By Barbara Shuman

I can't believe only 24 hours have passed since my last post - it seems like 3 days! Yesterday was so full - an amazing workshop on "taking the ik out of Mikveh", spotlighting various models (mikveh in a reform temple, in a community educational center, in nature). I heard powerful stories of personal and communal transformation ; it really made me wonder how I might bring this practice into my own life.

The forum on spirituality was provocative. I came away with much to think about. One important reminder (from Larry Kushner) about what makes spiritulaity authentic: when we take our experience of the divine and use it for personal/egotistical purposes, it is "junk". But if it leads us to do what God expects of us, it is authentic. Kushner also taught that God says only one thing, "Return to Me" - how is that for a bumper sticker?!? Rabbi Zoe Klein shared a beautiful poem about love as reverence for mystery.

From her I learned that to love God is to love God's mystery. Fast frward to last nigth - how extraordinary that the evening program featured a Christian pastor (and author) Rick Warren, and that the conversation between him and two Reform Rabbis was moderated by a conservative Rabbi - it is wonderful that we can learn not only form our own leaders, but from those of other movements and even other faith traditions. Our tent is surely wide open!