Educational Resources

  • All
  • Social Action & Democracy
  • Shabbat & Holidays

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? […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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 […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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 … […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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 … […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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. […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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.  […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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 … […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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 … […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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 … […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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”. […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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. […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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’. […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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. […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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 […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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? […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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. […]

קרא עוד…

Read more
Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, being Israeli, Israel, BINA, Tova Birnbaum, Franz Rosenzweig

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. […]

קרא עוד…

Read more
Megillah, King Ahasuerus, BINA, Purim Mitzvot, Ayala Weizner, Celebrating Purim in a pandemic, COVID-19

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. […]

קרא עוד…

Read more

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. […]

קרא עוד…

Read more
אנא דרגו את המידע