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Or l'Simcha
There were about 60-70 people there, many of them young families. Rabbi Diamond engaged with the children without talking down or ignoring the adults, which was refreshing. (It's not the way to bet, in my experience, with "family" services.) He did not abridge the service. We sang much of kabbalat shabbat (some tunes were not my "usuals" but I recognized from Young People's Synagogue) and read the rest. He sometimes invited congregants to lead readings (always in English). There was no d'var torah. Most of the time was spent in kabbalat shabbat; a different person led a ma'ariv that was matter-of-fact but not rushed. It ran about an hour total. This is pretty much the pacing and division I have come to expect from traditional services.
He did one thing I had not seen before, and he commented that it was the first time he was trying it so it was new for everyone. He had brought a bouquet of roses, and at times throughout the service he would invite (by name) the various kids up to take a rose to give to {mom and dad, sister, etc}. (He handed me one directly, so I was not left out. Nice.) This had the effect of both connecting people just a little bit more and adding a little beauty to people's Shabbat tables when they got home. I wonder if he'll keep doing it.
At the end of the service he also handed out chocolate bars. The flowers were for the parents, but I think we all know who those were for. :-) (But he was giving them to adults too.) A few months ago I saw a huge box of chocolate bars in Tree of Life's kitchen (the two congregations are sharing space) and wondered; now I know.
They had expected to have an oneg shabbat afterwards but nothing was set up -- some communications glitch about who was supposed to bring food, it sounded like. So people left pretty promptly, which meant I didn't get a chance to talk to many folks. Rabbi Diamond approached me, said he recognized me from somewhere, and asked my name, and we chatted for a couple minutes. I've seen him around but didn't know who he was; I guess he had the same experience.
Bottom line: positive experience, would return.
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