About this Journal
Current Month
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031
Mar. 11th, 2010 @ 02:01 am כשר
And, once again, there is a mandatory activity that doesn't enhance the education here at all. I must profess my continued annoyance.

At least this is more limited and benefits some of the students. I don't understand the need for a captive audience.

I've been very caught up in my studies lately, but also in preparation. Pesach is in only 3 weeks. My mother is quite excited and my niece says she wants me to come home for the entire week. I must admit that the lack of kashrut here bothers me somewhat.

But I'm not comfortable with the amount of school I would miss. Even with the religious exemption. I'll spend at least the first two days there for the sedar, though. I was considering holding one here but I can't get together a minyan.
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Jan. 12th, 2010 @ 05:39 pm ארציים
It's still strange to me, despite five years here, how mundane Idris can be. At least, it seems mundane to me. Perhaps the winter break back in Israel is still echoing with me. I always feel more on edge after that. It's different there, although not as much in Acre as it was visiting my sister when she was in college.

I'm very glad to be back in the swing of school. I rather missed my homework and the library. The libraries outside of Idris seem somewhat smaller now, considering they're missing an entire section.

My niece has sent me a very late birthday present. Although she gave me some books at home, she was saving her money to buy me a Hebrew, leather bound edition of Sherlock Holmes several very nicely bound books, a new mezzuzah for the door of my dorm and she donated money to a foundation for rescuing Torahs from unsafe synagogues around the world.

And she also sent me several coupons for local diners. I'm unsure how she got them... but she seems determined that I could be doing things aside from studying. Strange. Very strange. She told me to invite friends. Would anyone like a gift card to Café Tiki? What was she thinking?
About this Entry
12 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Jan. 4th, 2010 @ 03:29 pm בית ספר
I, for one, am glad to be back in class. I've missed this. At home, despite the joys of family, I miss the atmosphere of learning.

As a birthday treat, my ima sent me with rugelach. They're mostly almond and chocolate but she included a few poppyseed filled as well. Anyone is welcome to them. She believes that celebrations can only be made whole with food. I can't eat the amount she sent with me.

With a new semester starting, I'm hoping to get a head start on studying and homework. Would anyone else be interested in some preemptive studying? I believe I was informed I have a party tonight... but I would be perfectly happy to be in the library until then.
About this Entry
19 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 31st, 2009 @ 11:45 am מזל־טובֿ צו דײַן געבוירנטאָג
I'm 17 as of now.

Well, actually, I won't be exactly 17 until 5:15 pm. But there's no reason to put stock in anything that specific. It only matters for the sake of detail.

My mame made a rather gorgeous cake, chocolate and fruit with a fabulous raspberry frosting. And my sister gave me a new bookcase, something I've needed rather desperately for some time. And my niece half-filled the bookshelves with the entire Harry Potter series in Hebrew, Pern in Russia and I can't believe she thought of getting me an Issac Assimov book in Japanese with many interesting texts in multiple languages.

But I'm looking forward to returning to Idris when this break is over. Studying will be welcome.
About this Entry
23 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 26th, 2009 @ 05:45 pm יום הולדת
Only 5 days until my birthday. Although I can't say I have many plans for it, my sister and niece have already begun baking. Mame and Tate haven't gotten back from Central America, but their schedule means they'll be back on the 30th. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone together again, particularly having met Ora's newest boyfriend. He's another Rabbinical student.

I hope that all who celebrate it had a good Christmas. I don't quite remember if it was yesterday or today. Our Hebrew calender doesn't have the date marked, although it does provide translations in the Western calender for months and dates. Whenever it was, I hope it was enjoyable.

But for now, I'm going to return to the synagogue. With Shabbat over, there's always room in the library.

[Private to Mathieu]

My sister insisted on setting up a trundle bed in my room. If you'd like your own room, I'd have to start discussing it with her right away. Ora's out of the house, but her room is mostly a sewing room now.

[/Private]
About this Entry
24 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 21st, 2009 @ 10:31 am ורוד
I appear to have dyed my skin pink through the opening of a present. I cannot say I was expecting that. And I'm not particularly grateful to whoever sent that box. Why would one do that? No amount of scrubbing has taken it off. I'm not glad to be going to my tests like this. But I won't let it be a distraction.

At my mother's request, I'm not picking out presents for anyone. She sent me large amounts of gelt, cookies and sufganiyot to share with the school. You'll find them in the cafeteria. There are plenty of all the different types.

After this... incident I'm going to save my other presents to be opened in a safer and more controlled environment. Curiosity seems to have gotten the advantage of me.
About this Entry
2 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 16th, 2009 @ 03:30 pm (no subject)
That was rather disgusting both to hear and to know that someone would share it. The idea of taking an intimate moment of another person's life and broadcasting it is as near to despicable as one can get. To do so takes a kind of mindset that I cannot nor would I like to imagine. It strikes me as selfish but even more than that. It's the mindset that encourages criminal behavior and a lack of empathy between people.

I would not believe that that moment was true, though, considering the nature of the person who broadcasted it. That adds only to the disgust at sharing a falsehood with the school regarding one of the students.

[Private to self]

That was disgusting to hear. Disgusting.

I am glad to be asexual. I would never want to experience that.

I think.

[/Private]
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 11th, 2009 @ 04:32 pm חנוכה שמח!
It is now the first night of Chanukkah. It's a more minor holiday, but I find that it's the most well-known of the Jewish holidays. And it has always been a time of family for me. My parents would return home to spend the week with my sister, her husband, myself and my niece. I am also a fan of doughnuts, at least homemade.

I'm looking forward to finals. I consider this time of year the best time to show what we've learned.

My sister asked me to come home during the break. It's the first time I'll have gone with her rather than with my parents. But I look forward to meeting Ora's boyfriend. He's in Rabbinical school and offered several of his last semester's books to look over at my leisure.

[Private]

I have been thinking about the date I went on, in light of the winter ball occurring tonight. It strikes me as strange how little I felt on the date and how I was simply glad for it to be over. Shoshana assured me it is normal. But she had already met David when she was my age, although she didn't date him for a few years. I cannot say I've ever felt an attraction to a woman. At least to none of the ones I've met here.

Asexuality may assist my studies, but it will make living up to commandments more difficult.

[/Private]
About this Entry
12 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 9th, 2009 @ 10:16 am מרק
This has been a week I certainly wished my mame could send chicken soup. I did my best to avoid the illness. But I there is nothing like a bowl of chicken soup both as a preventative and a cure. Although I'm not sure about the magical properties.

But as everyone recovers, it surprises me somewhat how normal this schools seems to me now. I know how long I've been here, but I never before realized how simply normal it had become.

Friday is the first day of Hanukah. Would anyone be interested in a candle lighting ceremony? I have my grandmother's menorah and a very good supply of candles, as well as several prayer books in multiple languages. I'm looking forward to this, as the Maccabees are one of my favorite stories of Roman Jews and as part of Israeli's mythical history.
About this Entry
23 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Dec. 2nd, 2009 @ 10:58 am (no subject)
I didn't know the deceased very well, but I offer my condolences to everyone who has lost a friend.

[Private to self]

It's a good deal like being back home during the worst time. I remember the bombings and the cars blown up.

... I should call my sister.

[/Private]
About this Entry
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Nov. 24th, 2009 @ 12:16 am רומנטיקה
Huh. That's dating.

I'm fairly sure I don't understand it. Or, at least, the enjoyment people find in it. I suppose it was a positive to get food and have leftovers. Otherwise... I repeat: I don't understand why people would do these things.

[Private to Self]

I should have felt something for her. Even if it was just random attraction. But I felt nothing. Not even the tiniest interest. That was... boring. Boring and pointless. It was a waste of time I could have been continuing my research in. Why do people do that? Why would anyone do that?

But I feel like I should have wanted something. Was she trying to hold me hand? She might have been.

And I've noticed that other people get excited about dates. I wasn't excited or nervous. She didn't make me feel anything.

Am I really asexual? The commandments say to 'be fruitful and multiply'. Can I do that alone?

[/Private to Self]
About this Entry
26 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Nov. 21st, 2009 @ 12:47 am החטא ועונשו
I have mixed feelings about the death penalty. If we must equate life to life, how do we punish people who kill multiple people? You can't say that the punishment for one death should be equal to the punishment of someone for multiple deaths. But there's really no punishment past killing someone. That's their end.

I'll admit that I don't know enough about the facts of the magical justice system to truly argue any case. It's just an issue. When people know they'll die for their crime, they often become more prepared to give up their lives for the crime. And the more prepared they are to die for a crime, the more will die.

But I extend my condolences to those here who lost a loved one. That is something immensely painful to experience and cannot be healed easily.
About this Entry
29 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Nov. 7th, 2009 @ 11:46 pm וואָס אַ מאָל
My parents called to discuss the incident with Amelia. I'm still bothered by it. I just don't see how fighting solves anything. It doesn't solve much back home, unless you consider death a solution to life.

I just don't see the reason for any two groups to hate each other. In Israel, it's Muslims and Jews, Palestinians and Israelis; here it's Fae and Therian. But it's all the same and it's all rather uneducated. Personal dislikes I understand. But an entire culture/civilization/species? Pointless. Utterly, completely, pointless, a waste of effort and emotion.

Amelia's side of the fight had little to do with that part of things.

But I wonder will cause the next fight. And the one after that. Or the next argument. My parents aren't worried about me here because I've always been in danger. But how many parents will pull their children out due to worry? How many growing witches, warlock, mages, Fae and Therian will lose an opportunity?

Everyone's actions affect more than themselves. Think about that before anyone starts rioting. Or exploding.
About this Entry
15 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 31st, 2009 @ 08:55 am קרב
Amelia was in a fight? I find that very difficult to believe. But she was injured severely. I thought she had been friends with Sullivan. This is... difficult to believe. And she has been flown to another hospital to be treated. I wish I had been present, although I am sure that my response would not have helped if the healer in the hospital wing cannot. But perhaps the sooner treatment occurred the more likely it would have been successful in keeping her in better shape.

I want to know more of the fight. I want to know why she fought, why he fought, what happened and what lead up to everything that occurred.



Amelia? Truly?

I must ask my parents to visit the hospital. If they are in the area, perhaps I may go to see them and visit her.

About this Entry
15 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 7th, 2009 @ 01:52 pm באַדערפֿענישן
Mandatory? What were the farkhakt administration thinking? I have homework and research I could be doing. Why would I go to a dance? What a pointless waste of time. What a waste of resources. At least they'll provide us masks. I can't imagine the time I'd have to waste trying to get one of my own.
About this Entry
14 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Oct. 4th, 2009 @ 08:37 pm (no subject)
Sometimes, it disturbs me that nothing seems to change the nature of the humans and humanoid creatures that live on this planet. I've read lots of histories, both of my people and of others. They are almost always identical, or at least similar, in similar ways. People dislike each other for the simple reason that they are different. And not even different in ways that matter. Why dislike people for what they are when you can learn who they are and find much better reasons to dislike them?

In truth, I don't wholly agree with that sentiment. But my elder sister instilled the idea in me very deeply. But I've read enough histories to that see, it some ways, it would be better if it was true. The logic of disliking an entire people is all too easy to see for me. I've done my best to avoid it.

I've known people who died in bombings. I live in Israel! My family still lives there. My grandparents were killed in the Holocaust.

The fact that magic could do much worse, much faster... it disturbs me. It disturbs me on many level that I did not realize until I spoke to my eema about the latest attacks and the latest negotiations.

But at least it is fall. And it is time to celebrate the harvest. I didn't have an etrog yet, the package was delayed, but my eema promised me one soon enough. The smell will be very refreshing.
About this Entry
2 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 18th, 2009 @ 08:29 pm חמישה
Gutes Neues Jahr.
С новым годом.
לשנה טובֿה תּכּתבֿו
שנה טובה
Happy New Year. May you be inscribed in the book of life for a sweet year.
About this Entry
5 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 17th, 2009 @ 08:39 am ארבעה
Yet more proof that the majority of the world is not Jewish...

I have been struggling to get online while wanderinf France, but finding a computer in my mother's friend's house was a strange combination of luck and skill. But to hear that there has been violence two days before Rosh Hashanah? Ugh. Disgusting.

I cannot wait to be where I masy read all the details of this occurrence, if only to understand the details... even if I must force myself to put off all research until after the High Holy Day.

My mother will be sending me back to campus with many apples and much honey, to support a sweet new year. Perhaps this will be a good year to share with all.
About this Entry
4 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 13th, 2009 @ 08:05 pm שלוש
Je ne peux pas croire que j'ai dû venir ici.

I'm in Paris for this break. I plan on spending the summer with my sister and nephew instead of touring Egypt again. I've seen the pyramids enough times by now...

I do need to get better at French. I'll practice this week and take a pile of books back to my room.

[Private to Arion]

Do you know of any books that provide a comprehensive history of blitzball? It's difficult to understand the rules without the context of how they developed and I want to understand them. I'm trying to create a list of boos to find when I return to the school.

[/Private]
About this Entry
8 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link
Sep. 10th, 2009 @ 10:31 pm שתיים
Current Mood: aggravated

Who ever decided it was a good idea to experiment by tossing something into the common room of Araboth could stand to learn a good deal about the rules of experimentation, such as test subject knowledge, controls and other such important parts of the process.

Yom Kippur occurs on a Monday this year. I am unsure if going to class while fasting is acceptable. Praying by myself is not the same as being with a minyan, but it feels better than simply going to school as if nothing special is occurring.

Although I suppose pretending nothing is occurring would be better than something like the birthday posters assaulting me in these halls. There is a distinct lack of respect for the school in those.

[Private to self]

Eema sent me a new collection of what she considers magic books. I was quite eagerly awaiting the last book in the Discworld series. I'm glad she managed to find it in German, rather than trying to wait for the Hebrew translation. I suppose tomorrow will be a good time to take a small break from studying. She has sent me another copy of Lord of the Rings. I don't think she reads the titles when she buys them in foreign languages, just looks at the pictures. I ought to teach her the titles to avoid this issue.

[/Private]
About this Entry
4 comments
Leave a comment
Permanent Link