Late last year, a study from the Pew Research Center captured an identity crisis among American Jews. It found more people who, though born Jewish, are not identified with the religion.
What the Pew report didn’t capture is a reverse trend-- people who are turning back toward their religious roots. Innovative organizations are popping up all around the country: Jewish afterschool programs, Jewish farms, Jewish LGBTQ and environmental groups, all building bridges between ancient and contemporary cultures.
Berkeley-based Wilderness Torah is one group that’s trying to bring new meaning to the old tradition. Intrigued, KALW's Judy Silber tagged along this past spring for their annual Passover in the Desert festival-- a gathering of about 150 people held in a remote spot in the Panamint Valley desert, eight hours south of the Bay Area.
Photo Credit: Tom Levy
