Adventure Rabbi -- alterantive adventure Bar Mitzvah & Bat Mitzvah training boulder denver colorado

Interested in a non-traditional, outdoor, adventure based program that will infuse your child's Bar or Bat Mitzvah experience with meaning?

How does it work?
The class meets once a month from August to May. Some classes are outside while other workshops will be held at Adventure Rabbi Headquarters in South Boulder. Meanwhile, Bar and Bat Mitzvah students study individually once a week with a Hebrew tutor to learn the Bar and Bat Mitzvah prayers and Torah portion.

Philosophy:
Maybe you have heard the joke about the Bar Mitzvah boy who announces during his Bar Mitzvah speech, "Today I am a man, tomorrow I go back to 8th grade."

We've often wondered what leading a Shabbat morning service has to do with becoming a man. Admittedly, centuries ago when Bar Mitzvah was created, leading a service was a task that a boy took on at age 13. But today, is that really the best we can do to prepare a boy to be a man and a girl to be a woman?

Our program uses Judaism and nature to teach Bar and Bat Mitzvah students the skills they need to be content, compassionate, confident and responsible teenagers.

Admittedly, we push Hebrew less than other programs. But we believe if our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students come away loving Judaism and understanding why Judaism is relevant to their lives, they will be inspired to keep learning Jewishly for many years.

We address topics kids should learn in life, and teach them through a Jewish lens. Our Bar or Bat Mitzvah students do not just learn the Kiddush, the Kaddish and how to read Torah. He or she will also learn how to change a tire, change a diaper, make a matzah ball and bake challah. (And understand what each of these tasks have to do with being Jewish.)

We talk about the daunting choices that our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students will face in the turbulent teenage years ahead. Many of these choices may seem innocuous to the Bar and Bat Mitzvah kids, but in actuality their decisions can drastically effect their lives.

We will talk to our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students about making good choices and giving those choices a voice. We will use Jewish wisdom to teach about body image, sexuality and friendship. We will explore responsibility toward self, family and community. (Think of it like mench training.)

Bar and Bat Mitzvah students will track their learning in journals. Their instructors will guide this work. At the end of the course, these journals will become the seeds that blossom into the speeches the students give at their Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, explaining the connections between their learning, Judaism and nature.

Class Dates and Topics (subject to change):

August 24, Tuesday 5-7 p.m.
What: Hike for students and their parents
Topic: An introduction to the program
Where: Chautauqua Park, Boulder, CO

August 28, Saturday Full Day
What: Climb 10,013' Deer Mountain
Topic: Being Part of a Group: Challenges, Rewards and Responsibilities Introduction to Outdoor Judaism (topic continues throughout course)
Introduction to Journal - working toward our Bar or Bat Mitzvah speeches (topic continues throughout course)
Celebration of Shabbat
Where: Rocky Mountain National Park, CO (Parents need to drive or arrange carpools to get the students to and from trail head)

September 26, Sunday 9:30- 12:30 p.m.
What: Hike in Boulder
Topic: Becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah - what does it mean? (topic continues throughout course)
Let the wilderness awaken your Judaism, awakening ourselves to the world around us
Where: Boulder, CO

October 17, Sunday 9:30- 12:30 p.m.
What: Life Skill Workshop
Topic: Taking Responsibility for yourself in life. Change a Tire, Change a Diaper, Jumpstart a Car, Balance a Checkbook.
Where: Boulder, CO

November 7, Sunday 4- 5:30 p.m.
What: Indoor Workshop
Topic: Holiness. What does it mean to be holy? Blogging, Lying, Gossip, Friendship, Kiddish, Kaddush, Holy time, Havdallah.
Where: Adventure Rabbi Headquarters, Boulder, CO

December 5, Sunday 4- 5:30 p.m.
What: Indoor Workshop
Topic: Honoring yourself, body image, tattoos, sex, drugs, drinking
(parts of this session may be separated by gender)
Where: Adventure Rabbi Headquarters, Boulder, CO

January 9, Sunday 9:30- 12:30 p.m.
What: Group Social Action Project
Topic: The importance of giving back to our community
Where: TBD

February 6, Sunday 4- 5:30 p.m.
What: Indoor Workshop
Topic: Shabbat Skills: Make a Matzah Ball, Bake a Challah, set a Shabbat Table, Creating Shabbat "space"
Where: TBD (someone's home with a big kitchen)

March 6, Sunday full day
What: Snowshoe at Eldora ski resort (snowshoe rental not included)
Topic: What is God and what does God have to do with me? Introduction to contemplative movement and moving meditation
Where: Eldora, Nederland CO (students meet in Boulder to bus together)

April 3, Sunday 9:30- 12:30 p.m.
What: Hike in Boulder
Topic: What does Judaism teach about our responsibility toward the Earth? Discussion about the art of "less"
Where: Boulder, CO

May 1 Sunday 9:30- 12:30 p.m.
What: Hike in Boulder
Topic: Crossing the River: Bringing it all together. What have we learned? Who have we become? Where to from here?
Where: Boulder, CO

Requirements:
This is the Adventure Rabbi Program, not the Slacker Rabbi Program. Bar and Bat Mitzvah students must be in reasonable physical shape to participate in this group. You do not have to be an incredible athlete, but you shouldn't be a coach potato who hates hiking.

Bar and Bat mitzvah students must meet 4 requirements to be accepted to this program:

Gear:
Bar and Bat Mitzvah students will need certain basic outdoor gear for this class including: good hiking boots, large day pack, rain gear, warm layers, water bladder such as Platypus or Camelback to go inside backpack, Yaktrax (recommended), snowshoes and poles (may be rented), hiking poles (recommended)

Program details:

1. Hebrew:
What Hebrew prayers will the Bar or Bat Mitzvah student learn?
Our emphasis is on prayers we think every Jew should know for general Jewish living. Among other prayers such as Barchu, Shema and V'ahavtah, you will learn the full Friday night Kiddush, Kaddish (seldom taught to Bar and Bat Mitzvah kids but probably the most widely needed Jewish prayer). View videos of the prayers here>>

How about Torah?
Most of our students chant or read 6 verses of Torah. We ask for equal effort from all our Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, not equal product. Therefore some Bar and Bat Mitzvah students read more and others less. You will be reading from our backpacking Torah.

What are the Hebrew requirements to get into the program?
Many of our students have no Hebrew background while others have been attending Jewish Day School for years. Either way, because the Hebrew portion is taught individually, we can make it work and we will create a program that is appropriately challenging.

How will the Bar or Bat Mitzvah student learn their Hebrew?
Each student works with a private Hebrew tutor. Fees for this are not including in the basic program fee. Most students meet with their tutor once a week for 10 months. Occasionally students require 2 times a week, and others only occasional meetings. In the Boulder area, fees are generally $30-$45 an hour. Outside of Boulder they are typically $50 - $75 an hour.

How do we find a tutor?
We have two tutors on our staff for local students and we also have access to a network of local tutors. Hillels, JCCs, and synagogues are also great sources for tutors. If you would prefer not to leave the comfort of your keyboard, there are many online programs.

Who officiates at the ceremony?
Rabbi Korngold, the Adventure Rabbi, generally officiates at the ceremonies, although you may request to work with Rabbi Steve Booth-Nadav instead.

How will we plan it?
A month or two before the ceremony you will have two meetings with Rabbi Korngold to plan and rehearse the ceremony.

Do we get to personalize the ceremony?
Yes! We can include as many of your guests as you would like. You can even write your own prayerbooks, although most families opt to use our copies of Gates of Prayer.

Where are the ceremonies?
Your unique ceremony will be held at the location of your choosing, before the friends and family you invite. Because we use a paper Torah rather than a kosher parchment Torah (which might be damaged by the elements) our ceremonies can take place in any location, as accessible or adventurous as your family chooses.

Small ceremonies often take place as part of a morning hike, while larger ceremonies are generally held in locations where everyone can sit in chairs in order to minimize the impact of large groups on the wilderness.

Can the Torah go outside? Because we use a paper Torah rather than a kosher parchment Torah (which might be damaged by the elements) our ceremonies can take place in any location, as accessible or adventurous as your family chooses.

What about having the Bar or Bat Mitzvah ceremony outside of Colorado or up in the Mountains?
We are happy to send one of our rabbis to officiate at ceremonies outside of Boulder. Obviously it costs a bit more, because it takes more of the Rabbi's time. Call for price quotes 303.416.6200 ext 1. Destination Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvahs>>

Other Commonly Asked Questions:
We have family members who can't hike, but we know a Bar or Bat Mitzvah that includes hiking with the Adventure Rabbi is an amazing and unique experience. Is there any way we can incorporate a little hiking?
We suggest adding a hiking Friday night service led by Rabbi Jamie Korngold and her guitar. That way even if your Saturday service can't be on the trail because not everyone is physically capable of hiking, at least a subset of the group can enjoy that amazing experience on Friday night. We have found that the cohesive feeling created in the smaller group rapidly spreads to the entire group.

Can we also add a short hiking piece on Saturday?
If you have the service on the summit of Flagstaff Mountain (Boulder, CO) we can add a little hiking at beginning of the service that is very accessible. Those who can't walk or be pushed in wheelchair, can drive to the site and they will not miss too much.

How will we get to know Rabbi Korngold if she is not teaching all of this class?
We encourage your family to participate in Adventure Rabbi events throughout the year so that you can build a relationship with Rabbi Korngold and our larger community. You will meet an amazing group of people, eager to find a meaningful way to experience their Judaism.

In order to facilitate this we will give your Bar or Bat Mitzvah student a free membership to the Adventure Rabbi Program, a $750 value.

We also recommend reading Rabbi Korngold's book to get a sense of who she is and how she works.

How are parents part of this process?
We are currently applying for a grant that will enable us to provide parent hikes and workshops alongside the Bar and Bat Mitzvah class. Stay tuned!

After reading through this information, if you feel an Adventure Rabbi Bar and Bat mitzvah will be a good fit for your family, please either:

OPTION 1:
Individual Bar and Bat Mitzvah Program
>In-person or Distance Learning
>Colorado or Destination Ceremonies
(10 months, you pick the start date)
Click here >>

OPTION 2:
Adventure Bar and Bat Mitzvah Class, Boulder Colorado
>Colorado or Destination Ceremonies
(10 months, August - May)
On this page, read above

OPTION 3:
Bar and Bat Yisrael, a less intensive coming of age program without Hebrew
>In-person or Distance Learning
>Colorado or Destination Ceremonies
Click here >>


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