By Marge Eiseman  
Many years ago, I got married in my parents' living room. For years afterwards, every time I walked into that room, I felt the warmth of that day, as if the love still lingered in the walls and the air.

At the time, there just wasn't any good space at our synagogue for a small-ish wedding - either one used the conference room which held 20-30, or the sanctuary, which looked empty with less than 100. Now of course, we could use our new Living and Learning space, one of the five simultaneous additions/renovations of our synagogue that was recently completed.

Congregation Sinai in Milwaukee is proudly gearing up to host the URJ/WRJ Great Lakes/Chicago Regional Biennial Shabbat morning service, featuring an address from Rabbi Eric Yoffie. Our sanctuary will be filled with Reform Jews, praying and singing together as one large congregation on November 8, led by our clergy, Rabbi David Cohen and Cantor Rebecca Robins.

Even though I can't attend the entire conference, I always figured I would attend the service. Then the invitation came to sing in the choir for this event, and I couldn't turn it down, in part because our brand-new cantor is so excited to be singing for this kahal.  She chose two pieces for us to sing and even bought us new white choir binders.

I'm excited, too. I never get blasé about being part of a large group of Jews. Every year, I go to at least one (and often more) such gathering, and every single time, I'm energized by the magnitude of the group. I love hearing the harmonies, knowing the words, being part of the scene.

I expect that in months and years to come, when the memory is strong, we'll sense the lingering hint of our shared experience of this service. Ken y'hi ratzon.

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