Ends and Beginnings

Today was a day of many ends that were just the beginnings and beginnings of the end.

1. Today, our gemara class finished our first masechet in gemara, Masechet Megillah.  Learning a masechet in gemara takes a lot of hard work and dedication.  We spent every Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning learning sometimes up to two dafim (double sided pages) of gemara.  At the end of today's class, everyone gathered together as we made our siyum on masechet megillah.  It was really nice because there was food, someone said a dvar torah/ gemara, and the whole school was there to celebrate with us.  This isn't only the end of learning a masechet of gemara, at the beginning of next semester we will be starting a new masechet which we will hopefully be finishing at the end of the year.

2. Tonight is the first night of Hanukkah. It's the beginning of a holiday at the end of the month of Kislev.  It's the beginning of winter, yet it's the end of the day light hours getting shorter.  The lobby of our dorms was filled with girls as the sun set in Jerusalem.  There was hardly enough room for everyone to put their chanukiahs out on the table, say the berachot, and sing a song or two. It was so nice to see everyone gathered to celebrate "The Festival of Lights." Afterwards, I went for a walk with my friend Adina, while wearing flip- flops I might add.  We saw them lighting the huge chanukiah in front of the Chorva shul.  Then we went by wear all the apartments are and outside every house, there were lit candles inside a glass box.  It was so nice to see the rows of lights outside all the houses.

3. Tomorrow will be MTA's last day in Harova and today was their last day of classes. The South Africans and Australians run on a different schedule than us, so they leave in the middle of our year which for them is the beginning of the school year. Tonight we had a Messibat Siyum, a party to celebrate everything they've done.  People made speeches, there was slide shows and videos, and giving out gifts.  There was also an amazing dinner that they organized for us and great stuff for dessert. We're really going to miss MTA because they added so much life to Harova and we are really excited for the new MTA girls who are beginning in February.

These events are just the ends of one stage, but the beginning of another.  Shalom V'lehitraot!