Seder in the Desert

This is essentially an extended travel brochure for the Adventure Rabbi Program, founded by author Korngold, which sponsors seders in the Utah desert. It’s told in the voice of a young participant, who works quite hard (one senses the grownup mind at work) to connect her fellow REI-equipped sojourners to their ancient ancestors: “The sun is hot and I get thirsty.... Now I understand how important water was for the Israelites.” But armchair travelers should enjoy taking in the photos of the magnificent red rock formations (one of the famous arches plays a recurring role in the story) and seeing how modern-day Jews come together for a day of hiking, dancing, prayer, and—of course—eating. Ages 3–8. (Feb.)