| וּבַחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֗דֶשׁ מִֽקְרָא־קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם... י֥וֹם תְּרוּעָ֖ה יִהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶֽם׃ (במדבר כ"ט:א)
"In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a sacred occasion: … You shall observe it as a day when the horn is sounded". (Numbers 29:1)
The shofar is an animal’s horn, often from a ram, that is blown on the Jewish New Year. While Rosh Hashanah translates to “Head of the Year,” it is
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also considered Yom Teruah, “Day of the Blast, or Shouting”. Indeed, hearing the blast of the shofar is a central part of experiencing this holiday. Each shofar is unique, so it will never be a musical instrument with controlled harmonics. Every “Tokea” or blaster of the horn, is unique too. It isn’t easy to blast the shofar. It often seems the Tokea is as surprised as the listeners with the sounds that emerge.
The shriek of the shofar is both alarming and exciting, much like the hope of this special holiday. Can we approach Rosh Hashanah with an openness to self-reflection, to hearing both the comfortable and uncomfortable sounds of ourselves? What will I bring to myself this new year?
To hear the shofar we must gather close to it. This is the immediacy of being present in the place, the gathering, and the moment. I moved to Israel this year with my family. It feels like we have gathered close to the center. With BINA, I see a place where Jewish people of Israel gather, hearing the calls toward righteousness and the core tenets of Judaism.
BINA is building a society of people who learn, grow, and lead. On this Rosh Hashanah, the 6th day of creation where humankind and choice is born, what better way to honor humanity than becoming our best selves in service of each other?
Sara Hurand and the BINA family
Sara Hurand, architect, community activist and member of BINA's International Advisory Board.
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| In this edition:
1)A Year in Review
2)Yom Kippur with BINA
3)Free Yom Kippur Resources
4)BINA in the Media
5)Meet our newest staff member
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As we begin a new year, it seems appropriate to pause and look back at our achievements thus far. 5778 was an exciting year for BINA. A year of Jewish study and social action, a year of events, new programs and new partnerships.
• 682 Israeli & International Jewish young adults participated in service/learning programs at the Secular Yeshivas in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva (including Tikkun Olam, GAP year and intensive summer programs)
• 1,700+ Adults participated in classes and lectures at BINA’s Beit Midrash programs
• 4,100+ International visitors to BINA from over 1 dozen countries
• 21,000+ Attendees at pluralistic Jewish cultural/learning events organized by the Secular Yeshivas in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Be’er Sheva and Haifa
• 10,500+ Beneficiaries of BINA volunteer work in over one dozen disadvantaged neighborhoods
• 9,000 Participants in BINA Seminars on Jewish Identity for IDF soldiers & officers
• 43,000+ Participants in BINA Seminars on Jewish Identity & Social Justice in Israeli public schools
• 5,500 participants in events and programs at Beit BINA India
• 90,000+ Lives were touched directly by BINA this year
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New Environmental Track at BINA's Pre-Army Academy!
BINA’s Mechina (pre-army) program welcomed its 13th cohort this month. This year we have opened a dedicated ‘environmental track’ at the Mechina. The 13 participants of the new Maslul Yarok will focus on the topics of sustainability and the connections between society, Judaism and the environment. The group will study texts and sources focusing on (but not only) environmentalism and sustainability, and will volunteer in the BINA campus Urban Farm and the adjacent Botanical Gardens, creating and leading Jewish-environmental educational content programs for local schools and kindergartens.
Mechinat Masabacha (Masa Ba Chevra HaYisraelit - Journey through Israeli Society) – our mobile Mechina - continues to flourish and in the coming year we will welcome the third cohort of this unique gap-year pre-army program. The new cohort is made up of 21 young people from a broad cross section of the population – religious and secular, Jews and Arabs, from towns and villages across the country. Some of the participants are preparing to draft for military service, and others are enrolled in the National Service program for outstanding students. The participants of BINA’s Mechinot come together for joint study days and activities as well as two Shabbatot (each Mechina hosts the other) during the year.
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This year BINA is marking Yom Kippur with meaningful Yom Kippur community activities in the four Secular Yeshiva hubs - in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Be’er Sheva and Haifa - as well as at Beit BINA India! BINA will mark the day with a diverse range of events and activities including including traditional liturgy as well as lectures, workshops, limmud sessions, discussion circles, music, spoken word, poetry and much more. Check our Facebook page and our website for more information!
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We’re proud to present the BINA Yom Kippur Machzor - a free downloadable resource. Find your own way to connect to Yom Kippur - download your free copy of BINA’s Yom Kippur sources in English and in Hebrew! The book contains readings, poems and questions for contemplation on themes of confession and soul-searching; repentance and tikkun.
This incredible free resource is available to download in Hebrew and in English!
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| Tu B'Av, The Jewish Valentine's Day - i24News
"There never were in Israel greater days of joy than the 15th of Av and the Day of Atonement" Rabbi Shimon Ben Gamliel. BINA Deputy Director, Noga Brenner Samia was interviewed last month
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on i24NEWS in English talking about Tu B'Av the Jewish Valentine's Day, it's connection to Yom Kippur and the importance for BINA in seeing the day in context of modern Israeli society where who we marry and how we marry is so regulated.
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| Yoann Bar Hen is the newest member of BINA's team
Yoann was born and raised in the suburbs of Paris, France to Israeli parents. He came to Israel in 2011 for his army service, after which he traveled for two years in India, the Philippines, and Australia. When he came back to Israel he worked various jobs and took a Kibbutz based course on 'green building and community philosophy'. Shmulik, the head of BINA's
Mechina (pre-army) program, and also Yoann's officer in the army and good
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friend, mentioned an opportunity to work at BINA as the GAP year counselor. Yoann felt like it was the right thing to do, and resonated with the idea that BINA provides a multi-layered view of Judaism which allows each individual to connect to what is true for him/her. In his spare time, Yoann is passionate about carpentry and is also a self-taught musician and enjoys playing the guitar, bass, and flute. He believes one day he’ll be able to play every instrument!
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BINA International programs
Volunteer or Intern in a social nonprofit on our Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv-Jaffa (post-college) program; spend a year teaching in Israel with BINA and create English learning opportunities for Israeli children of all backgrounds in Israeli periphery communities of Jerusalem, Rahat (largest Bedouin city) and Nazareth (largest Arab city) . Learn at BINA's Secular Yeshiva campus in South Tel Aviv; explore the diverse perspectives and peoples of Israeli society. Live, learn, & make a difference in Tel Aviv along with International and Israeli participants on BINA's Gap Year Program.
Contact zoee@bina.org.il for more information about all of our
International English speaking programs!
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BINA: The Jewish Movement for Social Change, operates under the Israeli nonprofit "Merchavim Chevra Lechinuch Vetarbut".
BINA operates under the Israeli nonprofit Merchavim, with the support of the Kibbutz Movement and the Posen Foundation. BINA is proudly funded by the UJA-Federation of New York, as well as additional supporters, including: Avi Chai Foundation, Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation, Federation CJA Montreal, Feldman Foundation, Gimprich Foundation, Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Berl Katznelson Fund, Leichtag Foundation, Littauer Foundation, Matanel Foundation, Montefiore Endowment, Morris Levinson Foundation, Rappaport Family Trust, Shahaf Foundation, Alan B. Slifka Foundation, Ziering Family Foundation, dozens of municipalities across Israel and hundreds of private donors.
WWW.BINA.ORG.IL/EN
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