Shabbat is almost here and the excitement is building. The buzz I keep hearing is that this Biennial is terrific. The workshop sessions have been well attended and well received, the plenary sessions have gotten rave reviews, especially last night's program on Building Community in the 21st Century. The Women's Torah Commentary was introduced to the Biennial Thursday morning and the line to purchase copies at the URJ Bookstore was very long! Clearly this volume is destined to be a tremendous success.

The exhibition hall has been a huge hit - both for the attendees and the exhibitors. It is so refreshing to visit an exhibition hall bathed in natural sunlight rather than in a windowless hall somewhere in a windowless convention center. The San Diego Convention Center has been a marvel for all - light, bright, well laid out, accessible and very manageable. Kudos to Robin Hirsch, the Union Director of Meetings and Conventions for her tremendous foresight to pick this marvelous venue for the 69th Biennial.

Today's program should be outstanding - Robert Heller's farewell address, awarding Eisendrath awards to Michael J. Fox and Jeffrey Sachs, the beginning of study with HUC-JIR scholars and, of course, Kabbalat Shabbat, festive Regional Shabbat dinners and a rousing song session.

Shirley and I wish all of you have a very very Shabbat Shalom.