My older daughters take the city bus home from high school most afternoons. It is a 10-minute walk, one 15-20-minute bus ride through a safe neighbourhood, and then a 2-minute walk to our door. They do not complain – except when it’s pouring or freezing – and mostly...
The Jewish History of Snow
Is there any greater gift a headmaster can give to his students than a Snow Day? Like all beloved presents, it combines anticipation, surprise, and fun. Moreover, unlike other gifts, it carries no expectation of reciprocity, so it can be enjoyed without guilt of...
The Siddur
The Torah is the most venerated book in Judaism, revered as the Word of God. The Bible is Jewish Holy Scripture, a collection of sacred books filled with the ancient history of our people, the admonitions of our prophets, and the wisdom of our ancestors. The six...Art Fair – Message from the Head of School
The Torah’s prohibition of creating artistic images, promulgated in last week’s parsha, was taken most seriously by Jews throughout our history. “You shall not make for yourself an image…” was considered by prominent rabbinic figures in different eras and lands a...
Art Speaks! Message from the Head of School
« Par ma foi ! il y a plus de quarante ans que je dis de la prose sans que j’en susse rien !»”My faith! For more than forty years I have been speaking prose without knowing it!”Molière, Le Bourgeois gentilhommeLike Monsieur Jourdain in Molière’s...Akiva Calendar
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Rabbi Grossman’s Blog Corner
Rabbi Grossman's Corner
Parashat Vayetze – Outside the comfort zone
Faces of Akiva – Akiva grandparents Harvey and Margo Elman
Every morning Akiva students, Sarah and Chloe Elman, have a very special way to start their school day. Their grandparents, Margo and Harvey, who live down the street from Akiva School, meet their grandchildren outside the school and walk them to their classrooms -...
Parashat Toldot – Red Lentils
In this week’s parshah, Rebecca gives birth to twin boys. Esau is described as a skilled hunter and Jacob “a wholesome man who dwells in tents.” Returning one day from hunting, Esau is exhausted and very hungry, and Jacob is cooking a stew. Esau said to Jacob, “Pour...
Parashat Chayei Sarah – Having blessings, knowing you are blessed.
“Who is rich? He who is happy with what he has.” – Pirkei Avot At the start of this week’s parasha, Sarah dies and Abraham purchases from the sons of Het the cave of Machpelah for a burial place. The text then tells us: Now Abraham was old, well on in years, and the...
Parashat VaYera – What do you see?
Superman had x-ray vision – the ability to see through solid objects. I – and I’m sure many of you – have the power to see things our family members swear are nowhere in sight. We can describe the location of every object in the fridge and pantry as our children...
Parashat Lekh Lekha – Generations to come. Featuring Special Guest Blogger – Tali Warshawsky
For the Jewish journey blog this week, my daughter asked me if she could write something related to the parasha. She did not discuss with me ahead of time what she wanted to write, and to be perfectly honest, I was skeptical about what she would come up with and what...
Parashat Noach – Finding the light
This week’s parashah is the story of Noah and the ark. God tells Noah he is going to destroy the earth because the people are corrupt and He gives Noah very specific instructions and measurements so he can build an ark for himself and his family and two of every...
Dvar Torah from the Interim Head of School
This Wednesday evening we usher in the concluding celebrations of this High Holiday cycle. Although technically Shemini Atzeret is not part of the Sukkot holiday, it is considered the eighth day, followed by Simhat Torah, which in practical terms is the ninth, and...
Sukkot – Stuffing the Sukkah with Joy
“What are you making for Sukkot?” my daughter asks me. “We always have pumpkin soup in the sukkah,” she adds. “And stuffed zucchini?” You usually make that too.” “Are you going to make stuffed cabbage this year,” my husband asks. “It’s my favourite.” Everyone has...
Yom Kippur – Because of the Children
There is a story told of Rabbi Akiva that the only time he ever said, “It is time to stop studying,” was on the eve of Passover and on the eve of Yom Kippur. He wanted to leave the house of study early on the eve of Passover “because of the children” – so they should...