User:Adlersn/sandbox

BINA Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture
BINA Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture is an organization founded in 1996 and based in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel. BINA means “wisdom” in Hebrew and is an acronym for “A Home For The Creation Of Our Nation’s Souls”, a phrase coined by Hebrew poet Chaim Nachman Bialik.

History
After the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, many believed that a rift was created in Israeli society causing many secular Israelis to question their Jewish narrative and value system in Israel. Wanting to find a way for secular Israelis to reconnect with Israel and Jewish values, many intellectuals and educators created BINA as a forum of exploration for the secular community. The goal of these educators was to create an organization and institution that aims to restore the connection between modern Israeli culture and the historical culture and traditional past.

Mission/Ideology
BINA Center for Jewish Identity and Hebrew Culture is a Jewish organization and educational institution that offers pluralistic programs and forums for young adults wanting to explore their Jewish roots. The goal of this institution is to introduce and expand the knowledge and comprehension young secular adults have on Judaism through Jewish study, social justice and action, and community and leadership. BINA’s mission is to strengthen the democratic and pluralistic aspects of Israel through the notion of “repairing the world”, tikkun olam.

Awards/Achievements
BINA was awarded the Constantine Prize in Jewish Education from Tel-Aviv University for its success in using Jewish values to promote community service and social justice in youth.

In 2009-10 BINA was awarded the Gerald Corner Paths for Peace Fund for its work toward Jewish Pluralism and social activism in Beer Sheva, Israel.

In 2013 BINA acquired a public tender for teaching a course to IDF officers designed to strengthen their Jewish and Israeli values and character.

Programs
The programs offered by BINA are targeted towards the secular Israeli community and aimed at understanding Jewish values.

The Secular Yeshiva in Tel-Aviv
The BINA Secular Yeshiva was established in 2006 and is located in Southern Tel Aviv. As the only non-orthodox yeshiva in Israel, the Secular Yeshiva serves as a place where young adults study and interpret Jewish texts and culture as a way to promote Judaism through social justice. The Secular Yeshiva is becoming a Jewish cultural and educational center where activities and holiday services are open to the public. There are currently over 150 students enrolled in the Secular Yeshiva's seven main programs.

Mechina
A year long army preparatory course for Israelis age 17-19. During this year they take take courses on traditional Jewish texts with an emphasis on social justice, Jewish Philosophy and Identity as a means to prepare for the army. Participants also volunteer two days a week in the community at various welfare organizations in Tel Aviv.

Garin Nahal and Shnat Sherut
Garin Nahal and Shnat Sherut is BINA's army volunteer program for 18-24 year olds. During their participation participants study and volunteer within their communities as part of their army and national service duty.

Bogrim
Bogrim is BINA's post-army program where students (age 22-30) study 2 days/week and commit to various volunteer assignments within their communities.

Tikkun Olam in Tel Aviv-Jaffa
Tikkun Olam is a Masa Israel Journey Award-Winning 5-10 month volunteer and study program for English-speaking college graduates ages 21-29. Participants split their time between studying about contemporary Israeli and Jewish issues and volunteering at locations in South Tel Aviv and Jaffa, with an emphasis on social action and coexistance.

BINA Social Action and Study Gap Year
BINA's Social Action and Study in Tel Aviv is a Gap-Year program for international Jewish high school graduates ages 18-19. Participants live, study and volunteer in Tel Aviv with BINA's Mechina program. Studies include an in-depth look into classical Jewish texts (Tanakh and Talmud) from a pluralistic perspective, Jewish thought and philosophy, social justice and economic theory, Zionism and Israel studies

BINA Bashchuna
BINA Bashchuna means in Hebrew, wisdom in the neighborhood. It was founded in the early 2000s as a community social action program. This program was designed to serve the underprivileged communities of South Tel Aviv, Yafo, Beer Sheva (Shchuna Daled) and Beit Shemesh (12). This program is a comprehensive community building initiative, addressing the educational, welfare and cultural needs of impoverished communities; ranging from after-care centers for children-at-risk to working with the elderly community. The goal of BINA Bashchuna is to revitalize and empower the local communities by creating a pluralistic community of young adults who live, work, volunteer and study all within the neighborhoods – thus significantly boosting the local communities (12). Another aspect of BINA Bashchuna is the pluralistic Jewish education program in the secular elementary schools in Tel Aviv and Beer Sheva.

Beit Midrash
BINA’s Beit Midrash are a series of semester and year long courses for adults in Jewish and Hebrew literature, history, and philosophy.

Kehilah Hogeget
Kehilah Hogeget is a community organizing program of BINA's in which community members in various communities throughout Israel organize study sessions and social justice projects within their local communities.

Mithabrot
Mithabrot (Women Connect) is an educational empowerment program for young girls and women in disadvantaged communities. The program uses the Jewish tradition of the Bat Mitzvah as a tool to educate women on topics such as body image, sexuality, family, religion, rights and responsibilities, careers, and ambitions.

Jewish Education in Public Schools
BINA provides trained educators who teach informal Jewish education in public schools throughout Israel. The Center focuses on themes of Jewish pluralism, Judaism as a culture and Jewish social justice.

BINA IDF (Israeli Defense Force)Programs
BINA offers weekend seminars and single-day workshops for numerous IDF units of soldiers and officers. These workshops are focused on Jewish Identity in the context of the army.

Faculty
The faculty of BINA consists of historians, professors, facilitators and educators:

Ari Elon, Dov Elbaum, Muki Tsur, Dr. Shosh Shapira, Yochi Brandeis, Dr. Moti Arad, Arye Budenheimer, Haim Beer, Isaac Gershon, Dr. Miri Gilad, Karina Goldberg, Dr. Mordechai Yoshkovski, Elhanan Shilo, Dr. Tzvia Valden, Dr. Einam Shneor, Roni Someck, Dr. Raz Mustigman, Sara Regev, Israel Scherntzel.