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The Magic of Purim | BINA
Ayala Deckel, the Head of BINA Secular Yeshiva, discusses the Book of Esther, the lessons we can learn from Esther and Vashti, and the concept of putting on a costume to change our persona. Why is Vashti looked down upon while Esther is praised? What lessons can we learn from Esther’s courage? How do Purim costumes connect with our everyday lives and self-discovery? […]
Tu Bishvat Seder | A Celebration of Time & Place
BINA is pleased to offer our special Tu Bishvat Seder: A Celebration of Time & Place! Celebrate the holiday by reading select passages from songs and Jewish texts related to the holiday and nature […]
The Sweet Beauty of Rosh Hashanah / Emma Lillianthal
On Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the creation of the world and the start of a new year. It is a … […]
Embracing Self-Expression and Defeating Jewish Guilt / Anna Weiss
I want to talk about the reality of Jewish guilt, specifically the way it relates to self-expression. Jewish guilt is … […]
The Shifting Labels of an Ever-Growing Self/ Anna Weiss
Furthermore, identifying with a specific sect of Judaism can feel limiting to all of the nuances that come with connecting to religion and being religious. Furthermore, what if none of the Jewish labels fit? It can make you feel lost and unsure of where you fit into Judaism. […]
Shabbat and the Day-of-Rest Mindset/ Anna Weiss
Shabbat has always been a point of contention for hiloni (secular/cultural) Jews in Israel. The buses don’t run, most stores are closed, and restaurants that are open are few and far in between. If you’re not observant, Shabbat in Israel can feel like a major inconvenience. […]
A Home for Jewish Enrichment: The Summer Camp Experience
In the summer of 2018, over 81,000 kids attended Jewish sleep-away camps in North America. Why are so many kids … […]
The Culture That Loves You Back: An American in Israel
When I lived in Israel for my gap year, one of the biggest shocks I encountered was how differently Israeli … […]
Empowering Your Judaism
Wherever You Are
I’m driving to school on a December morning, thinking about the Chanukah party I attended the night before, and decide … […]
On Two Feet: On Jewish and Queer Learning and Action
According to the classic Jewish tale of Rabbi Hillel, the entire idea of the Torah can be taught in one minute to someone standing on only one foot through the line, “That which is hateful to you do not do unto others”. […]
Where is your Sinai ? | Tova Birnbaum
After a lifetime of thinking that ‘Jewish creativity’ is an oxymoron and that there is only one way to be Jewish, I was dazzled by the shades, the possibilities, the self-expression that Jewish spaces invite, and the joy of receiving and giving Torah. […]
How can you increase the blessings and reduce the curses | Parashat B’chukotai
This week’s Parashat HaShavua, ‘B’chukotai’, is the last one of the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra) , and is perhaps even the most daunting. It is not a coincidence that it is called ‘the blessings and curses’. […]
Passover as an opportunity to eliminate internal chametz | Avraham Eisen
Terry Newman, BINA’s Chairman of TSD Investments and Holdings, shares his thoughts on Israeli democracy 26 years after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabi. This article is part of BINA’s special Rabinretrospective – an essay collection gathered in partnership with the Forward. […]
On Hanukkah, Military Might and the Power of Spirit
On Hanukkah, Military Might and the Power of Spirit – Yonatan Shargian, BINA alumnus, writes about his take on Hanukkah and Israeli society […]
Rabin Day Educational Toolkit
Debate and Incitement
An Activity for Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Day […]
BINA’s Yom Kippur Learning & Discussion Guides
Here’s an opportunity to redefine the essence of the day and create a meaningful experience for adults and kids. The day involves some tried and true rituals – fasting and reciting Lamentations – but what more can be included? […]
BINA’s “Yom Kippur at Home” Guide
Download BINA’s new free “Yom Kippur at Home” guide to add meaning to your High Holidays.
Whether or not you attend synagogue on Yom Kippur, this new guide offers inspiring readings and rituals for you to do at home. […]
Israeliness on the 73rd anniversary | A Two-Way Stretch
Tova Birnbaum, Director of Jewish Content at the Oshmann Family Jcc in Palo Alto and head of the BINA-OFJCC partnership, explores how a Pilates principle can offer a new perspective on Israeli identity. […]
Celebrating Purim in a pandemic: an opportunity to take a fresh look at holiday values
Ayala Weizner, Director of BINA’s Kibbutz Movement Leadership Program, explores how the Purim celebrations of her childhood inspire new perspectives on celebrating Purim during a pandemic. […]
Between Darkness and Light | An Interactive Workshop for Hanukkah
BINA is pleased to offer this special Hanukkah workshop which can be adapted and used for groups of all ages and backgrounds. […]
