September 20, 2007

September 20, 2007

Spencer Kelly

6:30 breakfast came a little too early for most this morning, after yesterday’s fun free day at the beach and the Old City. Jimmy outdid himself in the kitchen again and cooked us up French toast, eggs, and the cinnamon oatmeal, porridge stuff that we all can’t get enough of. 7:30 Old Testament class just could not come quick enough yet, we waited patiently for Bro. Ludlow to begin.

Our discussion revolved mainly around covenants. We learned that the word covenant means to cut a bond, or karat be’rith in Hebrew. A covenant is “a solemn agreement between two or more parties,” “a promise of God to His children,” “a solemn agreement between God and His children containing His promises to us.” Bro. Ludlow spoke of the seven basic elements of a covenant and their possible usefulness on a future quiz namely: introduction, historical context, stipulations, ritual act, rewards and punishments, witnesses, and perpetuation. Covenants can be either vertical or horizontal; vertical meaning between God and His children and horizontal meaning between humans, either as individuals or groups. To our dismay time flew by as usual and before we knew it 8:30 was upon us and it was time to move to the forum for our Judaism class.

Looming uncertainty hung about us on our long walk from classroom 3 to the forum where our first Judaism quiz awaited us. We would be quizzed on material that covered hundreds of pages of reading, which of course, we did long before this day approached. The forum usually frigid as the Siberian tundra, was sweltering with anticipation of what was about to take place. The battle with Jewish history was long and hard but our class came out victorious in end with only a few casualties.

After the battle, separate ways were taken, Hebrew speakers to class and Arabic speakers to bed. Nap time was thoroughly enjoyed and we Arabic speakers came to lunch feeling mabsootin. Overly confident after spending an hour with the legendary Judy Goldman, the Hebrew speakers greeted us with a newly learned song and dance.

Numbering close to 50, we left the Center to see the ever impressive Israel National Museum. Oohs and aahs fell freely, as we went from exhibit to exhibit, from the strange art to the stranger. Cultured and hungry we quickly returned home to the Center and called it a day.