Our Blog

Two Diaries, One Hiding Closet, and a Family Saved Twice: The Incredible Story Coming to Our 'Zikaron BaSalon' in Puerto Viejo

April 11, 2026

The pastoral jungle and Caribbean Sea of Puerto Viejo feel like the farthest place on earth from the bleeding Europe of the 1940s. But this coming Holocaust Remembrance Day eve, the living room of BINA House will become a rare bridge between times and continents. Claudio Ambroso will join us to reveal an extraordinary historical puzzle of his family—one family saved through two completely different paths, documented in two separate historical diaries.

The Eighth Day in the Jungle: Between "Strange Fire" and a Living Community

April 10, 2026

Deep in the jungle of Costa Rica, the Torah portion of "Shemini" takes on a new meaning. A family journey that evolved into a community hub raises questions about the transition from wandering to permanence, the dangers of boundless enthusiasm ("Strange Fire"), and how simple choices—like what we put on our plates—transform matter into spirit.

Freedom, Caribbean Vibes, and Tradition: Our Custom Puerto Viejo Haggadah

April 1, 2026

A sneak peek into the special Haggadah we created at the BINA House in Puerto Viejo: A heartwarming connection between ancient tradition and our local Caribbean community spirit. Download your copy in English or Hebrew and add some "Pura Vida" to your Seder table, wherever you are in the world.

It's Impossible to Say Thank You Alone

March 28, 2026

How do you say thank you after a long journey or surviving a crisis? The ancient law of the "Thanksgiving Sacrifice" in Parashat Tzav required anyone who was saved to bring no less than 40 loaves of bread, and finish them all by the very next morning. This impossible task was meant to force us to gather friends, family, and even complete strangers around the table. Here, among the travelers gathering at the BINA House in Puerto Viejo, this realization becomes remarkably clear: it is truly impossible to say thank you alone. True gratitude requires a community. So, who are the people helping you finish your "40 loaves" this week?

The Fire That Doesn't Burn on Its Own

March 27, 2026

There is something about the atmosphere in Costa Rica that projects a natural flow, but Parashat Tzav reminds us of a different, ancient truth: fire never burns on its own. Here, between the waves of Puerto Viejo and the community of travelers gathering at BINA House, we discover time and again that keeping the warmth of home, the sense of belonging, and our culture alive requires active effort. So, what is your "perpetual fire," and where do you need to add some wood so the flame doesn't fade?

Parashat Hashavua: Vayikra

March 21, 2026

Thoughts from the weekly Torah portion Vayikra that met us here in the jungles of Costa Rica. Through the tiny "Aleph" at the beginning of the portion and the root of the word "Korban" (sacrifice) (K.R.B), we re-examine our journey: how powerful nature helps us maintain humility and perspective, and how it is precisely the sacrifices of home comforts that open a path to get closer to ourselves, to nature, and to the amazing traveling community we encounter along the way.

The Inventory of Our Suitcases: When the Torah Meets Our Gear After Two Years on the Road

March 13, 2026

What would happen if Moses had to take an inventory of our luggage? During our Kabbalat Shabbat in Costa Rica, Gili took the mic and shared her own take on Parashat Pekudei. From winter hats in the sweltering heat to mystery charger cables Dad refuses to throw away, and absolutely zero hair ties - she reminded us that every weird item in our bags is actually a piece of the unique story of our journey.

Parashat Hashavua: Vayakhel

March 13, 2026

We traveled to the jungles of Costa Rica to discover that in the end, we are all looking for a table to sit around together. Impressions from our second and exciting Shabbat at "Beit Binah" in Puerto Viejo, on the connection to the weekly Torah portion 'Vayakhel', and on the insight we learned on the road: The true sanctuary is not the walls that surround us, but the people with us.

Where the Sea Met Freedom: The Secret Waiting on Cahuita’s Shores

March 10, 2026

What started as a peaceful family getaway on the shores of Cahuita turned into an emotional journey unearthing a 300-year-old historical secret. Discover the story of the Danish slave ships that sank in 1710, the extraordinary alliance forged between African survivors and local indigenous tribes, and how a recent underwater archaeological breakthrough restored pride and heritage to an entire community.

Parashat Hashavua: Ki Tisa - Wabi-Sabi

March 7, 2026

This week we will dive into the greatest "wabi-sabi" moment in our tradition: the Parashat Ki Tisa and the shattering of the Tablets of the Covenant. The Japanese philosophy of finding beauty in the imperfect, temporary, and flawed meets the ancient teaching that "whole tablets and shattered tablets are placed in the Ark." We will discover that true holiness is not in divine perfection, but rather in human endeavor – in what we create with effort, with all its flaws. Beit Binah in Puerto Viejo was founded on this concept: a true community is a place that accepts the "human wabi-sabi," where the broken pieces and the whole pieces are placed together, and we discover that the imperfect mosaic created here, in the middle of the jungle, is the most sacred and beautiful thing there is.