ABOUT
Our Mission
BaMidbar’s mission is to ensure that Jewish youth and young adults have the confidence, skills, and community support to navigate life’s challenges and thrive in the face of adversity.
OUR VISION
BaMidbar envisions a Jewish community that actively supports its members in building mental health and wellness.
We achieve our mission and vision through community education and by providing wilderness-based journeys of self-discovery, hope, and healing.
BaMidbar supports Jewish young adults struggling with mental health challenges through immersive, wilderness-based, Therapeutic Expeditions.
BaMidbar supports all Jewish teens and young adults, regardless of their mental health history, through Wellness Programs focused on building resilience through increased self-confidence, skill-building, and healthy relationships.
BaMidbar provides Professional Development for Jewish community professionals looking to expand their mental health literacy and explore facilitation through the lens of social and emotional growth.
Kavod
כבוד
Promoting honor, dignity, and respect for ourselves and others.
Simcha
שמחה
Finding joyful Jewish meaning in every aspect of our lives.
Tzmicha Ishit
צמיחה אישית
Accepting and pursuing the challenges of personal transformation.
Kehilla
קהילה
Cultivating the power of an inclusive and supportive community.
Jory Hanselman Mayschak
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
For the past ten years, Jory has worked to grow and scale innovative programs in the fields of wilderness therapy, national service, and Jewish camp. Jory has a bachelors of science from Tufts University and a masters degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Leadership from University of Colorado. She is also a Wexner Field Fellow.
Nick Magle-Haberek
Clinical Director
Nick has worked in the field of wilderness therapy and experiential education for the past twenty years. He earned masters degrees in both Social Work and Outdoor Education at the University of New Hampshire, and is also on the leadership committee for the Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group. Nick is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Clinical Adventure Therapist.
Emily Heeren
Admissions & Outreach Director
Emily has worked with youth and young adults both in and outside of the formal classroom for over eight years. With a foundation in experiential learning, Emily has applied her skills in high school special education, higher education, Jewish education, outdoor education, and mental health settings. Emily has a masters degree in Curriculum and Teaching with a concentration in Special Education from Boston University.
Moss Herberholz
Communications Coordinator
Starting in 2015, Moss has worked as a Jewish nature educator for Jewish organizations including Ramah in the Rockies and Teva (a program of Hazon). Since it’s pilot season, Moss has filled many roles at BaMidbar including as a logistics coordinator, assistant field guide, lead field guide, and most recently in his role as the communications coordinator. He has a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Theater Arts from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is currently pursuing an MSW as a fellow in the Jewish Communal Leadership Program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Our Board
Rabbi Matt Shapiro, Co-Chair
Douglas Wolf, Treasurer
Teena Slatkin
Cliff Stockton
Elyssa Hammerman, Co-Chair
Marla Kaufman, Secretary
Rabbi Anat Moskowitz
Judy Gerstenblith
Program & Operations Coordinator
BaMidbar is seeking a full-time Program & Operations Coordinator to support smooth organizational operations and all aspects of program coordination and implementation. As an integral team member of a young and growing organization, the Program & Operations Coordinator will provide on-the-ground logistical support for summer wilderness therapy programs, and will help the organization build capacity to grow and scale professional development programs and pilot new initiatives around mental health prevention and education.
Learn more here.
Apply here.
Seasonal Summer
Field Therapist
Are you a licensed mental health professional looking to use wilderness and adventure-based experiences as part of your therapeutic process? Working in BaMidbar’s Therapeutic Expeditions, Field Therapists support implementation of student treatment plans through experiential activities. The Field Therapist collaborates with the primary therapist on student well-being and group functioning, and facilitates individual and group therapy in the field. The Field Therapist also works in collaboration with Field Guides in maintaining a positive group milieu and therapeutic environment. Learn more here.
Blog
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BaMidbar 2020 Highlights
It has been quite a year, and as the Yiddish saying goes, “People plan, and G-d laughs.” While 2020 did not turn out the way we expected, BaMidbar has been working hard to meet the mental health needs of the Jewish community in this pivotal moment. As we …
Announcing BaMidbar’s 2021 Programming Calendar
We are so excited to announce our 2021 program calendar. While none of us know what our world will look like in 2021, participant and staff safety is our #1 priority. We believe we can create a safe operating environment for in-person programs, while delivering on our mission …
Shana Tova from BaMidbar
As we prepare for the Days of Awe, days of deep introspection and self-reflection, we face a challenging task. Despite the challenges we face, last week’s Torah portion reminds us that we can do it; we are capable. From all of us here BaMidbar, we are wishing you …