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They say that childhood is experiential. You can talk and talk and talk to a child trying to teach her something, but until she has the experience herself, she really doesn't internalize the learning.

As adults, we see a movie, read an article or even sit in a lecture, and although all of those things are valid and enriching ways to learn, they pale in comparison to experience.

When our senses are engaged and we are standing, walking, praying or doing something, there is a visceral reaction. Experiences are internalized and activate our emotions profoundly. We are moved and changed-we learn and we evolve.

Shared experience, standing with others, being engaged at the same time, is even more amazing. When we experience something with others, we not only learn about the subject or action in front of us, we learn about our companions by how they interpret the experience and we learn about ourselves through our reactions and emotions as well. Shared experiences elevate conversation, evolve communities and affect change.

Rabbi Shabman and I have spent the last 3 days in Israel with 21 amazing and beautiful women. Things that I have seen and done before have taken on new meaning and depth because I have shared this experience with women who each bring a unique and vital perspective to my experience. In just 3 days we have been profoundly changed by one another.

I love to learn by myself and explore topics from theology to technology, but nothing compares to doing and learning with others.

On this Shabbat, we all send you love-love of Shabbat, love of the Jewish people, love of Israel.

Our spirits have been lifted and energized by being together. I hope that on this Shabbat you, too, will do something with someone you love and feel moved for having done so.

With deep appreciation and wishes for a joyous Shabbat, Beth