God in the Wilderness: Book by Rabbi Jamie S. Korngold, the Adventure Rabbi

Advanced Praise & Reviews:

Publisher's Weekly Starred Review:
Rabbi Korngold revels in nature, and she seeks to share that joy as founder of the Adventure Rabbi program to help people reconnect to Judaism via the great outdoors. She has also discovered a way—call it a language, a spirit, an essence—with which to express the simplicity of a back-to-basics spirituality. Balancing an in-depth knowledge of scripture with a wry sense of humor and a compassion for nature, Korngold reminds us of "the nooks and crannies of the natural world" and says that "we must seek them out, soak them in and care for them."

The variety of personal stories, tales of travel with various Adventure Rabbi groups and contemporary alternative biblical outcomes—what if Moses had been too busy texting to notice the burning bush?—make for a book that is easily digestible but at the same time worth savoring. Purposely sized to fit easily into a backpack or pocket, the call to return to the wild—or at least your local city park—is ever-present. While certainly aimed at adventuresome readers, the book's message, filled with depictions of fire, water, earth and sky, simultaneously encourages individual exploration and communal responsibility.

-- Publisher's Weekly Starred Review, Jan 30, 2008

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ABOUT THIS BOOK

Rabbi Jamie Korngold has always loved the outdoors, the place where humankind first met with God. Whether it’s mountaineering, running ultramarathons, or just sitting by a stream, she finds her spirituality and Judaism thrive most in the wilderness. In her work as the Adventure Rabbi, leading groups toward spiritual fulfillment in the outdoors, Korngold has uncovered the rich traditions and lessons God taught our ancestors in the wild. In God in the Wilderness Korngold uses rabbinic wisdom and witty insights to guide readers through the Bible, showing people of all faiths that, despite the hectic pace of life today, it is vital for us to reclaim these lessons, awaken our inner spirituality, and find meaning, tranquillity, and purpose in our lives.

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Genesis of the Adventure Rabbi – Genesis 1:1
Chapter 1: Cultivate the Patience to See Burning Bushes – Exodus 3:3-4
Chapter 2: Take the First Step, the Sea May Part – Exodus 14:8-9
Chapter 3: Rediscover Awe – Exodus 19:18
Chapter 4: Remember Sabbath Rest: Fourth on God’s Top Ten List – Exodus 20:8-9
Chapter 5: Stop Trying So Hard! Even God Isn’t Perfect – Deut. 34:4
Chapter 6: Hear the Still Small Voice Within – I Kings 19:11-12
Chapter 7: Restore Your Soul Beside Still Waters – Psalms 23:1-2
Afterward: Guardians of the Earth: To Till and to Tend – Psalms 104:24
Resources for Continuing the Adventure