Congregation B'nai Hamidbar, the Burning Man Jewish community, is returning to Burning Man 2005 with the second year of the Black Rock JCC.

For several years, the Jewish community at Burning Man has held wonderful Friday night gatherings of prayer, song, dancing, and food.  As part of the Beyond Belief theme of Burning Man 2003,  Congregation B'nai Hamidbar ("Children of the Desert"), was created as a new home for radical Jewish self-transcendence.  We fed people, enlightened them, taught them Kabbalah.  Last year was even more expansive, with programs ranging from shamanic journeying to arts & crafts. In 2005, we returned under the amazing leadership of Amy Stein and Rabbi Menachem Cohen, with another successful Friday night davening & potluck, and more.

Here's some Press about us:

Next Year in Black Rock City, Jewish News Weekly of Northern California, Sept. 2005.

B'nai Hamidbar is an open, inclusive community that welcomes spiritual seekers of all (or no) faiths, of diverse backgrounds and interests.  We welcome everyone to visit our camp, and to camp with us too, if you're interested and willing to help build B'nai Hamidbar.  How to get involved, just click here to subscribe to the jewishburners Yahoo group, and send a mail to the list!

Here is our schedule of events this year:

Afternoon Prayer and the Psycho-spiritual Journey of Jewish Prayer
Wednesday, August 31, 3:00-4:15pm
The Jewish liturgy, text and calendar are divine guides for us as we embark on our psycho-spiritual journeys. Through the afternoon prayers, aka Mincha, we'll see how this works. Check in at the camp for possibilities of other times for communal services during the week.

Jewish Shamanic Prayer/Meditation
Wednesday, August 31, 11:45pm-1:00 am (i.e. Wednesday night)
As the night moves toward sweetness, using elements of Jewish shamanic and mystical pratice, we'll swim the seas of our psyches out beyond the edges of Black Rock City. Meet at the BRC JCC by midnight or meet us out beyond the radial street nearest the camp shortly thereafter.

Playa Shabbos and Potluck
Friday, September 2, 2005, 7pm
Celebrate Shabbos Burning Man style. Sing, pray and eat with other Jewish burners. Prayerbooks with transliteration provided. Please bring enough milchic/vegetarian (fish ok) prepared food to share. In the Torah portion of the week Gd gives us the choice of blessing or curse. What does this free will do to/for our psyches. Come back Shabbos morning, 10am, for a more traditional service and Torah discussion.

Havdalah
Saturday, September 3, 2005, 7:45pm
Together we will perform the fire ceremony that ends the Sabbath and then go to the burn (where it may be possible to say there is the world's largest havdalah candle). Havdalah is called for 8:09pm. Gather at The BRC JCC by 8pm from which point we'll head out to the playa, or check in with us late in the week to find out our playa meeting place and meet us there a little after 8.

Other notes: Our potluck dinners are kosher, with glatt kosher food available for those who wish.  Our camp is kosher and (mostly) eco-kosher.   Our services are egalitarian, with an opportunity both for the full traditional liturgy and for contemplative practice, meditation, chant, participation, and song.

If you're reading this page and have never been to Burning Man, click that link to find out more about it.  It's not what you think.

We hope you'll join us on the playa this year, and burn away the illusory boundaries that distinguish between self and One.