I am in Israel...

...even if I have barely been outside to see it.
Chodesh tov! I hope you all had a lovely start to Elul. I am now settled, my jet-lag largely past, albeit at the cost of maariv last night. There is a good group of guys here, although I have not been struck by any strong desire to be friends with anyone in particular. However, such feelings have had only modest correlation with actual friendships formed in the past, so I don't make much of it. I was placed into the lowest level, but classes are enjoyable even so. I do need the vocabulary. Still, I have hope of swift advancement.

My classes:

Gemara with Rabbi Eliezer Kwass, a mild-mannered YU/Har Etzion alumnus. Starting with the third perek in Rosh Hashanah, talking about sanctification of the new moons. As one would expect at this level, it goes slowly. We have barely finished translating the first mishna, with very little discussion of the questions that it raises. 

Mishna and Hashkafa with Rabbi Aryeh Goldshmiedt, a sectless Chassid (I had no idea there was such a thing). He so far seems willing to allow me to derail the class, so we may not get to the mishna much. We have been discussing Rav Kook's views on teshuva. Also had a nice debate over the following question: when we say that we are motivated to observe mitzvot because God tells us to, is the relationship more comparable to that between spouses or that between student and teacher?

Hebrew with Rabbi Abraham Fischer. Looks good, as it should be. Language skills definitely feel like my most pressing concern right now.

Halakha with Rabbi Yitzchak Lerner, a gregarious fellow who takes a brass tacks approach to Judaism. One interesting tid-bit: the Mishna Brurah forbids cutting one's nails in order. 

Once a week shiur with Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Yitzchak Hirshfeld. Very interesting. Took a Rambam that seemed to flat out contradict a mishna, and almost but didn't quite resolve it through a later rishon. Also on the third perek of Rosh Hashanah.

Anyway, I need to wake up absurdly early for Shacharit, so I am off to bed. For my next post, a vote:

I can expand on any of those topics, if the short version piqued some interest.

I can do something similar to this, see if new topics of greater interest come up in the next few days.

I can write up my family history, to the best of my knowledge.

In honor of the new talks, I can give over my views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

I am also open to suggestions.

So, what do the people want to see?

Shabbat Shalom,

-Ethan