On Sunday, January 12, at 10:00 a.m., at Congregation Beth Aaron, 950 Queen Anne Road in Teaneck, Daniel Chazin will speak about “Exploring Hashem’s Beautiful World.” The program, jointly sponsored by the synagogue and Men’s Club and just ahead of Tu B’shvat (often known as the “Jewish New Year For the Trees”), will feature a photo montage of a variety of hikes with a focus on the New York City metropolitan area. All images in the presentation, as well as in his new book Hike of the Week: A Year of Hikes in the New York Metro Area, are part of Mr. Chazin’s personal collection. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and greet Daniel and have a copy of their book signed. Books can be purchased in advance at the Amazon Marketplace: http://www.amazon.com/Appalachian-Trail-Data-Daniel-Chazin/dp/1889386839. A light breakfast will be provided by the Men’s Club.

About Daniel Chazin-“The Walking Man”

Daniel Chazin had always enjoyed the occasional family hiking trip, but it wasn’t until he became Scoutmaster for Troop 226, the only Shomer Shabbat Boy Scout troop in Bergen and Passaic counties, that the explorer in him was awakened. And he’s been a “walking man” ever since.

Daniel shares tales of adventure with young and old, and the excitement is infectious. Although he has treaded many miles, he recalls one particularly harrowing adventure with a hiking buddy in the dead of winter that almost became a search-and-rescue mission. The hike in question is none other than one in a series of impressive climbs which encompassed all 35 peaks of the Catskill Mountains, and inducted him into the exclusive Catskill 3500 Club.

Mr. Chazin has served on the Board of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference for over 30 years and is currently the Chair of the Publications Committee. He has edited and written many guidebooks to hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail Guide to New York and New Jersey, the New York Walk Book and Harriman Trails: A Guide and History. His newest book, Hike of the Week: A Year of Hikes in the New York Metro Area, awakens the inner hiker in all of us, provides trail descriptions from the novice to the expert and reveals the hidden gems that can be found and traversed right in our own back yard!

For the past 12 years, he has written a hiking column for The Record, the largest newspaper of general circulation in Bergen County, New Jersey. His descriptions of over 300 hikes in the New York-New Jersey area can be found online at www.nynjtc.org.