Will you indulge us for a moment? Can we take a minute to point out a few challenges in how we launch our children on their Jewish journeys? Don’t worry – we won’t just kvetch; we also have a pretty good solution for how to address these challenges. […]
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? […]
When selecting the right gap year for me, I found myself focusing on the “next big things” – the hours I would spend in the classroom poring over Jewish texts with which I’d never quite been able to connect, the volunteering experience in schools that need an extra hand and the effort I’d put into learning Hebrew. […]
The sacred and the profane that are at the heart of the Parasha invite us to think carefully about what kind of responsibility is demanded of our public servants and leaders, and if this dichotomous, uncompromising approach is one that will allow us to continue to develop and grow as a democratic society. […]
It is easy to understand why Purim might be someone’s favorite Jewish holiday. There are costumes, noisemakers, jam-filled triangle cookies, and even a theological justification for drinking without inhibition! In a Jewish holiday calendar so often filled with solemnity and grief, Purim stands out a holiday unlike any other. […]
As we approach Tisha B’Av, Israel is in a period of turmoil and BINA is part of the chorus of voices talking – shouting when we need to – about social responsibility, pluralism and the future we yearn to build. What do the traditions of Tisha B’Av offer us in this moment? Read more in this article by Marcie Yoselevsky, the newest member of BINA’s External Relations team. […]
Some Torah Portions require almost no interpretation. People should just read them again and again, and hopefully something will sink […]
Congratulations to BINA educator Leon Wiener Dow on winning a National Jewish Book Award for his new book “The […]
On the Shabbat before Purim, it is customary to add a reading to the weekly Parsha that is called, “Parshat Zachor.” The reason behind this tradition is hidden in a verse from the added parsha, “Remember what Amalek did to you.” This verse, now linked to Purim, is an echo that reminds us of how the Amalek lineage eventually begets the evil Haman. […]
How is it already the end of the summer? How are we again preparing for Rosh Hashanah? I am going into Rosh Hashanah this year thinking about traditions and repetition. Marcie Yoselevsky In an article for Rosh Hashanah about Finding the meaning of rituals […]
