By Barbara Shuman

Wow, what a day! Overnight the convention center has filled with folks from 49 states and 14 countries, representing over 500 congregations. I've met people for the first time, and renewed friendships with others from the near and distant past. How wonderful to get reacquainted with someone who was in my confirmation class 46 years ago (!), people I studied with at Union Kallot, rabbis who formerly served each of the congregations I have belonged to as an adult... the list goes on.

The energy here is palpable and tonight it reached a new high. The experimental maariv service was over the top! The room was overflowing (standing room only!) with folks of all ages - from a toddler just learning to walk, to men and women leaning on canes for support.

There was such joy in the room. The service introduced many innovations - instead of prayer books, the words were projected in hebrew and transliteration on very large screens.

The background for the prayers were fabulous images of natural beauty (waterfalls, snow capped mountains, clear lakes, fall foliage, birds in flight). I felt as if I was praying outdoors and my words were reaching far beyond the walls of the room. My hands were free to clap in rythm with the music, and all around me people were dancing, swaying, moving to the jazzy beat of the music. There were eight or more cantors, and an amazing band of keyboard, electric guitar, violin, flute and drums. The rabbi offered iyyunei t'filah, brief introductions to some oft he prayers that were enlightening and entertaining. There were old and new melodies of various styles and it was so alive! It was exciting to feel one's whole mind, body and spirit engaged so fully. I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!