Congregation Shaare Emeth will present “God, Wilderness, Doubt and Faith: A Weekend with Rabbi Jamie Korngold,” April 20-22.  

Known as the “Adventure Rabbi,” Korngold is a Reform rabbi who is nationally recognized for her pioneering work combining religion and nature. She also is the founder and executive director of the Adventure Rabbi Program, based in Boulder, Colo. as well as the author of “The God Upgrade: Finding Your 21st-Century Spirituality in Judaism’s 5,000 Year-Old Traditions,” “God in the Wilderness,” and six children’s books. 

Through a nature-based approach to religion, she aims to bridge the gap between scientific thought and religion, healing the cracks that often disrupt spiritual paths.  

Throughout the weekend Rabbi Korngold will discuss her approach to Judaism while exploring topics of nature, spirituality and faith.  

During Shabbat services at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 20 Korngold will share a D’var Torah.  At 7 p.m. there will be a Shabbat dinner — RSVP required to 314-569-0010.  Following dinner at 7:45 p.m., she will present “The God You Don’t Believe In, I Don’t Believe in Either — A Rabbi’s Confessions,” an interactive conversation for all ages. 

At 9 a.m. Saturday, April 21, continental breakfast will be followed by a 9:30 a.m. Torah/Text Study for teens and adults on “I am but Dusk and Ashes: How the Wilderness Comforted Job.”  The community may bring a bag lunch to a picnic at noon in Creve Coeur Park’s Heldman Shelter on Marine Avenue. Following lunch, from 1 to 3 p.m., Korngold will lead, “Let the Wilderness Awaken Your Judaism: a Shabbat Hike with the Adventure Rabbi,” experiencing nature through music prayer and hiking.  

At 9:15 a.m. Sunday, April 22, Korngold will have story time for preschool-age and first-grade children and their parents.  She will read one of the children’s books she authored, “Sadie and the Big Mountain.” The weekend will culminate at 10 a.m. with Korngold’s presentation on “The Upside of Downsizing: Jewish thought on how less can make your life more meaningful,” a discussion for adults of all ages.  

All programs are open to the public and for audiences of all ages.  

This weekend was made possible by the Deutsch Scholar-in-Residence Fund at Shaare Emeth.