Over the past couple of years, Ameinu has developed a relationship with BINA, the Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture. Established in 1996 by kibbutz movement members in the wake of Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination, the organization and their Secular Yeshiva were created to help close the gap between Orthodox and non-Orthodox Jews in Israel, and to try address the problems secular Israelis have with traditional Judaism. Eran Baruch, the executive director of BINA, put it this way to a Ha’aretz reporter: “The inner most point in Judaism is tikun olam (healing the world), and we are trying to reveal this inner point.”
The location of BINA in poverty stricken south Tel Aviv, close to the central bus station, lends itself to a full realization of the organization’s mission. It allows students to study Bible, Talmud, Israeli literature and Zionist history while also engaging in BINA BaShchuna (BINA in the neighborhood), serving their local community as volunteers.
In addition to the Yeshiva, BINA runs seminars in public schools around Israel, teaching about Jewish life to students who may have had no prior exposure to anything other than Orthodox Judaism. There is a summer seminar for rabbis, educators, rabbinical students, community leaders and social activists as well.
In this context, Ameinu is pleased to announce that BINA educator Nir Braudo is now a shaliach in the San Francisco Bay Area. In cooperation with the Bureau of Jewish Education of San Francisco, the World Zionist Organization and Habonim Dror, Ameinu is excited to bring Nir to the American Jewish community. We hope to leverage his experience and knowledge to promote the ideas and vision of BINA.
In a message to supporters and friends, BINA shared a short report on their Rosh Hashana gathering in Israel. The excerpt below emphasizes that, in addition to their very successful “on the ground” programming, BINA is helping to develop a new vision for the state of Israel.
“In the crowded auditorium of Ramat Efal, over 500 BINA students, graduates, friends and affiliates, gathered to welcome the new year, 5771, with a festive and fascinating evening dedicated to formulating a Vision for the State of Israel in our time. In his opening remarks, BINA Director Eran Baruch implored the audience to set aside time to dream and envision the future.
Invited to share their own dreams and vision for the future were guests panelists Professor Moshe Halbertal from Hebrew University, TV personality and BINA educator Dov Elbaum and former Supreme Court Justice Dalia Dorner. Justice Dorner explained that her goals for the state had been set in 1948 with Israel’s Declaration of Independence. Quoting from the many visionary lines of this constitutional document, she urged the audience to bring our founding leaders dream to reality and, “foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; … based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel.”
Prof. Halbertal presented a four point strategy for the country which included political responsibility for the Jews of the Diaspora and Dov Elbaum warned of the dangers of demagoguery that sometimes accompanies the articulation and pursuit of a national vision. Despite these fears, Elbaum articulated a vision that included our right as individuals to be holy and pointed out that normality is antithetical to the Biblical notion of Jews as a holy nation. “
