BINA: The Home Of Israeli Judaism

Parashat Re'eh reminds us that our choices extend beyond blessing and curse. We are also called to choose between remaining captive to the past and building a better future. Moses teaches that true vision lies not only in what our eyes can see, but in what our hearts can discern, the capacity to remember, to grow, and to carry our values forward. Again and again, the Torah reminds us that when we choose with honesty, courage, and compassion, we open the way to renewal, hope, and a brighter future. Continue reading on BINA's website>> https://bit.ly/4w74PcL
written by Ran Oron is an architect, poet, and head of the BINA Center in New York.

This summer, BINA ran a special course on modern Israel for the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC). Under the leadership of BINA Senior Educator Elliot Vaisrub Glassenberg, the students learned about Israel through its diversity and complexity, meeting with experts and changemakers from diverse groups, including Mizrahi, Ethiopian, and FSU Jewish Israelis, hiloni, masorti and dati Jewish Israelis, as well as Palestinian/Arab citizens of Israel and from the West Bank and Gaza, and others. Through the course, the students explored history, politics, society, religion and culture as well as questions of Judaism and democracy, identity, values, human rights, peoplehood, and the role of North American Jews, especially North American Rabbis, vis-à-vis Israel today.
Thank you to our dear partners at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and Reconstructing Judaism and to all who participated and helped make this program possible.

Judaism

"Until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as He has given you, and they too take possession of the land... then each of you may return to the inheritance that I have given you." (Deuteronomy 3:20) The portion of Devarim is always read close to Tisha B'Av. From ancient times until today, this period has been one of national reflection and soul-searching.." Continue reading-> https://bit.ly/3T8RRxv

Are we shaping the future, or recycling the past? As elections approach, Parashat Pinchas pushes us to rethink leadership and what real change demands. Continue reading this week's column on the BINA website >> https://www.bina.org.il/english_articles/parashat-pinchas-on-the-eve-of-elections-gabi-barzilai/

Last weekend, BINA Center community leaders from across Israel gathered on Mount Carmel for a leadership seminar titled, "Great Is Learning That Leads to Creation."

The seminar offered an opportunity to come together as a team, step back from the day-to-day demands of our work, and explore how Jewish-Israeli learning can become a creative, meaningful, and relevant experience within our communities.

Throughout the weekend, we engaged with the theme of Shabbat through memories, flavors, scents, songs, and traditions; studied the upcoming summer holidays in hevruta (paired learning); and transformed our learning into new programs, workshops, and creative initiatives for BINA Centers across the country.

A heartfelt thank you to all the community leaders for their passion, creativity, and partnership. We left inspired, energized, and full of new ideas for the journey ahead.

Special thanks to Asaf Bar Yosef, Director of the BINA Centers' Network in Israel and Worldwide, and Aviram Siani, Content Coordinator in BINA’s Community Division, for leading and facilitating this meaningful seminar.

Join us for a storytelling, music and food chat:
Parashat Korach
פרשת השבוע – קרח
(ה"א) “Imperfect “he

Chevrutah with Orly Dabush – VP of Strategic Planning & Development BINA, and Ran Oron.

Free admission with advance registration:
https://bit.ly/3Q2Ttrk

In days when reality is filled with so much uncertainty, it is encouraging to be among the partner organizations at the OLAM Conference, working to create a better reality and extend a helping hand in Israel and around the world.

The conference concluded with a moving, inspiring, and deeply heartfelt conversation with Jonathan and Rachel Polin, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was murdered while being held captive by Hamas. Their words gave profound meaning to the phrase: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Thank you to Dyonna Ginsburg and the OLAM team for a meaningful and thought-provoking conference.

OLAM

There is a surreal beauty in people scattering across the globe and still, somehow, lighting the very same bonfire.

This year on Lag BaOmer BINA communities around the world did exactly that. 🔥
In Hanoi (Vietnam), Puerto Viejo (Costa Rica), Dharamshala (India), and Pokhara (Nepal), they came together to celebrate.

With foil-wrapped potatoes, marshmallows over the fire, and conversations with children about the customs, the Bar Kochba revolt, and baseless love.
There was also a quiz and a thoughtful discussion about the story of Lag BaOmer, between Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and Zionism. Because if you’re lighting a bonfire, you might as well add some depth, not just carbs.

Together. Tradition. Community.
All around the world. 🔥
בתי בינ"ה בעולם- הבית של היהדות הישראלית

The Jewish calendar offers a steady rhythm that grounds us and helps us reflect in a turbulent world. Each holiday invites us to gather, eat (or fast), and learn together.
This Yom Ha'atzmaut, amid war and uncertainty, we turn to the words of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
We know the five megillot - Song of Songs, The Book of Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and The Book of Esther - each read at a different moment in the Jewish year, each helping us interpret our past and present. In Hebrew, the Declaration of Independence is called Megilat Ha’atzmaut, the Scroll of Independence, our modern sixth scroll.
What vision of Jewish identity and democracy does this sixth scroll weave? And what might it ask of us today?
As we approach Yom Ha’atzmaut, we offer this short video for reflection and conversation: “Where is God in Megilat Ha’atzmaut?” by BINA senior educator Elliot Vaisrub Glassenberg-

בינה הבית של היהדות הישראלית 1 like. "Elliot Vaisrub Glassenberg, Is God present in Megilat Ha’atzmaut?"