Secular Judaism in Israel: Reclaiming, Reshaping and Retelling the Story with Tova Birnbaum

Wednesday, February 20, at 7:30.

Two decades ago, Israeli society had undergone a dramatic change; the traumatic assassination of prime minister Rabin in 1995, that was an act that was done in the name of god, surfaced difficult questions about the nature of a Jewish and Democratic state and challenged the viability of this unique combination. Tova Birnbaum, one of the founders of the Bina Secular Yeshivah in Israel, will share the story of secular Israelis reclaiming their Jewish heritage, redefining key elements in Israeli Jewish culture - such as learning, social justice and community - and insisting on their right to participate in the conversation about the shaping of the Jewish character of the state of Israel.

Tova will be the scholar-in-residence at the Etz Women's Retreat, July 26-28.

Tova Birnbaum is the Director of Jewish Content at the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto. She was born in B'nai B'rak in an Ultra-Orthodox home and was one of the founders of the BINA Secular Yeshiva in Tel Aviv. Tova had recently served as the Central Shlicha (emissary), Director of the North America Region of the World Zionist Organization. She is a teacher of Talmudic Rabbinic Literature, a Judaic studies lecturer and a Theater Midrash workshop facilitator. She is also a Secular Jewish lifecycle ceremonies officiant. Tova is an actress and a Jewish performance artist. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and Jewish philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a master's degree in theater from Tel Aviv University. She lives in Palo Alto with her husband and daughter.