Crazy Idea, or Is It?

[wrenb]

Last week I was at the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial convention. I had a wonderful time attending workshops, concerts, a play, and praying a whole lot (and, a.n.ers, meeting Karen for dinner and photos). In addition to the ideas I've got for improving my committee work, I've come home with a crazy idea percolating in my brain.

Would I make a good rabbi? I have an undergraduate degree in psychology, which reflects my desire 10 years ago to counsel people with problems, not with serious mental illnesses. I have always been an institutional prayer kind of girl, ever since Sunday School at the age of 7. I'm a regular on the Torah reading schedule. I have a good voice, but very few technical musical skills, so I feel that being a cantor (a Jewish professional singer/musician) isn't available to me.

On the other hand I'm shy. And I can't go back to school for at least another 2 years. I'd like to spend some years at home with my hypothetical future kids. And this is an idea, not a burning passion.

But I've just spent 5 days surrounded by rabbis, cantors & Jewish professionals, and I felt a deep bond with them. I don't want to be a secretary my whole life. I want to lead prayer and help people through their troubles.

If I do this I need to learn Hebrew far better than I do right now. First year rabbinic students live in Jerusalem. And I can't speak Hebrew, only pronounce it. I wish I could take a class at the UW, but that's not in the budget right now. I do have a workbook that I never finished that I could go back to working through. I figure Hebrew and Torah study (Saturday mornings at my synagogue) are baby steps I can take.

Am I dreaming far beyond my abilities and talents?

Comments

[wrenb.livejournal.com]

Vocal training I have. I sang in choirs between 8 and 18 with an additional semester in college. I did forensics for 6 years. I blew people away with my bat mitzvah speech, and could easily have done it without a mic.

But the program at HUC expects a cantor to have college-level musical education. While I enjoy singing, my joy and experience has always been at a decidedly amateur level. I've tried in the past to learn piano and guitar, but I've never had much skill. I'm more of a voice & tambourine kind of girl. :)

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

*nod* The second instrument part of a BA in music is the hard part for a lot of people. I know why they require it, understand and agree completely, and... it's what kept me from going for a BA in music. I'm just enough of a classic dumb soprano that any instrument other than voice makes me crazy (and just enough *not* a dumb one that I can read music pretty competently). Tho, percussion like tambourine still counts as a second instrument ;).

I do get sore throats still sometimes, and I can't do without a mic... think it goes along with the structural stuff that resulted in me being a straight up soprano despite being tall and with a large chest cavity.