Piggybacking on my sister's Temple in Toronto, I'm grabbing some time and access in their "Volunteer's Suite" in the hotel. This is a first -- and a last -- for me all week. There is no Wifi in the Conference hotels, so I've posted my daily blogs after the hour-long commute to my sister's home, typically between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., eastern time zone. This doesn't seem so late if I imagine myself to be with you all in Nashville, central time. :)
While I have some quiet time, I'm thinking of some of the non-learning benefits of the URJ Biennial:
-being with my sister and her family. My three nephews are similar ages to Michael and my children. Y'know what they say about a grandmother's joy? Well, ditto for that of an aunt!
-being welcomed again by my sister's Toronto congregational family, renewing and building from the 9 years of friendship developed from many trips "across the border" from my former home in Rochester, NY;
-dinner with a large group from my former congregation in Rochester, NY
-lunch -- twice! -- with a very close friend from my former congregation in Rochester, NY
-new friendships formed from the PDRJ Conference
-I'd run out of fingers if I tried to count the people I've run into from my Jewish past -- the Biennial is Jewish Geography!
This evening's Shabbat service is at 6 p.m. I'll be worshipping alongside 3,000 others, many of whom surely count among your friends and family. And I'll be thinking of all of you, praying for your health and happiness, for a restful and joyous Shabbat.
While I have some quiet time, I'm thinking of some of the non-learning benefits of the URJ Biennial:
-being with my sister and her family. My three nephews are similar ages to Michael and my children. Y'know what they say about a grandmother's joy? Well, ditto for that of an aunt!
-being welcomed again by my sister's Toronto congregational family, renewing and building from the 9 years of friendship developed from many trips "across the border" from my former home in Rochester, NY;
-dinner with a large group from my former congregation in Rochester, NY
-lunch -- twice! -- with a very close friend from my former congregation in Rochester, NY
-new friendships formed from the PDRJ Conference
-I'd run out of fingers if I tried to count the people I've run into from my Jewish past -- the Biennial is Jewish Geography!
This evening's Shabbat service is at 6 p.m. I'll be worshipping alongside 3,000 others, many of whom surely count among your friends and family. And I'll be thinking of all of you, praying for your health and happiness, for a restful and joyous Shabbat.
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