you've said so far sounds pretty good. I'll let you know if I have a more useful comment. :)

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

This fits you. :)

A.

[jenett]

It sounds very cool. And like something that you can use to *some* good purpose when you're done with it.

(I suspect that there are similar things to what several Catholics I know have done with varying divinity degrees, including religious education, liturgical planning and educational stuff, and all that sort of fun.)

And if you want to learn this stuff, it's worth knowing just to know, right?

[greenlily.livejournal.com]

I think it sounds like a terrific idea. The kind of studying you're describing, sounds like it would prepare you for any number of steps which would not be mutually exclusive. :)

[ex-serenejo.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is so exciting! Mazel Tov.

(I just decided yesterday to go back to school. This is the first I've mentioned it beyond telling my sweeties, but I'm all filled with solidarity all of a sudden. :-)

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Go, you! I think this is great. And hey! another potenital clergy to add to my collection! (I have friends who are or are in the process of becoming Episcopalian priests, and a brother-in-law who is an Antiochean Orthodox priest.)

(Um, you do know I'm just joking about the "collecting"bit? Good. Because, all kidding aside, i think it is wonderful that you are considering this.)

[jehanna.livejournal.com]

This is terrific. :) Actually, having read this entry and your subsequent comments on it, it sounds like you're considering doing this for very similar reasons to those that led me to get my MA in Irish Studies years ago.

Hey, Ford? I gotta joke for you: a rabbi and a druid walk into a bar. I don't know what the next line of the joke is, but, in seven years, ya wanna find out?

I wouldn't miss it for anything. :)

[kimberly-a.livejournal.com]

This sounds very exciting. And -- even *more* important -- you sound excited about it. That's wonderful! I look forward to reading more about it in your journal, including any explorations of the admissions essay questions.

[rosefox]

I hope you have a wonderful time. *)

[yehoshua.livejournal.com]

I failed just about every class for three semesters before they asked me to leave.

But... you aced Directed Writing Poetry!!!

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Your people skills and your love of studying Judaica would make you an excellent rabbi. If you didn't have the interest in religion I would suggest a counseling or helping profession for you, but your spirituality and interest in that field of study cinches the deal.

Congrats

[angelovernh.livejournal.com]

sounds like a good plan.. :)
I'd say Jewish Education if you want input on that. You seem to love teaching.. just an observation.

[goljerp]

I'm in favor of this plan, as it seems to have a good chance of getting you and Lis into NY while I'm here...

But seriously, If it excites you, then I think you should go for it.

[laurens10.livejournal.com]

I went to Hebrew College for a couple of semesters (plus a couple of classes of ulpan) last year. I highly recommend the person they have teaching Biblical Hebrew there now (assuming she is still there)! I only took a semester of the Biblical Hebrew class (aka Hebrew 4), and I passed my language requirement at Harvard Divinity using what I learned from it, and did well enough in my third year Biblical Hebrew class even though the (non-Jewish)* head of the Hebrew department thought that I might need to start at the very beginning.

She was very tough, but she was excellent.

* I'm not sure if the head of the div school's Hebrew department understands the methodology schools like Hebrew College and Brandeis use in teaching Biblical Hebrew. In other words, they give you x amount of semesters in Modern Hebrew, and then give you Biblical Hebrew for Speakers of Modern Hebrew.