Individual Program: 12 Weeks Distance Learning Optional

If you want your son or daughter to have a:

• Jewish Coming of Age Ceremony
• Connection to Jewish Heritage
• Opportunity to Celebrate with Friends and Family
• Generational Continuity

But you are not ready or able to commit to a time intensive Bar or Bat Mitzvah program that requires weeks of Hebrew tutoring, months (or even years) of religious school and countless weekends spent in synagogue, then our Bar or Bat Yisrael ceremony may be the right alternative for your family.

This is an ideal program for families who like the concept of bar or bat mitzvah, but just don't see how learning Hebrew will help their son or daughter be better equipped to deal with the world.

Bar Yisrael and Bat Yisrael:

• Focused around Tikkun Olam/ Social Action project
• Opens the door for future involvement with Judaism
• Helps develop Jewish identity
• Includes Independent Investigation of One Jewish topic
• Your timeframe, your schedule
• Appropriate for 12 -15 year olds
  

How does it work?
There are three elements (details below) to the program plus five meetings with the B'nai Mitzvah Coach and two meetings with the rabbi (details below.) These culminate in a private ceremony at the venue of your choice (details below.)

Three Elements:

Part I: Independent Learning Project
As a Bar or Bat Yisrael student, you will work with the B'nai Mitzvah Coach, to choose one area of Judaism you wish to learn about or experience. You will devote at least 10 hours to your studies. During your five meetings, you will discuss what you are learning and have an opportunity to ask lots of question. At your Bar or Bat Yisrael Ceremony, you will teach the community about what you have learned.

Examples of Past Projects:

• Jewish Roots of Reggae
• Challah: Baking Challahs from Around the World & Sharing them at a Retirement Community
• Why are so Many Comedians Jewish?
• Learning the Hebrew Alphabet
• Learning about the Student's Jewish Family Through Interviews with Family Members
• Tour of Jewish Boulder: Visiting Jewish Organizations in Boulder and Learning about Them

Part II: Tikkun Olam/ Social Action Project
You will devote ten hours to working on a Tikkun Olam / Social Action project of your own design. During your five meetings you will learn how this particular project illustrates a Jewish value and discuss your experiences with the project. You will track your progress and learning in a mini-journal so that you will be able to share what you have learned at your Bar or Bat Yisrael Ceremony.

Examples of Past Projects:

• Trailwork (Durango, CO)
• Graffiti Removal (New York City)
• Building Homes (New Orleans)
• Organizing a Neighborhood Park Clean-Up (Denver, CO)
• Helping Prepare Meals for Koko the Signing Gorilla (California)

Part III: Sabbath Prayers
You will also memorize the basic prayers for Sabbath dinner at home and Havdallah, the ceremony closing the Sabbath. These are easy, enjoyable and useful prayers that will enable you to be part of the Jewish community wherever your life takes you. You will not need to be able to read them in Hebrew.

Putting it all Together:
You will meet with our B'nai Mitzvah Coach five times during the twelve weeks. The first meeting will be to explain the program and identify your projects. The middle three meetings will be opportunities to discuss what you are learning, ask questions and delve more deeply into areas of interest. In the last meeting we will put it all together and practice delivering the speeches you have prepared to share what you have learned with your community.

A month before your ceremony, you will have two sessions with Rabbi Korngold to plan the ceremony (via phone or in-person in Boulder, Colorado.)

Summary
Twelve Week Program includes:

• Five Phone/ Skype or in Person Meetings with B'nai Mitzvah Coach
• Two meetings with Rabbi Jamie Korngold
• One hour a Week Tikkun Olam / Social Action Project
• One hour a week Independent Study
• Three Hours to Learn Hebrew Prayers
• Four Hours to Prepare Speeches and Service
  

Commonly Asked Questions:

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 prayerbook, although most families opt to use our copies of Gates of Prayer or the Adventure Rabbi nature-based prayerbooks.

Where are the ceremonies?
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.

Our favorite outdoor location is the Jaycee or Wood Shelter on Flagstaff Mountain above Boulder and a fabulous indoor venue is the Community House in Chautauqua Park in Boulder, Colorado.

Does it have to be outside?
As the Adventure Rabbi Program, we love hiking or skiing ceremonies but we realize not every family can do that.
View Outdoor Bar Mitzvah One Minute Video >>

Or, view photos from a recent Skiing Bat Mitzvah at Copper Mountain >>

What about having the ceremony outside of Colorado or up in the Mountains?
We are happy to send one of our Rabbi's 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

We have family members who can't hike, but we know a ceremony 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 main 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. We have found that the amazing feeling created in the smaller group rapidly spreads to the entire group.

Can we also add a short hiking piece to our ceremony?
If you hold 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 service site and they will not miss too much.

If this is an individual program, how will we meet other people?
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 yisrael 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 highly encourage one parent to be present for the meetings. This serves two functions. It often puts the student more at ease and it allows the conversation to continue even after the session is over. We encourage you to make this a family process.

If you are interested in this option:

• Submit the Bar -Bat Yisrael application
• Call Rabbi Jamie Korngold at 303.417.6200,
• Click here to have us contact you now.

If you have spoken to the rabbi and are ready to sign a contract, please click here>>