A really great day

I'd give today a solid, solid A.

My Gemara shiur was fabulous, as my chevruta Matt and I stormed through parallel sugiyot in both the Bavli and the Yerushalmi on Massechet Megillah while even having some time for a fascinating midrash on Mordecai and King Ahaseureus.

In Nevi'im Rishonim, my new bikiut Nach class, we're two p'rakim into Melachim and Shlomo just ascended to kingship. The Beit HaMikdash is surely on it's way soon.

My Zohar class was esoteric as ever, but I'm really letting go of the sheer rationalist in me and opening up to the totally radical concepts that were recently reserved for the Kabbalists.

Another Matt, my Mishnah Yomi chevruta, and I conquered Massechet Sota, nearly catching up to the calendar after falling twelve mishnayot behind. 10 mishnayot in an hour and change. Unstoppable.

My night seder chevruta, Ariel, and I had one of our best sessions tonight, unlocking some groundbreaking ideas that even the Rishonim don't comment upon.

And finally, my homegirl Ilana is back in town, and I had my first meaningful conversation outside of Torah in a long while.

Yes, I know I spent this whole post talking in Jewish code, but it's too late and I'm too happily exhausted to care. Lilah tov.

Am I Dead?

The answer is: NO!

I know, I haven't posted in awhile, and this isn't going to exactly satisfy your appetite.

I'm planning on writing up something interesting after Shabbos, but for now, a quick Shabbat Shalom and a status update.

I'm currently working on my application for the Pardes Fellows Program, which is a well-funded one-year program with a stipend. The program is aimed at returning students. I was also accepted into the Educator's Program, but I'm going to push the master's degree back a year in favor of learning more Torah. The Master's in Jewish Education is definitely in the plan, though.

I'll write more soon.

PS This is one of my favorite pictures that I've ever taken (click for bigger):