Finally There

...The young American man walked back into zal, in complete surprise, reminiscing the first time he went off to yeshiva in NY. There too the yeshiva, designed for baal teshuvas, was divided into levels and he remembered walking into the classroom for the first time and meeting the rebbe for level one, the lowest level. Remembering that just strengthened the feeling that he had just died (pulverised, burned, and the ashes thrown into the sea) and then resurrected (all decked out in white).

It was probably because he spent a whole year humorously and constantly idolizing them, going on and on how they just knew everything, got away with everything, and could do everything (including levitate and use Jedi mind tricks, actually, it’s the Jedis that use shiur Aleph mind tricks), but he felt lighter than air (or at least like he was made of some sort of fluffy dessert). Even better, for the first time since he came, he felt completely content (relatively speaking). He had finally done what he said he’d do in the beginning.

R. Cohen had called him into the office, for a second time that day after first giving a somewhat-hopeful-but-mostly-a-letdown talk about his desire to move up to the highest shiur, and told him that he had just been officially put up. Put up to shiur Aleph. He couldn’t believe it! It was ten times better than last time. He was certain he wasn’t going to make it that zman, maybe not ever, but he did! Now he would have a new schedule, Hebrew tests, closed book feirherts, and try to keep up w/ whatever it is that shiur Aleph is supposed to do (he was never actually sure what they have to do).

Maybe it was because he would never shut up about it, but damn he made it.

Shiur Aleph

...ok now what?