First time at Fabrangen on Shabbat?

"Sometimes, when I bring a friend to Fabrangen, someone not familiar with Jewish prayer, I wonder if they feel what I felt many years ago. Does it seem intimidating, as if one can "watch" and "feel" the spirituality but not participate?

I'm always tempted to say that there are many ways to enter Fabrangen, many small steps to participate, and many, many people who will gladly be your teachers." - Norma

"I spent a Shabbat at Fabrangen during my junior year in college, because I had traveled to DC with a group of other students from Hillel to participate in a march on Washington against the Vietnam War. My memories are quite fuzzy, except for eating American cheese on sliced white challah and sleeping on a very hard floor. Nine years later, when I moved to DC after law school, right before the High Holidays, I asked if any help was needed with services. I was assigned the Haftarah reading for the first day of Rosh Hashanah. That was 32 years ago. I have since participated in Fabrangen High Holiday services as a service leader every year since 1981. I feel deeply honored to be a part of this communal effort that makes such a difference in so many people’s lives." - Rhonda W.