Behrman House: About Us: Open Lion 6.5: Judaism Under the Stars

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Volume 6 Issue 5	Spring 2000

Judaism Under the Stars

[Spirit in Nature] Many of you have already seen our new hiking handbook, Spirit in Nature: Teaching Judaism and Ecology on the Trail. The book seems to have struck a chord with campers, hikers, and retreat participants alike. It's trim enough to fit in your backpack, but chock full of nifty activities to help lovers of the outdoors find holiness and spirituality in the wonders of nature and God's creations.

The six chapters encompass a wide range of outdoor experiences, including setting out on the trek, forming a community, recognizing the interdependence of natural systems, enjoying the solitude in nature, and welcoming the night--all from a Jewish perspective. Readers have told us that they have been using the values index at the back of the book to connect the book's activities to key Jewish values such as trust, gratitude, patience, and respect for living things.

Rabbi Ramie Arian, Executive Director of the Foundation for Jewish Camping, featured Spirit in Nature in the Foundation's electronic newsletter, "Up from the Foundation."

The feature includes a link to the Behrman House web site, where we offer an excerpt of the book (see for yourself by going to www.behrmanhouse.com/catalog/adult/sin.shtml). Excerpts also appeared in February in "Revisiting Jewish Environmental Education," a joint publication of CAJE and the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life.

We think you'll find that Spirit in Nature makes a great gift for Confirmation students, teacher appreciation, camp leaders, and anyone who loves the outdoors.

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