Next Year… in Moab
Here come the holidays: Passover and Easter.
We have a blended family. I struggle with how to make Passover as positive an experience as Easter. There are no cute animals, no baskets, no chocolate, not even bread. I recently learned from a new friend about her plans for celebrating Passover… desert style. Now we’re talking! I asked her to write down the details, as this isn’t her first trip. Today’s post is written by Rachel Berry, mother of two kids; ages 3 and 6. May I meet them next year… in Moab.
This time of year, we are gearing up for Passover – the annual Jewish celebration that, in my family generally includes the retelling of the story of the Exodus as well as the retelling of the story about how my brother, at age 4 or so, got so bored at the Seder table that he ‘accidentally’ lit a napkin on fire and threw it onto the carpet, where my uncle stomped out the flames.
Though we still do a Seder at home, we’re also taking part in a very different kind of Passover celebration this year, one that should be considerably more interesting for our 3 and 6-year old kids than the traditional version was for my brother. The Adventure Rabbi program hosts an annual Passover celebration in Moab, UT, where participants have a Seder in the desert…just like they did it in the olden days, 5000 years ago.
Rabbi Jamie Korngold, aka the Adventure Rabbi, is a Reform rabbi, and the Seder dinner includes traditional foods, but everything else about this event is out-of-the-box. There’s no fancy clothing, no linen tablecloth. The Passover celebration begins with everyone hiking 1.5 mile to Corona Arch. Along the way, we begin to tell the story of the Exodus – so we’re taking our desert hike while telling the story of Moses’ desert hike.
More about the Corona Arch hike: Corona Arch is a partly freestanding arch with a 140-foot by 105-foot opening. This is one of the best arches in the Moab area and it’s fairly easy to reach; any healthy adult or child should be able to handle it. You don’t need any special gear, other than footwear suitable for walking over slick rock. You do need your hands free for a ladder and a section with a rope handrail. The hike involves walking approximately 1.5 miles each way. The trail is well-maintained and has an elevation gain of 440 feet. Our three-year old, Delilah, who dearly loves hiking, is going to start off on her own two feet, although Mom will be wearing her kid-pack for when Delilah wears out. The route will require approximately two or three hours round trip to complete. The Seder is held outdoors, with everyone seated on colorful fabric. It’s catered, so you don’t have to bring your own brisket. When Delilah gets restless (and I’m sure she will), I can chase her around in the slick-rock wilderness a little ways from the Seder.
For families with children under 5 who are not quite ready for the full shpiel, there’s also a children’s service earlier in the day, with lots of singing to keep them engaged (and no hike.)
This year, our family is planning to make a long weekend out of it, since Moab is a six-hour drive from our home in Boulder, CO. Like most of the participants, we’ll be camping at Gold Rim. On Sunday, guided mountain biking, hiking and rafting are all available, or you can simply pick up a trail map in town and head out to explore on your own or with new Adventure Rabbi friends. Moab is a renowned mountain biking destination. Poison Spider Bike Shop is where we always go for tubes, maps, and advice from knowledgeable and friendly local bike techs. But since our kids aren’t quite old enough to mountain bike (although 6-year old Jasper is getting close) we’ll split up and let Jasper go on the adult hike while Delilah takes part in the children’s program (for kids 9 and under.) You could also head over to Arches or Canyonlands National Park, for some family hiking extraordinaire. Both parks have plenty of trails that are do-able with little hikers.
The Adventure Rabbi Passover is held April 3-4 in Moab, UT. Cost for adults is $150, for teens 13-17, $120, for kids 5-12 $90, children under 5 free. Fee includes 2 catered, Kosher for Passover meals, Saturday night camping and programs and activities. Guided mountain biking and rafting are an additional fee.
The closest airports are the small Moab airport, and Grand Junction, CO, which is about two hours from Moab. You can also fly into Denver and rent a car; it’s about 5 ½ hours away, with a spectacular drive across the Rockies via I-70. The Adventure Rabbi website has extensive details, including and up to what to pack and where to rent a tent: http://www.AdventureRabbi.org/passover/
I am participating in Mondays are for Dreaming, hosted by Mara at Mother of All Trips. For more travel dreams, stop by her site.
Now this sounds interesting! I’ve been to Moab (sans kiddos) and it’s pretty cool, but adding in the spiritual/educational element gives it a whole new meaning. What a great idea!
Great article about the Adventure Rabbi program! We’re so happy that you featured us on your blog, and we’ll post a link to your blog as well.
I struggle with the blended family, too.
The comedian, Paula Poundstone, once joked that the reason Hanukkah never caught on commercially was because it didn’t have a cute animal for representation. Lora is right – Passover has the same crutch.
I want to go to Moab! Great guest post, Rachel.
I love this! I’ve been trying to figure out how best to celebrate Easter on the road – the tricky part is trying to make sure that Holy Week registers before the Easter hoopla. I wish there were an equally beautiful and outdoorsy way to celebrate Good Friday in Los Angeles.
That said – I would totally do this too – sounds really fun. And I love a good Seder.
What a fantastic idea. I think whether you are Christian or Jewish (or blended), Passover is an important holiday to learn about and celebrate because it is a part of all of our history. I hope have my children learn about all relgions and why their holidays are so important to their culture. I think Passover in Moab is a grea way to truly experience the holiday. I hope you make it!