25 March 2006

Pondering My Blog's Existence

In the last few days I have been pondering how to continue my blog. While I am merely a first-year rabbinical student, I'm unsure as to how my thoughts are perceived by others. Even if I were to continue on blogging through my second year, the same thought occurs. But, once I enter my third year, I start interning, and I imagine that won't be so simple - not necessarily in a time-crunch sort of way, but rather a perception sort of way. As I get another internship and start job-hunting in my fourth year, I would assume that my blog would certainly no longer be operating. I certainly wouldn't want potential employers finding out everything about me. Granted, I know that people would want to know all the intricacies of my life and thought, but there's a line somewhere.
I've realized that for both dating purposes and professional(?) purposes, it is better not to leave some areas of my life untouched on this blog. Therefore, I have purged - or, at least, have tried to purge - my dating posts as well as some of the more "touchy" posts. So, I apologize now for anybody who was trying to look at back posts regarding these items, but they have now vanished.
So that leads me to my next point - my change in direction in both this blog and in my life: whither? While I certainly see my blog lasting, at the longest, two years more, it may meet its demise much sooner. Furthermore, if I want to present myself as a future rabbi rather than merely as a student, I should also blog as one. This last point, however, strikes me as a haughty one: that I should conduct myself as if I were already a rabbi, which might be construed as arrogant. That's a "toughy".
I'm going to try to work on sounding more rabbinic or something on my blog - or at least blog about things that aren't so non-rabbinic. Okay, let's face it, I'm having a hard time identifying my status and outlook at the moment.
I'm done with this post, but not finished with the idea - very not finished.
Props to Shira for voluntarily suggesting edits to this post.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

While I agree that you might want to cut back on your personal posts, you should think twice before dropping your blog completely. I don't know where you see yourself working after semicha, but with shuls, schools, and hillels looking for younger dynamic leaders to reach out to the internet generation, being a blogging rabbi could be an asset for you.

Drew Kaplan said...

Avrum,
Thank you for visiting my blog and for the comment. Y'know, it's funny, because I had a dream this past weekend along similar lines - that someone had come up to me and said that they now realize how much of a good thing my blog is and how much of an asset it is. Now while it may not be that special, it definitely is a good point. And you do make a good point.

Shira Salamone said...

I'm glad you got my e-mail. Since Yahoo "ate" all records of it, I was beginning to wonder whether I'd ever actually sent it.

I'm relieved to know that you don't consider me too much of a busybody. What can I say? Between being the shul's bulletin editor for the past decade or so and editing documents at the office for a living, taking an editor's "red pencil" to everything in sight is pretty much second nature to me. You should see how long it takes me to edit my *own* posts. Oy. I usually end up making corrections to a post even after I've published it.

Anyway, best of luck with school and with blogging. Choosing what to discuss and what not to discuss can be pretty difficult. I've had occasion to regret having published a post. For you, it's even more of a challenge, since you post under your real name. (I have to stay "in the closet" as a blogger in order to discuss my shul freely, which is one of the main reasons why I chose to blog, and in order to blog about work without repercussions.) You might want to write and edit your posts in Word, then consider whether actually publishing them is in your best interest. In case of doubt or second thoughts, you can always keep them on your computer as private files, diary-style. A log need not be a web-log.

chareidi said...

The most important thing a Jew must do is focus on the afterlife. Not to be distracted by the secular society that promotes anti Torah ideals. A Jew must be passionate about Shabbos and G-d and realize we dont need to placate the outside liberal world. We as Jews oppose the liberal agendas.

Drew Kaplan said...

Heshy,
I don't know which form of Judaism you believe in, but the one with which I'm familiar is that of this world - not the afterlife. It is in this world that we can sanctify God's name.
As to the liberal agendas thing, where in the Torah is that? We as Jews are thoughtful, not opposed to "the liberal agendas".

Steg (dos iz nit der šteg) said...

All i can say is that i can finally read your blog again without having my webbrowser freeze! Yishar koahh! :-P

Anonymous said...

Just thought I'd mention that the Afterlife is an Ikkar Emunah.

Drew Kaplan said...

Anonymous,
I do agree with you that the afterlife is an ikkar emunah (fundamental of faith), however my point was to point to the fact that Judaism emphasizes life in this world. That emphasis, however, does not exclude a belief in the world to come. Hopefully, I have clarified this point. I apologize to anybody who was not clear on this from before.