Hello all!  So, real classes have finally begun!  The school week here goes from Sunday until Thursday, and our weekend is Friday and Saturday.  I’m taking some really interesting classes!  I have one class of Biblical Hebrew and about 5 classes of Modern Hebrew per week.  I also have a history class and a T’filah/liturgy class.  My cantorial courses include History of Jewish music, Cantillation of the Bible, Sight-Singing/Music Theory, Israeli Folk and Popular Music, and a Cantorial Workshop.  Although he is not the head of the Cantorial program this year, Eliyahu Schleifer, a highly renowned cantor, is one of our professors.

 

The first week of classes is over and we already have lots of work to do!  I have solos to prepare for High Holy Days and a cold that’s preventing me from practicing!  Nonetheless, I’m very excited that things here are moving along.  I still have to keep convincing myself that I’m living in Israel and in Cantorial School at HUC!

 

Also, during our break between summer ulpan and classes, I went with a group of students on a vacation to Greece.  We had a lot of fun visiting an Acropolis and playing on the beach.  Here are some pictures: