My Jewish Journey
Deborah Abecassis Warshawsky, Director of Jewish Life and Learning, shares insights on lessons from the Torah, Jewish customs and traditions and inspirational thoughts for personal growth.
Parashat Ve-Zot Ha-Berakha (and Shemot 33:12 – 33:26, for Shabbat Hol Ha-Moed Sukkot): Safety in symbols.
By: Deborah Abecassis Warshawsky We were driving my daughters to my in-laws’ house up north for two nights. (My husband and I were continuing on to Tremblant without them). First, I realized I left their toiletry bag in their bathroom. So we pulled off the highway...
Parashat Ha’Azinu – There are no empty words…
By: Deborah Abecassis Warshawsky Girl drama. With three daughters, I’ve had my share of “she said” and “but she said,” and, unfortunately, I will likely encounter more as I am just embarking on the teen years. When their friends “hate” teachers my girls love, or...
Parashat Va-Yelekh – Bring the children
By: Deborah Abecassis Warshawsky For our family of five, with three daughters (ages 7, 10 and 12), we have three seats in the women’s section for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and two seats in the men’s section. My children have been sitting quietly in shul every...
Parashat Nitzavim: Choose Life
By: Deborah Abecassis Warshawsky On the first day of school, my youngest daughter ran into my room at 6:40 AM, fully dressed, teeth brushed and ready to start grade 2. After complimenting her on her choice of outfit and telling her how proud and impressed I was that...
Parashat Ki Tavo – Are you the meanest parent?
Deborah Abecassis Warshawsky The latest accusation of “You’re SO mean!” was whined at me when my new 2015-16 Screen-Time Rules - written in fun colour markers - was pinned to the board in my kitchen. To my surprise, however, even with little or no homework these last...
Parashat Ki Teitze – I promise to be responsible
By: Deborah Abecassis Warshawsky I’m sure you’ve been there. Granola bar is unwrapped, Ziploc bag of pretzels is finished, drippy nose is wiped with a tissue, and then, the garbage is handed over to you, the parent: “Here, I’m done.” Uh what? When did mother become...
Parshat Chukat – It’s officially summer!
Please enjoy this beautiful dvar Torah from Camp Ramah in New England!! Parshat Hukkat begins with a profoundly strange ritual to moderns. We must sprinkle the ashes of a brown ("red") cow on a person who has been contaminated by contact with a dead body. Of course...
Parshat Korach – Seeking Guidance along the Path of Life
This week our grade six students are graduating from Akiva School. In the future they will take many different roads and face many different challenges. There is excellent advice for our graduates based on the story of the rebellion of Korach from this week’s parsha....
Parshat Shelach – “Strings Attached”
The tallit is one of the most familiar symbols of Judaism. The commandment behind the tallit is found at the end of our parsha, in the mitzvah to wear tzizit, string fringes at the edges of any four cornered garment. Tzitzit is so fundamental to Judaism, that the...
Parshat Behaalotcha – The Dual Sounds of the Shofar
“But when the assembly is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.” This week’s parsha in the book of Bamidbar, contains the first reference to the different sounds of the shofar that we are commanded to hear on Rosh Hashana. God asks...
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Rabbi Grossman’s Blog Corner
Rabbi Grossman's Corner
Parashat Mishpatim – guest bloggers Dr. Barry Levy and Judah Levy
This week we have two very special guest bloggers, Dr. Barry Levy and his grandson, Judah Levy. Shabbat Shalom! Parashat Mishpatim contains one of the Torah's central legal texts. It is neither the first such text, nor the last, but several essential classes of law...
Parashat Yitro – Questions for Discussion
In this week’s parshah, the Israelites travel through the desert towards Mount Sinai. There they prepare themselves to receive God’s Torah. Moses’ father-in-law, Yitro, brings Moses’ wife and children to meet up with him, and he offers Moses the valuable advice of...
Parshat Beshalach – by guest blogger, Carrie Mazoff
Carrie Mazoff Akiva parent and almuna Shortly after Am Israel leaves Egypt, Pharaoh changes his mind and chases after them. Of course, the Israelites find themselves trapped between Pharaoh’s men and the red sea. When G‑d instructs Moses to raise his staff over the...
Parashat Beshallach – The challenges of dependence
My daughter cut herself slicing a bagel the other morning. “Ah! I cut myself! What should I do?” My back was to her, so I turned briefly to look at her, and instinct told me this was more of a nick than a cut. With every ounce of restraint I could muster, I turned...
Parashat Bo – The Necessity of Asking
This week, I'd like to share a D'var Torah from Rabbi Sacks on Parashat Bo: The Necessity of Asking Questions By Rabbi Sacks Shabbat Shalom, Debbie
Parashat Va’eira – Change of heart
As parents, we anticipate the dangers our children may encounter and we attempt as best we can to protect them and teach them and guide them as they grow. When they are little, we remove all tiny items that may cause choking from within their reach. As their...
The Power of Vayigash
By Guest Blogger: Maharat Rachel Kohl Finegold In Parshat Vayigash, the brothers are locked in a struggle against Joseph (although they do not know his true identity, and they think he is an Egyptian ruler). The story unfolds like a dramatic movie or play… perhaps...
Parashat Miketz – Guest Blogger, Rabbi Grushcow
This week, our guest blogger is Rabbi Grushcow, Akiva parent and Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom: Our parsha, Miketz, continues the drama of Joseph and his brothers. Towards the end of the parsha, Joseph – whose brothers sold him into slavery – has risen...
Parashat Vayeshev – Lead by example
We’ve all laughed at the infamous adage: do as I say not as I do. Whether we’re telling our children to put down their electronic devices as we answer an email and text a friend, or insist they eat dinner before dessert as we brush away the crumbs from cookies we...
Parashat VAYISHLACH – Facing our Anxieties
For this week's Parashat, I'd like to pass along the following article... Facing Our Anxieties and Moving On VAYISHLACH, GENESIS 32:4−36:43 Shabbat Shalom, Debbie
