The Adventure Class is an Expedition Style Bar Mitzvah/ Bat Mitzvah Class Taught by Rabbi Shavit-Lonstein
During this one-year adventure, students will climb peaks, learn to make matzah ball soup, camp in the desert, and learn how to change a car tire. They will learn about the planet, Judaism, and themselves. They will learn to be responsible, respectful, and resourceful.
Our goal is to use Jewish wisdom to help make the teen years less turbulent by instilling in our students compassion, courage, and confidence. We will focus on the essential Jewish value of turning learning into positive action in the world.
This life-altering adventure is available to a limited number of students.
We can’t wait to welcome you to your adventure!
Adventure Class Details
Hebrew:
Students should be prepared for rigorous Hebrew studies. Most of our students tutor once a week for 12-18 months and do 30 minutes of homework 5 nights a week. We offer in-house Hebrew in small groups and individual tutoring online.
Most of our students find our Hebrew challenging but enjoyable. (Really! Our tutors make it fun!)
More about our Tutors>>
List of Required Prayers>>
Homework:
In addition to Hebrew studies, our students complete two written assignments a month. These should not take more than 30 minutes each. Both are done as Google Docs and shared with Rabbi Alan. The assignments enable students to reflect more deeply on their experience and engage in individual conversations with Rabbi Alan.
Shabbat:
Students celebrate Shabbat eight times during the year. They get to choose how. For example, consider a Shabbat hike, reading a book to a younger sibling, calling Grandpa, lighting candles, or baking challah, to name a few. The goal is to help students and their families develop a meaningful, realistic, and sustainable Shabbat practice.
Ceremonies:
You may add a ceremony at a location of your choosing! We have lots of suggestions, but the choice is yours. The Rabbi will arrive with a sound system, guitar, Torah, and prayer books. The rest is your choice! On a hike? In a fancy hotel? In your backyard? On horseback at a ranch? In Israel at the Wall? On a beach in Hawaii? We’ve done it all.
Students are eligible to have their ceremonies once the class is completed. We officiate at three ceremonies a weekend: Friday at approximately 6 p.m. and Saturday at approximately 9:30 and 4 p.m. You might choose the same weekend as a classmate, in which case (if you invite your classmates), students often carpool and go from ceremony 1 to party 1 and then to ceremony 2 and party 2. If you don’t want to be on the same weekend as a classmate, please ask who is sharing your weekend.
Local venue suggestions>>
Schedule and Attendance:
The class meets a little more than once monthly, from August to May. Students are allowed to miss and make up three classes. Orientation can only be made up by a private class with Rabbi Shavit-Lonstein for $250.
Admission Requirements:
To be admitted, students need to meet specific criteria:
-Want to be in the class
-Enjoy social settings
-Be willing and able to complete the required homework and assignments
-Not miss (and make up) more than three classes (Orientation can only be made up with a $250 private class)
-Be physically active
-Parents must be willing to be on Living Tree App
Your child does not need to love hiking or be a star athlete to succeed in our program. Kids are usually motivated by being with friends, and therefore, they don’t mind hiking because they are with friends!
They do not need to know any Hebrew or have any Jewish background. We will teach them everything they need.
Class Tuition:
We accept ACH payments and credit cards and offer monthly payment plans. There is a 3.5% convenience charge if you choose to pay with a credit card.
-$3,600 for members of our congregation in 2024 (the student and one adult must be members to receive this discount)
-$4,000 for non-members
Fee Includes:
– 15 classes led by Rabbi Alan Shavit-Lonstein
– Member’s rate for the student and one adult to August Shabbat Service ($0), Rosh Hashanah Retreat (see current members price>>), Kol Nidre ($0), Yom Kippur closing hike($0), and Passover Retreat (see current member’s price>>.)
Hebrew tuition is not included.
Ceremony Fee:
– $3,600 for a private ceremony in Boulder, CO (additional charge if outside of Boulder)
Adventure Class on Adventures