The Boulder community is invited to gather with us at 9 PM at the Boulder Integral Center, at 2805 Broadway (Broadway and Balsam), for an event that will commence with a spirited evening prayer and havdallah led by Rabbi Debra Rappaport. Then a panel with Rabbis Rose, Goldfeder, Soloway, Korngold, and Rappaport on the theme: Heart or Mind: Where does the Torah Journey Begin?

Here is the rest of the schedule:

• 11:30 PM – Community Kavannah
• 11:45 PM – 12:30 AM -  Shavuot and the art of wakefulness – with Rabbi Debra Rappaport of B’nai Veil Congregation
• 12:30 – Community Kavannah
• 12:45 AM – 1:30 AM Yoga with Shifra Blumenthal OR Directing the Heart, Focusing the mind – The Art of kavanah With Rabbi Marc Soloway
• 1:30 – Community Kavannah
• 1:45 AM – 2:30 AM – The Whole Way: Heart, Mind and Body in Prayer With Rabbi Josh Rose
• 2:30 – Community Kavannah
• 2:45 AM -3:30 AM – The Mishkan: Heart, Mind, and the Holy of Holies with Rabbi Gavriel Goldfeder
• 3:30 – Community Kavannah
• 3:45 AM -4:45 AM – Live Chavruta – Rabbis Josh Rose and Gavriel Goldfeder lead an interactive encounter with the Torah of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
• 5 AM – Shacharit at Aish Kodesh 1805 Balsam Ave

RSVPs are not required.

A fresh look at who were the real ‘machers’ and shakers at Mount Sinai?  Was it the men or the women?

Saturday, May 26, 5:30 pm.   Join us for a unique women’s gathering of scholarly, social and soulful delight.  Enjoy a light dairy meal while gaining insight into the spiritual meaning of the “Ten Commandments”.  This class will be facilitated by Chany Scheiner and is open to women in the Boulder Jewish Community.  The event is free but requires rsvping by simply emailing chabadofboulder@gmail.com or calling 303 494 1638.

CGI Campers at the Denver Zoo summer 2011

Exciting Sustainable Curriculum Comes to Colorado’s Trendsetting Jewish Day Camp

Camp Gan Israel of the Rockies (CGI), the premiere Jewish day camp in Colorado, is going green, with comprehensive sustainable practices being implemented throughout its innovative summer programming. The camp, which serves ages 2.5 through 13 years old, will take place from June 25-July 27, 2012, at the state-of-the-art Ryan Elementary School in Lafayette, Colorado.

Camp Gan Israel of the Rockies is a joint project of Chabad of Longmont and Chabad of NW Metro Denver serving children from Boulder County and beyond, and is part of the largest and fastest growing network of Jewish day camps in the world. Gan Israel enjoys a well-earned reputation as a trendsetter with innovative ideas, creative programs, and new activities. But the true magic of the camp lives in the the comprehensive program designed to expose children to the richness of their Jewish heritage with highly qualified and caring staff, exciting programs, and cultural tradition. The camp has three different age divisions: Mini Gan Izzy (ages 3-4), Sabras (5-9), and Pioneers (10-13).

Introducing recycling to camp will nicely complement our curriculum of Jewish values and holidays,” says Leah Brackman, co-director of CGI Rockies, and despite the extra work and cost involved, it will be well worth the effort.

The decision to “go green” emerged out of Chabad Jewish Center of Longmont’s recent participation in Hazon’s Sustainable Audit program, which the center conducted over the last year. The audit included an overall assessment of the center’s current sustainable practices, as well as new initiatives for education and green practices that have been enthusiastically embraced by the community. At the recent Purim celebration, recycling and composting bins were prevalent, as well as traditional Mishloach Manot, or Purim goody bags prepared for friends and family, made out of recycled material.

For the 2012 camp season, CGI has committed to extending the green effort into the day-to-day operations of the camp, which provides healthy, kosher lunches and snacks, as well as branded water canteens. In addition, sustainability will be woven into the camp curriculum, as CGI of the Rockies believe that it is every member of a community, from the youngest to the oldest, can participate in environmentally-friendly practices. Lastly, the camp will be offering bus to and from key locations to help families with the high price of gasoline, as well as to lower the camp’s carbon footprint throughout Boulder County.

To learn more about Camp Gan Israel of the Rockies, please visit: http://www.jewishkidscamp.com or call 303.429.5177.

Michael Rosenzweig: Three down, 97 to go.

The Boulder JCC recently received a grant from Roots and Branches, an initiative of Rose Community Foundation. The purpose of this grant is to create a lighthearted, innovative, friendly network of young Jews in Boulder who are interested in, and excited about, programming for the young, Jewish Boulder crowd.  In order to accomplish this, I am having conversations with 100 young adult Jews in Boulder County over the next few months, to discuss what their background is and what they are looking for in terms of young Jewish adult programming.

After three conversations, I can already see that many more questions will arise from these one-on-one chats.  Having conversations about how people classify their connection to Judaism really allows for a full spectrum of answers.  For example, two of the three people I spoke to connect just as much if not more to Israel, rather than the religion of Judaism.

For me growing up in New Jersey, Jews were either Reform, Conservative, or Orthodox.  I  experienced Hasidic culture only on a surface level while getting Gus’s pickles on the Lower East Side of New York City.    I was exposed to the Reconstructionist movement, which was new and hip at the time, but to me felt similar to Reform Judaism, which is how I was raised.  I didn’t think Judaism could get more modern than that.  Then I came to Boulder!  There were two sects of Judaism that I had never heard of:  the Renewal and Humanistic movements, both of which fascinate me.

In determining a question that I assumed was fairly straightforward, “How do you classify your connection to Judaism?” I thought I had anticipated every possible response.  Then it happened.  In one of my interviews, someone offered a new answer to this question and called him/herself a Post-Denominational Jew.  As it was described it to me, a Post-Denominational affiliation means the person  is very connected to their Judaism in religious, cultural, and spiritual contexts, but that connection supersedes any one denomination of  Judaism.

Perhaps this is one way for  Judaism to remain relevant and modern in today’s society.  Especially in Boulder, there is ample opportunity to connect  where, when, and how you want to connect.  If you classify yourself as more of a cultural rather than religious Jew, go Humanistic.  If you want to connect spiritually and are fascinated by the mysticism of Judaism, you are in the birthplace of the Renewal movement.  All the same, if you are connected to your Judaism, the religious, cultural, and social aspects of the religion are all important to you, but you aren’t a part of one particular congregation, you could be “Post-Denominational.”  The beauty of it is that there are still so many ways to connect with other like-minded individuals and feel like you are a part of this vibrant and innovative community.

As always, if you are a Boulder Jew between the ages of 21-45, give me a shout.  I would love to take you out for coffee and talk about where you came from, what you are looking for in terms of programming for this demographic, and how we can work together to achieve this.  If you know someone that fits this age group, feel free to send them my information or shoot me a line with theirs.

Last year, Team Friendship succeeded in raising awareness for acceptance of special needs individuals when they tackled the odds of a daunting journey and sent a clear message to spectators along the way, that external differences don’t render an individual less deserving of respect, compassion and friendship.

This year, Team Friendship is opening their arms to bike riders in Colorado who wish to join the team and participate in this exciting cross-country adventure.

The five-day bike ride will begin in Santa Fe, New Mexico on July 16, arriving in Lone Tree on Friday afternoon, July 20.

The 420-mile ride provides for some amazing scenic passes. The trip is kosher and includes accommodations and professional ride support along the way.

There is an $1,800 fundraising minimum goal to join the ride that will go to further Friendship Circle of Colorado activities.

“Bike for Friendship presents a fun way to raise awareness and funds for special needs individuals,” says Rabbi Benjy Brackman, who is helping coordinate the Colorado logistics and will also be joining the week long segment ride from Santa Fe to Denver.

For more information please call Benjy on 720-984-5805 or visit www.bike4friendship.com/Denver.

Map of Bike Ride

This is a wonderful opportunity for you to network with fellow researchers and share your research success stories. In addition, we will be providing a generous brunch at no charge.

Our agenda includes the annual election of the Board, including the opportunity for you to meet with your new Board members, and participate in a general discussion about what you want from your Society. We will also have translators available (e.g. Hebrew, Yiddish, German, French, Portuguese, etc.) to help you with inscriptions on gravestones, photos and letters, so be sure to bring your documents.

We particularly welcome newcomers who are just starting their research. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow family history sleuths who have a wide variety of genealogy backgrounds and experiences. Take advantage of access to a wide range of expertise that will be available both before and after the meeting.

If you have any questions about the meeting or would like more information, please contact Barry Halpern at barry.halpern@gmail.com.

Save the date! The times they are a changin’….Please join us for an educational and fun afternoon entitled “SHIFT HAPPENS: Learning and Laughing in a time of Change,” Sunday, June 3, 2-5:30 p.m.

The program includes:

• A teaching, “Listening to Kabbalah and Nature in Times of Change” by Rabbi Tirzah Firestone
• An interfaith panel of spiritual leaders discussing “Healing Post-Traumatic God Disorder,” including Rev. David Chernikoff, Rabbi Tirah Firestone, Morah Yehudis Fishman, Reverend Jason Hays and Rabbi Josh Rose
• A comedy performance by the Kosher Hams entitled “A Condensed Torah for Modern Times”
• An auction, food and music.

This benefit for Congregation Nevei Kodesh will be held at the Community UCC, 2650 Table Mesa Drive. $72 per person. Advanced registration requested. For information and registration contact Nevei Kodesh.