that's just the way it is . . .

friday evening at services, the fellow sitting next to me leans over and says, "this is a strange minyan." I pause, a little puzzled. sometimes I miss things, and I reflect a moment before deciding to ask him, "what do you mean?"

"everyone likes each other!"

"when you have hungered for something for a long time, that's how it is . . . "

and he nodded in agreement

and I found the words from "Sim Shalom" singing in my head - "Chain v'chessed . . . "

I thought about this again at the morning services. the kiddush was set up early, and it was rich and colorful. with time, the services filled.

what makes this so different from other places I have been is that this seems so effortless, for everyone . . .