Shabbat

[cellio]

Friday night's torah reading was a little rough, but we all survived. They had me read from a large scroll, which means the top of the column was pretty far away once the scroll was rolled out on the table. Naturally, my portion started two lines down from the top of a column, and the table was kind of high. I was standing on tip-toes and leaning on the table to get close enough to almost see. Next time, I ask for a different scroll. (The associate rabbi also pointed out, after, that the height of the table could be adjusted with the press of a button. Great; wish I'd known that earlier. :-) )

It appears that many in the congregation interpreted my problems as nervousness. Nope. I chanted the climactic part of the binding of Yitzchak in front of 900 people on Rosh Hashana; I think I'm over nervousess in my own congregation.

But I also got a lot of positive feedback; chanting is not common in our congregation and it was a longer portion, and I guess that impressed people. I actually find that the chanting makes it easier for me, not harder, but I've got a knack for music and not-yet-adequate Hebrew comprehension. The music provides hints about the phrasing, which makes for a more coherent reading than if I just read the words without knowing what each one meant. Mind, I do go over a portion pretty thoroughly when learning it, first attempting my own translation and then studying a translation alongside the Hebrew, but that doesn't mean I can retain it all at the word level.

The associate rabbi said some nice things about me in the context of the Sh'liach K'hilah program. (They took the opportunity to tell the congregation at large that I've completed that program.) This generated some nice comments at the oneg.

Reading on Shabbat morning went much more smoothly. I tried, for the first time, giving my d'var torah without using notes; it turns out I'm not ready for that yet. Well, you don't know if you don't try, and it's a forgiving group. But there were things I meant to say and didn't, and things I didn't say as eloquently as I'd planned, and I'll just have to do better next time.

On Shabbat morning my rabbi also brought up the Sh'liach K'hilah program briefly, and mentioned that I'd read the previous night (many of the morning people hadn't been there). He also said something to the effect that he'd be giving me increasing opportunities to read on Friday nights; woot! I have hopes of eventually parlaying that into helping to lead worship too, but I'll take any advance.

Comments

[kayre]

I tried, for the first time, giving my d'var torah without using notes; it turns out I'm not ready for that yet.

did you practice out loud? lots? subvocalising just isn't the same.

which makes me think... i should spend part of my 'break' (pardon the pun) working on some new stories