In the beginning stages of formation, Haraqia is creating a community of people who want to help build Israel focused outdoor holistic Jewish living and learning activity. Haraqia is the Foundation for Jewish Education of the Wilderness in Support of Haaretz . (For short, Haraqia Foundation J.E.W.I.S.H.) In English Haraqia translates as 'The Celestial Sphere'. As its name implies, Haraqia has special focus on returning Judaism to the great outdoors, under Haraqia.
You are invited to explore participating in Haraqia. Specific areas of activity include The Israel Journey, building special projects in Israel with the newly forming garin seed community, and Torah on the trail activity based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota.
For further information please contact us at info@haraqia.org.
The Haraqia Program
Establishing
Yeshivat HaMidbar
The Yeshiva of the Wilderness
The Academy for outdoor holistic Jewish living and learning
With campuses planned for Minnesota and Israel
Join us for our initial activity offerings at our Midwest and Mideast campuses.
The Israel Journey
Torah on the Trail Israel
Learn in Israel
Welcome to The Israel Journey.
Experience the richness of outdoor Torah education in the land of Israel.
Home-school families welcome
Learn about home ritual, how to do and why
Explore how to be in community and keep spiritually growing.
Learn to learn.
Learn to teach.
Learn to be.
Please fill out the form below to help organize our Learn in Israel program.
Garin Hamidbar
The seed community building special projects in Israel
Build for Israel's tomorrow with Garin Hamidbar
(Note: Garin is pronounced gareen, and in English means a seed or nucleus )
You are invited to learn about Garin Hamidbar, our newly forming Israel-focused community; help build special projects in Israel such as eco-moshava, a model for sustainable desert living in the southern point of Israel, creating accessibility for teaching Torah on the nature trail in the southern Israel nature preserve, and building a Judaic library collection.
Examples of creating greater accessibility on the nature trail includes putting in accessible trails for wheelchairs, getting some wheelchairs that can handle the dirt trails, putting in some benches for people to sit for those who need a rest periodically, setting up braille signs and guide ropes for the blind and low vision; and creating a fund for sign language interpreters for the deaf.
Join this newly forming team to build together. All ages welcome, homeschooling families welcome, minors need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Please fill out the form below to learn more about Garin Midbar
Torah on the Trail Minnesota
Welcome to Torah on the Trail Minnesota.
You are invited to engage in the world of learning more Torah in an experiential way, on the Trail. In a sense this resonates with the first Torah lesson which was outdoors, at Mt. Sinai with the giving of the Torah. This Torah on the Trail learning approach strives to bring to life the educational path of the Jewish people since that epic moment at Mount Sinai; Torah learning for its own sake, Torah Lishma.
Participants are encouraged to increase their knowledge base in the following areas:
Learn more Torah.
Gain deeper insights into the world of prayer.
Learn skills for living out in nature.
Learn skills to help protect our natural world.
Increase group cohesion with community building activities
Activity possibilities include
Day hikes
Shabbatonim/Shabbat retreats,
Extended Jewish living and learning adventures to such locations as the following:
The Rocky Mountains
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Washington D.C. to learn firsthand of the civics related to the Jewish community, Israel, and the environment
Topic possibilities include the following:
Ethics
Gemilut hasadim, acts of loving kindness
Tzedakah, including special mitzvah projects to feed the poor.
Judaism and the environment
Parshat Hashavua/the Weekly Torah Portion
Hebrew language acquisition
Bar and Bat Mitzvah preparation; not only including devar Torah preparation, but preparing oneself for adult responsibility in the Jewish community.
Outdoor recreational modes for going about in nature include nature walks, backpacking, canoeing, skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, horseback riding, therapeutic horseback riding, swimming, snorkeling, and rock climbing.
These activities are for people of all ages, individuals, groups, and families; homeschooling families are welcome. Minors need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
You are invited fill out the form below to learn more about our Torah on the trail program based in the Twin Cities, Minnesota region.
About
Haraqia is founded on the principle that many more Jewish people will actively participate in Jewish life with greater access to the following:
Torah learning exploration for those who desire a new way to engage in traditional Jewish educational experiences.
Outdoor Jewish education for those who yearn for the quiet and wonder of the natural world to explore Jewish life, want to explore the Jewish view on one's responsibility to the environment, or enjoy being in the outdoors.
Renewal of one’s personal relationship with Israel through Israel-focused programs for those who hunger for the spiritual, communal and cultural benefits of Israel, want profound experiences in Israel, or search for renewed personal meaning with Israel.
All inclusive participation for those who want equal participation in the Jewish community, want to enhance their particular group's culture, or want to improve relations between various peoples.
Holistic approach for those who strive to create a daily life centered on G-d and Torah, long for a Jewish healing experience in a supportive Jewish community, or seek a growing experience that encompasses intellectual and spiritual growth together with emotional and physical well-being in a Jewish context.
Purpose
Ha-Raqi`a's purpose is to create, build, and sustain Jewish community. The name Ha-Raqi`a means the celestial sphere, the firmament, the sky. As the name indicates, Ha-Raqi`a activity includes special focus on returning Judaism to the great outdoors, under Ha-Raqi'a. Ha-Raqi`a is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. It is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, and educational purposes.
Vision
Jews living Jewish
Haraqia envisions a future where Jews around the world actively participate in a rich and enriching Jewish life. To fulfill this vision, Haraqia is dedicated to providing quality outdoor holistic Jewish living and learning activity. Haraqia posits that with such activity more Jewish people will experience a deeper, more meaningful, and increasingly significant Jewish life.
With this vision in mind, Haraqia offers its program initiative to help this vision to become a reality.
What follows are some of the activity areas envisioned for Haraqia's activities in Israel and elsewhere.
Outdoor Torah Education
Learn Torah on the trail and with Haraqia’s planned courses in learning the Torah, Shabbat and holiday celebration, Hebrew language, and more. Through experiential learning, Jewish traditions, culture, and Torah come alive. This learning program prepares our generation for helping to build the Jewish people's future and be active learned members of the Jewish community.
Jewish Educational Retreats
Join Haraqia for outdoor holistic Jewish living and learning retreats. Help plan Jewish educational retreats to places such as the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota, the Rocky Mountains, and Israel.
These retreats provide the opportunity for a well-rounded Jewish living and learning experience. Participants have the opportunity to live a traditional Jewish life, in a welcoming, supportive and friendly environment.
Community Service Program, Gemilut Hasadim.
Join our gatherings for fun Jewish learning and organizing sessions to improve and protect the environment, help those in need, and create special projects in Israel.
Learn Jewish Culture
Courses possible in Jewish self-defense, cooking, and Jewish dance, music, and art.
Celebrations
Haraqia celebrates together for Shabbat, holidays, and special occasions.
Celebrate together as a community. Meals, tefillah, learning, fun, Havdalah or a full Shabbat together.
Philosophy
Haraqia is based on the following philosophical concepts:
Traditional. Use of traditional Jewish text sources will form the basis of study, and traditional liturgy will be used during formal prayer.
Egalitarian. Jewish adults have equal status and opportunity in prayer and study.
Pluralistic. A pluralistic approach is possible for groups with other philosophies of prayer.
Shomer Shabbat and Shomer Kashrut. The Shabbat and Jewish dietary laws are observed.
Quality. Haraqia is committed to top quality programs.
Ecologically sound practices. The program promotes lifestyle choices that improve and protect the environment.
Care for the individual. Program content and methods reflect and demonstrate a concern for each participant.
Goals
Enhance the Jewish people's connection to Israel.
Increase the participation and access of diverse groups in Jewish communal life.
Improve and protect the environment.
Expand the knowledge base of the Jewish people in Jewish tradition, culture and Israel.
Improve participant growth and well-being.
Increase participant involvement in his or her home Jewish community.
Enhance participant enjoyment and satisfaction in Judaism.
Model of Education
Jewish learning and living experiences are woven throughout the various aspects of the program.
Outdoor experiential learning.
Shabbat and holiday celebrations.
Prayer learning workshops.
Hevruta study partners.
Student-centered education.
Utilize the fine arts with music, dance, and art.
Individual and group learning activity.
Help build the Haraqia vision
Thank you for your interest to help build Haraqia. Your participation helps Haraqia fulfill its purpose to create, build and sustain Jewish community. Below please find some areas to help build Haraqia.
Create an online fundraising page, click on here on Fundraise, then on the button titled 'Fundraise'.
Help organize our initial activities.
Learning In Israel with our Israel journey.
Participate in building with Garin Hamidbar, the seed community.
Torah on the trail Minnesota with our Twin Cities, Minnesota based activity.
Join us now as we create together through building, fundraising, getting the word out, gathering resources, and taking time to learn together, celebrate together, and build together.