So I have to do things like sit in this annoying corporate cafe and use the internet that’s not provided BY them (for which one must pay) but that my computer picks up from someone else’s wifi out there.

To everyone out there who has wifi that’s not password protected: thank you. That’s very nice. I actually really do think–well, I think more internet should be available more places, and not just for people who are lucky enough to own computers. And so those of us who are in the financial position to be able to afford wifi, why close it up? What do you actually lose by making it possible for other people to get online as long as you can, anyway? It just seems so silly to me. I’m actually gonna get a cable modem at home for the first time ever and am SO getting a router, more so other people can use it if they’re in the area (neighbors, whoever–I don’t care) than because it’s such a big labor to hook the thing into my computer.

First day of school was (sort of) Thursday. Back to the Rabbi Farm. Some faces I haven’t seen in a long time and will be happy to have around, other people I am sorry to find out are not coming back. Will be a busy semester, as several of the classes I’m taking are known to be rather academically, er, demanding. Plus I’m still a High Holy Day Prep machine, this is gonna take a bunch of my free time for the next 6 weeks as well.

Here’s what I’m taking this semester, for those who are curious about these things:

Talmud with Rishonim
Biblical Criticism
Kabbalah
Psalms
Pastoral Counseling II (Had PC I back 2nd year)
Conservative (Movement) Halakah
Modern Jewish History

I think that’s it. It looks like a small-ish list, but a couple of those classes are really known to..um, demand rather the investment of time and brainpower. We’ll see how it goes in real life. Plus the all-school process seminar, which happens every other week, plus learning a bunch of the liturgical stuff I still haven’t mastered, since they don’t let us out of 4th year without getting cleared on synagogue skills. Plus HHD, plus, if free time allows, some of my own writing, but I’m not so optimistic about that. The cool thing about the halakha class is that we’re required to write a tshuvah, a responsa on Jewish law. So now I get to start thinking about what bits of halakha I’d like to argue something about, and how I’d do it. (*insert sound of evil cackling here*)

In the meantime, it’s time for me to go home and figure out what sources I’m going to use for my next sermon. I can’t complain about working all Labor Day Weekend, since I did have a summer of pretty much perpetual fun (hard work, but the fun kind of hard work, very lishmah). There will be some playtime later this evening. But for now: text text text.