ABOUT US

BINA - Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture strives to strengthen Israel as a democratic, pluralistic society, emphasizing cultural, and community aspects of Judaism. BINA was established over thirteen years ago, as a response to the breakdown in public trust and unity in the aftermath of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

BINA designs and implements cultural, social and educational programs reaching close to 1000 Israelis annually in year-long programs. It offers seminars and public events for more than 13,000 participants every year, with the goal of enhancing Jewish and Zionist identity of non-orthodox Israelis. The foundations of BINA’s innovative programs are: Jewish Study, Social Action/Social Justice, Community and Leadership. BINA’s combination study/service programs focus on young adults - today’s agents of change, tomorrow’s leaders - with the aim of inspiring a lifelong appreciation of textual study and social justice.

BINA's programs include pre-army and post-army groups studying and volunteering in the neighborhood, groups for Russian immigrants, and an award-winning post-college program for Jewish activists from around the world called Tikkun Olam, which is supported by Masa Israel.

Mechinat BINA (Pre-Army Program), established five years ago, is a 10 month program for 18-19 year old Israelis at The Secular Yeshiva in Tel-Aviv. The program seeks to cultivate a generation of leaders with an in-depth familiarity with Jewish culture past and present, who view social activism and volunteering as central values by which to live. 

The Secular Yeshiva at Bina aims to be a home for students (aged 18-30) to experience significant learning and encounter a wide range of thinking and thinkers. Programs at the yeshiva allow participants to embark on a fascinating journey, which exposes them to a rich variety of views and assists them in formulating their own perspectives. Students live in South Tel-Aviv and are confronted with some of the most pressing issues in contemporary Israeli society. In addition to intensive study, all Yeshiva students take part in “Tikun Olam” community service and social welfare projects in the underserved communities of South Tel Aviv, where the Yeshiva is located.
 

Staff at BINA

Lior Tal, head of BINA's Gap Year programs, has been teaching various groups at the Secular Yeshiva since it was established. Lior holds a Masters degree in political science and is a graduate of "Tehuda" young Jewish leadership program. He is also a guest lecturer at Bar Ilan University and writes a weekly torah portion for Ma’ariv NRG, one of Israel’s most popular newspapers. Lior lives in south Tel Aviv in the neighborhood of Kefar Shalem. http://liortal.cafe.themarker.com

Michael Grumer, 24 years old, was born and raised in the Bronx, in New York City. Michael moved to Israel at the age of 20, and served in the IDF for two and a half years. Michael has experienced many aspects of Israel and seen it through many lenses, as a tourist, through a gap-year of his own, as a soldier, and now as an Israeli civilian. After a few months of traveling in the far east, including four months spent volunteering in Nepal, Michael has recently returned to Israel, and will serve as the counselor and coordinator for the gap year program at Bina.

Itamar Manoff, Recruitment coordinator. Itamar Holds a Bachelors Degree in Linguistics and Jewish Studies from the University of Toronto, Canada. Itamar is a teaches BINA seminars in public schools throughout Israel. In addition, Itamar is studying for his MA in linguistics and lives in Tel Aviv.

Mira Regev: Already ordained as a Reform Rabbi, Mira is also studying for her doctorate in Kabbalah. Mira also spent time in the U.S. studying at the University of Pennsylvania. She served as the Director of Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv - Jaffa for 3 years before going abroad and teaching at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. In BINA, Mira is in charge of strategic partnerships with Jewish communities abroad, and teaches the Gap-Year students on a weekly basis.