Passover Saturday Night Seder in the Desert, 2010 Details:
What:	Reform Passover Seder: traditional foods, innovative outdoor seder, camping w/ options for hiking, biking and rafting.
When:	April 3-4, 2010 (optional add -on begins Fri 6 pm.) [Tentative Schedule]
Where:	Moab Utah, Gold Bar Recreation Site, 14 miles outside of Moab View Photos >>
Why:	Let the wilderness awaken your Judaism for Passover Seder 2010
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:	Free for members, all others $125, includes 2 catered, Kosher for Passover meals, (Read more on what we mean by kosher below) 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, 2009: $99 After Dec 31, 2009: $125 After March 3, 2010: +$25 additional late registration fee.    Register Now >>
Menu:	2 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.
Camping:	A gorgeous site along the Colorado river. [Details] Friday and Saturday camping included in fee. Sorry, but we're not able to accommodate pets, even dogs. Outhouses are on site.
Closest Airport:	Grand Junction, CO or Moab, Utah. 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 AR events for year
  
• Families with children. Special kid's seder and kids Passover program.
  
• Singles and Couples

Corona Arch - Celebrate Passover Here

[View More Photos >>]

Menu:
We know having eating traditional Passover foods is very important. We will be serving two catered meals, all Kosher for Passover. By this we mean that none of the prohibited grains or leavening products will be used. However, we will not serve kosher meats because we are not comfortable with the methods currently used to raise and slaughter kosher animals.

Veggie options will be available, but must be pre-ordered when you register. (Menu subject to change)

• Passover Seder Dinner
  • Shredded Beef Brisket*
  • Baked Salmon
  • Eggplant Casserole (Vegan option)
  • Rosemary & Thyme Roasted potatoes
  • Sweet potato/carrot/prune tzimis or Sweet Potato Kugel
  • Matzah Ball Soup (made with vegetarian broth)
  • Gefilte with horseradish
  • Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Charoset
  • Parsley and Salt Water
  • Tossed Spring Mixed Greens Salad
  • Sponge Cake & Macaroons
    
• Breakfast
  • Fruit & Cheese platter
  • Yogurt
  • Matzah & Cream Cheese and Jams
  • Coffee, OJ, & Tea (Note: It is a challenge to supply large quantities of coffee in a campground without water or electricity! If you like an extra large cup, please plan to supplement with your own.)
    

* 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 Program
• Guided Mountain Biking (additional fee)
• Guided River Rafting (additional fee)
• Self-guided Mountain Biking
• Free time

Family Program:
We offer an interactive and engaging program for kids 9 and under and their parents. (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

You are also welcome to take your kids on the adult hike, if they like hiking with adults. We have learned that many kids enjoy the hike, while others are more content with our child focused activities.

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

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.

Rachel Cole
Rachel Cole is a singer/ songwriter and will be our song leader this year in Moab. Rachel is the much loved teacher of our Adventure Rabbi Kids program, providing religious school for children ages 0 to 11. She is a talented teacher and musician and in 2009 was nominated as the "Best New Artist at the new music awards in Hollywood CA. We love her enthusiastic and engaging style.

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.

Jennah Montag Lagomarsino
Jennah is our Event Director for the weekend retreat. Jennah has participated in many Adventure Rabbi events and serves on our Leadership Council. Jennah has extensive experience in event planning and coordinating. Visit here for more information on her event planning business. This is Jennah's third year as our event coordinator. If you have any questions, problems or compliments, please feel free to seek out Jennah. To volunteer to join Jennah's team, helping with check-in, ushering and set-up, please click here.

Scott Lagomarsino
Scott has been in the catering business for years and has also assisted in the logistics of many Adventure Rabbi retreats. This year, he combines his talents by providing the catering for the Passover Seder and breakfast. Scott will be assisted in serving the meals by our able team of work exchange participants. Scott in known for his delicious traditional meals and his kind demeanor. We are thrilled to have him on our team.

Friday night and Saturday night camping are included in your fee (although only two meals will be provided).

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 accomodate 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.

Click here to register >>