Passover First Night Seder in the Desert, 2008 Details:
What:	Reform Passover Seder: traditional foods, innovative outdoor seder, camping w/ options for hiking, biking and rafting.
When:	April 19-20, 2008 [Detailed Schedule]
Brochure:	View the Brochure - Click Here
Where:	Moab Utah, Gold Bar Recreation Site, 14 miles outside of Moab View Photos >>
Why:	Let the wilderness awaken your Judaism for Passover Seder 2008
Religious Affiliation:	Rabbi Jamie Korngold is a reform rabbi; this is an out-of-the-box religious event. We will be carrying, lighting fire and driving on the Sabbath and on the Holiday.
Price:	$125, includes 3 catered, Kosher for Passover meals, Saturday night camping, programs and activities. Guided Mt Biking & rafting additional. Teens 13-17 - $95; Kids 5-12 - $65. Kids under 5 - Free. Early Bird Discount: Until Dec 31, 2007: $99 After Jan 1, 2008: $125 After April 1, 2008: +$25 additional late registration fee.    Register Now >> Register Early For FREE Stuff: Register before Feb. 1, 2008 and get a FREE Adventure Rabbi t-shirt OR a free Adventure Rabbi canvas shopping bag.
Menu:	3 Catered Passover Meals [Details]
Work Exchange:	Available for part of your tuition, contact us before March 1 [Email the Rabbi]
Kids Program:	We will be featuring a special kid's Passover Seder on Saturday, and we have a kids program for Sunday morning, led by Boulder Open Space's favorite youth leader, Jeff Kagan.
Camping:	A gorgeous site along the Colorado river. [Details] Friday, Saturday and Sunday camping included in fee. Sorry, but we're not able to accommodate pets such as dogs. Outhouses are on site.
Closest Airport:	Grand Junction. Rental cars are available [Click Here]

Join us in Moab for a Reform Passover retreat as we, like our Biblical ancestors, return to the wilderness for Seder.

• Imagine a long expanse of brightly covered fabric, stretched out on the desert floor, with an animated group of casually dressed Jews seated around it.
• Imagine people seated on cushions, reclining in the breeze of the cooling desert afternoon.
• Imagine a tablecloth festooned with seder plates, candles, overflowing goblets, musical instruments and colorful desert decorations.
• Imagine abundant platters of food, piled high with traditional foods.
• Imagine song, dance, and merriment.
• Imagine you hear the laughter, the chatter and the lively debate.
• Imagine you are celebrating Seder with a group of outdoorsy Jews who are quickly becoming your friends.

You won't fall asleep at this Seder!

Leave your fancy clothing at home, pack your bike, hiking boots and water bottle, and come celebrate the Passover Seder 4,000 feet closer to God!

Register Now >>

Bring your copy of Rabbi Korngold's book to have it signed at the Passover Retreat. Don't have a copy? Buy online or get the first chapter free: www.GodInTheWilderness.com

Our participants are:

• Outdoor-oriented
  
• All ages. We've had participants ages 2 months to 92 years (but we tend to get lots of 20s, 30s and 40s)
  
• All fitness levels, from tri-athletes, to mountaineers to occasional walkers
  
• Progressive and open-minded about their Judaism (the service and components are from the Reform traditions, and we will be driving, carrying and lighting fires on the Sabbath and holiday).
  
• Looking for "authentic" and meaningful Jewish experiences
  
• Representative of a range of Jewish knowledge and practice
  
• From all across the United States, L.A. to Florida, to NYC (and of course from Denver and Boulder, Colorado)
  
• Newcomers who do not know anyone when the arrive
  
• Regulars, who have been coming to ARI events for year
  
• Families with children. Special kid's seder and kids Passover program.
  
• Singles and Couples

Menu:
We know having eating traditional Passover foods is very important. We will be serving three catered meals, all Kosher for Passover*. Veggie and vegan options will be available. (Menu subject to change)

• Passover Seder Dinner
  • Honey Roasted Chicken
  • Baked Salmon
  • Eggplant Casserole (vegetarian option)
  • Rosemary & Thyme Roasted potatoes
  • Sweet potato/carrot/prune tzimis or Sweet Potato Kugel
  • Matza Ball Soup (chicken and vegetarian options)
  • Gefletfish with horseradish
  • Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Chorset
  • Parsley and Salt Water
  • Tossed Spring Mixed Greens Salad
  • Sponge Cake & Macaroons
    
• Breakfast
  • Matzabrie
  • Fruit & Cheese platter
  • Yogurt
  • Hash Browns
  • Matzah& Cream Cheese and Jams
  • Coffee, OJ, & Tea
    
• Lunch
  • Passover Sandwich Rolls:
    • Pastrami
    • Turkey
    • For Vegetarians - cheese
  • Vegetables include romaine lettuce, alpha sprouts, tomatoes, onion
  • Coleslaw & Dill Pickle Slices
  • Fresh Fruit
  • Brownies

* Please note, meat will not be Heckschered

Seder:
The Adventure Rabbi Seder promises to be experiential, engaging, interactive and inclusive. It will not be boring, droning or preachy. Come prepared to hike, make matzah, sing, dance, and discuss.

Imagine a long expanse of brightly covered fabric, stretched out on the desert floor, with all of us seated around it. Imagine people seated on cushions, reclining in the breeze of the cooling desert afternoon. Imagine a tablecloth festooned with seder plates, candles, goblets, musical instruments and colorful desert decorations. Imagine abundant platters of food, piled high with traditional foods.

[Topo Map]

Our innovative Seder will begin with an all group hike up to Corona Arch (pictured above) and will include engaging relevant discussions, dance, song, and great food.

Join us!

Sunday Activities:
On Sunday we will be offering various choices for activities, or you are free to go off on your own. We will also be providing a special program for families with kids.

• Hike led by Rabbi Jamie Korngold and Adventure Rabbi staff
• Family Activity led by Boulder Open Space leader Jeff Kagan
• Guided Mountain Biking (additional fee)
• Guided River Rafting (additional fee)
• Self-guided Mountain Biking
• Free time

Family Program:
We are thrilled that Jeff Kagan, one of Boulder's favorite environmental educators, will be leading our family program on Sunday from 9 a.m. until noon. Jeff is known for his interactive style, his enthusiasm, and ability to reach kids of all ages. Parents and children attend together. (Sorry, we are not equipped to take children without an adult.) This delightful program will include:

• Baking matzah in a solar oven
• Songs and instruments
• Age-appropriate walks
• Learning and discovery
• And lots of fun

Weather:
Based on the averages recorded at this time of the year, we expect temperatures between 39 and 76 degrees. Please bring appropriate gear to be outside in sun, rain or snow! We'll send a recommended gear list before the retreat. Unfortunately, beside for some sun shelters, we do not have an indoor option available if bad weather prevails. That's the adventure part of Adventure Rabbi. Fortunately there is usually only 1.2 inches of rain in Moab in April. There will be no refunds for bad weather.

Bring: (complete gear list will be sent closer to the retreat)

• Camping gear (also available for rent, email for details >>)
• Water and extra water (not available in the campground)
• Outdoor clothing
• Cushions for sitting on during seder
• Seder plate (optional)
• Camping chair
• Wood for campfire (optional)
• Musical instruments (For kids service, it would be especially great if you can bring some sort of percussion instrument for your children to play i.e. shaky eggs, tambourine, etc. )
• To be as "green" as we can, we ask you to bring your own plates, bowls, cups and utensils, for eating so we can avoid disposables
• If you plan to extend your stay, bring your own food and cooking gear

Along with our regular retreat staff of Rabbi Korngold, Jeff Finkelstein, James Brodsky and Adam Griff we've added a few new members to the team.

Rabbi Jamie Korngold
Rabbi Jamie Korngold is a Reform Jewish rabbi. She started the Adventure Rabbi program in 2001 and has become nationally known for her pioneering work integrating spirituality and the outdoors. She was ordained at Hebrew Union College. She lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and two daughters.

Read more about her philosophy in her new book, God in the Wilderness: Rediscovering the Spirituality of the Great Outdoors with the Adventure Rabbi. Download a free sample chapter at www.GodInTheWilderness.com.

Student Rabbi Jessica Marshall
We are thrilled that our rabbinic intern, Jessica Marshall, will be joining us for this retreat. Jessica Marshall is currently finishing her training as a Reform Rabbi at Hebrew Union College. She enjoys working with Jews across the denominational spectrum, and believes that our connection to nature and concern for the environment is an inherently inclusive and Jewish act.

Adam Griff
Our music will once again be led by Adam Griff, whose enthusiasm for Jewish music is contagious. Griff's is known for his ability to build community through song. He teaches in a manner that is welcoming and accessible. Griff's voice and guitar is always a highlight of our Rosh Hashanah experience and now he joins us for Passover. Adam is based in Atlanta, GA.

Bernice Lewis
Singer / songwriter Bernice Lewis will be joining us all the way from Williams, Massachusetts. She has guided our women's Grand Canyon backpacking trip and is a beloved yoga teacher and talented musician. Hear her music at www.bernicelewis.com

Jeff Kagan
Jeff Kagan is the lead instructor at Thorne Ecological Institute in Boulder, where he teaches ecology to elementary and middle school students. He also work for Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, where he developed the very popular Meadow Music hike for kids. Ask him about his 2004 Boston Marathon finish, through hiking the John Muir trail and his mandolin and guitar playing. Jeff is known for his ability to engage children in creative and experiential learning about nature.

Jeff Finkelstein
If you have called or emailed the office to find out about this retreat, chances are you spoke with Jeff. Jeff coordinates the overall logistics for the retreat, including web development, fielding participants questions and everything else you can possible imagine.

Jeff is also the lead mountaineering guide at Adventure Rabbi, and brings to the trail years of experience working in the Jewish camping world. He is proud to be product of the Reform Movement's youth group system. Jeff adds to his Jewish knowledge his skills as a back country guide, ski patroller and mountaineer.

James Brodsky
James Brodsky is a Denver resident originally from New York, who has been cycling as a hobby since he was 13. He has been involved with Adventure Rabbi for the past four years, and has also led cycling, hiking, and skiing trips for the Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club. James Brodsky is the main biking guide for the Adventure Rabbi program and leads three hard-core road bike rides throughout the summer as well as cross country ski and snow shoe trips in the winter.

Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night camping is included in your fee (although only three meals will be provided). Many people have asked if they can arrive early and stay late, and we're happy to have you join us, although we won't have a second-day Passover Seder.

The Gold Bar Recreation Site is located on a sweeping curve in the Colorado River, just 14 miles from the town of Moab. The campground offers stunning views both up and down the river corridor. Sunset is particularly striking at Gold Bar, as the Navajo Sandstone cliffs surrounding the campground change color as darkness falls. Our Seder will begin with a hike to Corona Arch, right from the campground. This 90 x 140 foot arch rivals any in Arches National Park. View Photos >>

How to Get There: From Moab, travel five miles north on U.S. Highway 191. Turn left (west) on Utah Highway 279 and drive ten miles. Turn left into the Gold Bar Recreation Site. The group sites are located adjacent to the Colorado River. (If you are traveling south on U.S. Highway 191, turn right onto Utah Highway 279 just past the entrance to Arches National Park.)

About Dogs / Pets: We love dogs, and wish they could be part of the camping experience. However, we're not able to accomdate dogs (other than seeing-eye dogs) at this event.

We recommend the following places to watch your dog in Moab, Utah:

• Moab Veterinary Clinic 4575 Spanish Valley Drive Moab UT 84532 Len W. Sorensen DVM. Call 8 am-5 pm for boarding or appointment. Call 24 hrs. a day for emergencies (435) 259-8710.
  Pets will need to be fully vaccinated to board, vaccinations must be current. Dogs need to be vaccinated for "Kennel Cough" and you will need to bring proof of vaccinations. Advance reservations are helpful, especially around the holidays.
• Dog & Cat Clinic of Moab, Jim Gostlin DMV, 125 East 300 South Moab, UT 84532-2619 (435) 259-2733 dogandcatclinic@frontiernet.net
• Karen's Canine Campground 2781 S. Roberts Rd. (435) 259-7922
• K-9 Taxi and Boarding Call Jeff or Kimi 435 686-2295 PDF / more info
• More info about Pets in Moab >>

Facilities: There are picnic tables and fire rings and sites are adjacent to outhouses. Ample parking is available.

Water: There is no drinking water on site. Untreated (but tested) water is available at Matrimony Spring, located just east of U.S. Highway 191 on Utah Highway 128. A boat ramp is available for canoe and raft use of the Colorado River.

Staying Elsewhere:
You are welcome to book your own accommodation in Moab or surrounding areas. Discounts will not be given for those staying elsewhere.

Refunds: Please note that we regret that we are unable to issue refunds of any kind because our payments to coordinate this event are made more than four months in advance of the event.

For our guests from afar, we suggest flying to Moab, Utah's Airport or Grand Junction, Colorado and renting a car. All the national chains of rental cars are available from Grand Junction Airport.

Distance from nearby points:

• Grand Junction, CO: 113 miles from (1 hour 50 min)
• Denver, CO: 355 miles (5 hours 28 minutes)
• Boulder, CO: 366 miles (5 hours 49 min)
• Salt Lake City, Utah: 234 miles (4 hours)
• Aspen, Colorado: 239 miles (4 hours)
• Eagle, Colorado: 229 miles (3 hours 29 minutes)
  

We are happy to provide you with several places to rent camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad) so you have less to schlep. There will also be people on hand who can teach you to set it all up.

Canyon Voyages (Moab, Utah) - 801-259-4121
http://www.canyonvoyages.com/
Eureka Timberline Tents (2 person tent) $25 first day + $10 each additional day
Sleeping Pad: $5 first day + $3 each additional day
Sleeping Bags (deluxe 30 degree): $10 first day + $7 each additional day

REI (Grand Junction, CO) - (970) 254-8970
http://www.rei.com/stores/70
Tents: $15 first day + $5 each additional day
Sleeping pads: $8 first day + $4 each additional day
Sleeping bags: $12 first day + $4 each additional day

Please note that Moab is at 4,000 feet, which is lower than Denver. Although most people do not experience altitude sickness at this elevation, you may notice that you are a bit short to breath and can not exercise as rigorously as you do at sea-level.

Please be sure to drink lots of water and have adequate protection form the sun (sunscreen, hats, sunglasses.) Dehydration can greatly increase your risk for altitude related sicknesses.

View Brochure >>

Click here to register >>