Origins of the Binah: An Introduction

The Refugees

There were the thirty-two other refugees with Ganya, Chanaya, and Yadid, each with an important role to play in the founding of the Binah culture….

Achava was a gentle soul. Her name means “friendship” and indeed, she was a friend to all. She loved to please everyone and was a paragon of coexistence. She was quiet, friendly, and would help people avoid arguments. Her husband, Omri, was truly her soul mate. Omri was one of the people who made it possible for the Hebrews to live with the native people. His peacemaking and diplomatic skills helped make the integration of our two ways of life possible.

Aluma was a creative, ambitious woman. She was very confident and people turned to her to put plans into action. Her husband, Evyassaf, was an expressive, understanding man. He was kind-hearted and generous. His name means “my father will gather” and he did well gathering people to his ideas, which were often initiated by Aluma. He was an excellent director and confident. His way with words often helped put Aluma’s plans in motion. His supportive nature meshed well with Aluma’s ambitious ideas. It was Aluma who developed the plan for the Hebrews to leave Egypt, and it was Evyassaf who brought up the idea to his fellow slaves.

Binyamina was a free-sprited woman who was impulsive and brilliant. She had always longed for freedom and a conversation with Aluma began the Hebrews’ journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Black Hills. She thrived on change and was able to quickly adapt to her new compatriots in the new world. Her husband, Gazit, was talented and peaceful. His placid nature balanced Binyamina’s impulsivity and the two made the integration of the native people and the Hebrews successful.

Bsora was a generous, kind woman who was full of ideas. Her name means “positive message” and she always had a kind word for everyone she met. She hated oppression and longed for freedom she never knew. Her husband, Nadav, was a peaceful, diplomatic man. His quiet, friendly ways helped forge a strong trust with the Egyptian masters. Nadav’s ability to win people over and gain trust helped them smuggle supplies and people aboard the boat. His trust with the Egyptians enabled the Hebrew slaves to have more autonomy on their tasks and this enabled the slaves’ flight from Egypt.

Dvira was another one of the strong-willed women that ensured the survival and integration of the Hebrew refugees. She was critical yet unconventional and her way of speaking to people and learning languages helped her adapt in their new world. She quickly learned the native peoples’ language and served as an interpreter and teacher. Her husband, Shaanan, was a serene yet strong-willed man whose personality complemented that of Dvira. He was always willing to learn from experience and he helped the refugees survive the strange weather conditions experienced in journey to their new homeland.

Hadara was a quiet, spiritual woman who worked from intuition rather than plans. She was creative and she insisted on bringing her harp along on the journey so that the refugees may have a zamar form of praise and to entertain one another. It is said that argument was the one time she had ever raised her voice to anyone. Hadara’s name means “glory” and she always viewed it as her duty to give glory to God. Her husband, Betzalel, was kind-hearted and practical. His name means “shadow of God” and he always put the needs of others before himself. It is said that his only argument with his wife was when she insisted on bringing her harp, but it was he who convinced the others to allow it.

Israela was a talented woman who longed for a family yet could not bear to raise a child as a slave. Once she learned of the Hebrews’ plot to escape, she threw herself into the plan with vigor. Israela helped the others carefully hide their provisions and make do with less while they waited to escape. Her husband, Paz, was an intelligent man who was creative and constructive. He developed the plans for building the secret compartment into the boat and helped the people build their new homes at Mount Abaddon.

Kineret, sister of Misgav and Yaar, was a hard-working woman. She helped cultivate food for the Egyptian masters and it was Kineret who insisted on bringing seedlings and fertile soil along on the journey so that the refugees could cultivate their own fresh food while on the boat and grow food when they reached their new home. She had concealed slips of grape vine, olive tree seedlings, pomegranate tree seedlings, seeds of melons and cucumbers, onions bulbs, and garlic cloves. Her husband, Rei, was industrious and a strong leader. He was strong and could labor for long periods of time without tiring. He was talented with improvising tools and supplies that helped the people as they journeyed to their new home.

Nechema was the comforter of the group. She also served as a healer for the refugees. She brought along her own small planters of coriander, cumin, and caraway. She tended to the sick upon their arrival to their new home and endeared herself to the native people who had lost so much in the volcanic eruption. Her husband, Yonadav, was a resourceful, generous man. He insisted on bringing his migratory beehives along on the boat, much to the alarm of the others. He insisted his bees would be useful in pollinating the plants and producing the honey that was needed for his wife’s medicines. The honey also helped build the relationship between the natives and the Hebrews.  

Netiaa, the planter, helped Kineret and Nechema with their plants. She was innovative and always gave more than she received. She was caring and confident, and a great match for her husband, Elran. Elran was a warm, loving man who helped tend the plants and keep the bees with Yonadav. He was intelligent and eager to learn new ideas.

Odeda was a strong woman with a sense of justice and honesty. She had a charitable heart and had a great deal of energy that went into working hard. She was always eager to prove herself and always pushed herself beyond her physical and mental limits. Her husband, Rachamim, was as strong-willed as Odeda with an attention to detail that quickly earned respect from all who knew him. He always showed initiative when physical strength was required and was a gentle soul when someone needed his mental strength.

Ramit always knew she would one day have a life better than a slave’s life, but she never knew when. She always trusted that God would one day lead her to freedom. She was optimistic and intuitive, sensitive to the feelings of others. Her husband, Orchai, was stubborn and while he often told his wife her dreams were not realistic, he strove to make their dreams of freedom come true. He was a family man at heart and longed for the day that he could have children of his own.

Tahara was a friendly woman with a strong sense of humor. She would use her imagination and strove to make others laugh. Her vivid stories helped pass the time during their trials. She was a friend to all who met her. Her husband, Misgav, was a jovial man who was perpetually young at heart. He appreciated the happier side of things and was the eternal optimist. He could often see the good in things when all hope was gone. Misgav insisted on his sister, Kineret, as a valuable addition to their band of refugees.

Zoheret, whose name means “sparkle”, was a vivacious, high-spirited woman with a gift for planning and making the most of limited resources. Her husband, Abir, was a creative man with a gift for making tools and using resources until they were exhausted. He worked well with others and often gave without any regard for himself.

There were five men with the refugees who had not found wives among the Hebrews. They later married into the native people in their new homeland and helped create the first generation of Binah children. The helped integrate the people and the new children provided hope for all.

Edom, brother of Ehud and Dvira, was a man who always loved the ground under his feet and tended to all of the growing things. He loved nature and animals. His longing for a family and generous nature made him well-loved among the native women.

Ehud, the brother of Edom and Dvira, was a spiritual man. He was intelligent and learned quickly, and became one of the interpreters between the Hebrews and the native people. He realized that their mountain of fire had many similarities to the whispered legends of Abaddon. He was shy and creative, but always willing to express himself through his works of labor.

Lavan was the brother of Bsora. He was a creative man who was devout yet prone to questions. He would often challenge and display doubts in order to gain a better understanding. He was always willing to learn and expand his understanding of the world around him.

Yaar, brother of Misgav and Kineret, was a man who appreciated nature and had a talent for things that grow. He was determined to produce the best crops, not for his benefit, but for the benefit of his people. Yaar was able to develop innovative ways for the refugees to cultivate their plants in the limited room on the boat and he was a valuable member of the newly integrated Binah society for his skills in cultivation.