At Yeshiva Outdoors, we believe that experiencing nature is integral to Jewish spiritual development.

To facilitate this growth, our programs combine traditional text-based learning and outdoor recreation in North American wilderness areas.

Our story began in 1998 when Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Edelstein joined a Cub Scouting troop. Through over twenty years of experience in Scouting, he became knowledgeable in the many areas of back-country know-how including hiking, ecology, wilderness survival and first aid, canoeing, backpacking, and camping. Later, when he felt compelled to pursue rabbinical training and ordination, he thought that his wilderness days would be behind him, only to be enjoyed occasionally. In 2017, R. Edelstein was hired as the wilderness survival and camping instructor at Camp Ramah in the Rockies and the fire of adventure was rekindled in his soul, and he continued to work at Ramah in the Rockies in the camping department.

Seeing the impact the camp had on the youth who participated, R. Edelstein saw the need for impactful Jewish wilderness programming for adults and Yeshiva Outdoors was conceived!

“He brought him outside...וַיּוֹצֵ֨א אֹת֜וֹ הַח֗וּצָה”

This verse was part of the inspiration for founding Yeshiva Outdoors. It seems apparent that even HaShem wants us to experience the majestic qualities of being outdoors. In Genesis 15:5, describing an interaction between G-d and Abram, it says, “He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He added, “So shall your offspring be.” Part of developing spirituality is experiencing the divine realm, which starts with experiencing the physical realm of creation. At Yeshiva Outdoors, we believe in wilderness as a path to discovering the divine within and growing closer to the Holy One, Blessed be He.

Rav Kook taught in Eyn Aya, his commentary on the Talmud, Berakhot 57b:

The human soul was created by G-d to have integrity, to get joy from life, and pleasure from its sensory experiences. As long as a person’s life is in harmony with that of nature in general, that person will know happiness and joy of heart. However, because of the relentless pressures of human society, the human being has been distanced from pure interactions with nature, and thus has the mind become distressed.
Therefore, that which will bring back a person’s innate equanimity is the general sense of collective satisfaction that they can find together with nature, in the divine grace that fills the entire universe: in the melodic songs of birds that echo through the boughs of trees; int he vistas of the Carmel and the Sharon, with their beautiful flora; in the fragrances of the roses and the luscious fruits that grow in G-d’s garden; in the entire earth, that was given to human beings. These are the things that restore our minds to their natural state, in the wake of the estrangement created by human culture and society.
And when the mind is restored in this way to the Source of nature, which is the Creator’s handiwork, we will find that all of the the natural delights of the soul—our holy stirrings and the upward yearning toward G-d of all—will return to us as well.

Join us as we try to escape the “pressures of human society” and draw close to “the Source of nature” through pure interactions with nature and learning Torah.

As part of our continued goal to bring Torah and the outdoors to Jewish communities and individuals, in addition to our Shabbat and trek programs, we are excited to provide d’vrei Torah (words of Torah, or reflections) on the weekly readings, as well as tips, tricks, and how-to's about kosher camping and being Jewish in nature.

Follow us on social media for spiritual thoughts and camping hacks!