This living-learning experience will enable
participants from all Jewish environments to gain:
* Deep understanding, experience and skill with the evolution, practice and meaning of Jewish prayer.
* Grounding in liturgical sources and the inner structure of services, with special emphasis on Shabbat.
* Advanced skills in the inspirational use of personal presence.
* Practice and experience in creating prayerful environments, working with group energetics, and balancing structure with spontaneity.
Special exercises will hone your skills, as you learn to:
* Use your whole self -- voice, body, gesture -- and increase your comfort with an expanded range of leadership styles.
* Maximize the effectiveness of your own communication style and remain centered in the most challenging situations.
* Shape your phrasing to blend kavvanot seamlessly into the flow of t'fillah and share your personal stories to add an intimate dimension to your teaching.
* Smoothly segue from the spoken word into song or prayer or from one prayer to another.
* Choose a melody for the mood you wish to create and use instruments with subtlety and grace.
* Incorporate dance or movement into prayer -- in both havurah-style and congregational settings.
* Craft and deliver a truly dynamic d'var Torah; use bibliodrama and other interactive styles of teaching.
* Brush up your traditional skills in special labs for Torah-leynen and nusach ha-t'fillah.
