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.
Message for Rosh Hashana 2014 – Are You in A Spiritual Holding Pattern?
A close friend of mine had her son’s bar Mitzvah celebration this summer in Israel. Before the date, there were many hours of worry and discussion about how to deal with sirens, safety and touring. They had to consider all sort of possible complications. One was that...
Parshat Nitzavim- Vayelech: Inclusiveness – a Jewish Value
Community service is one of the most powerful experiences for our students, and because of this our Jewish schools have made it a mandatory part of their school goals. Beginning in ninth grade, our students must give back to the community by volunteering their time....
Parshat Ki Tavo – Is it better to be the first or the best?
Were you one of the people in line this week for the new IPhone? One of the most common themes that we see in advertising is the use of the words “The First”, to lure buyers to purchase a new product. In 2014, the Consumer Electronics Association hosted a record...
Parshat Ki Teitzei –The Heavenly Task of Being a Parent
Before the children of Israel are to enter into the land, Moses “reteaches” the values and laws that they must follow in order to have a successful “aliya”. In this week’s parsha, the Jews are reminded about following no less than 72 mitzvot! What is interesting is...
Parsha Perspectives from our students
Akiva students are involved in weekly discussions about the Torah portion. Every so often as part of the blog, we would like to share with you, some of the beautiful thoughts and ideas that your children shared with me or their teachers about questions related to the...
With hopes of a better future of peace and happiness
As the school year fast approaches, we at school are thinking, organizing, planning and brainstorming for new enriching ideas to incorporate into the year. We are confident that we will have another year of rewarding and successful education for your children. We want...
Your Kids are Ready to Talk about Israel. Are you?
I hope everyone has had a restful and rewarding summer. We are excited about the upcoming school year and seeing everyone back at school. It has been a difficult summer for all of us in the Jewish community and our thoughts and hearts have been with Israel. We will...
Parshat Korach – Bring our Boys Home
The tragic news this week in Israel of three boys who were kidnapped by Hamas is overwhelming. Yet, at the same time, we need to contemplate what we can ultimately do. There are no words to express the pain that the families of Eyal, Gilad, and Naftali must be...
Idea for Parshat Shelach
This week’s parsha tells the famous story of the spies. Moses sends twelve spies to the land of Israel. Forty days later they return, carrying a huge cluster of grapes, a pomegranate and a fig, to report on a lush and bountiful land. But then they continue with words...
Parshat Be’halot’cha
LAZY DAYS AT THE BEACH by Benyamin Cohen Torah from Dixie Staff Writer Summertime is here. Every year, we read the Book of Numbers during the summer, and often it gets less attention then it rightfully deserves. So for the moment, let's catch up with the Jewish people...
Akiva Calendar
Experience Akiva
Donate
Rabbi Grossman’s Blog Corner
Rabbi Grossman's Corner
Lessons to learn from Parashat Yitro
Guest Blogger: Perry Shak Akiva parent and board member What is the most valuable commodity in the world? It is Time. As we will see, this is one of the many lessons that can be learned from this weeks Parasha. Yitro priest of Midian, and Moshes' father in law, came...
Parashat Yitro
This week’s parashah describes the Israelites standing before Mount Sinai as they accept God’s Torah. As the ten commandments are read in synagogue this Shabbat, the congregation is asked to stand as did the Israelites in that awesome, powerful moment when God...
Parashat Beshalach – The Power of Ruach – Rabbi Sacks
This week I'd like to share a D'var Torah from Rabbi Sacks. The Power of Ruach - Rabbi Sacks Wishing everyone a wonderful Tu B'Shvat and Shabbat Shalom.
Parashat Bo – Art Speaks
On Monday, the children had the opportunity to visit the Marc Chagall exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. On Tuesday, Grade 6 had a poetry slam for parents in which they read poems they wrote inspired by Chagall paintings. In this week’s parashah, God...
Parashat Va-eira: We Remember
This week, as a school and community, we joined the World Jewish Congress’s global campaign to have the largest commemoration of the Holocaust ever by contributing our photos showing #we remember. We remember the victims of the Holocaust, we remember to continue the...
Parashat Shemot – Who am I?
In Les Miserables, when Jean Valjean contemplates allowing an innocent man to suffer the fate meant for him, he ultimately decides to stop hiding his true identity and face the consequences of disappearing from his parole – and we understand this decision when he...
Parashat Va-Yehi – Bless your children.
In Parashat Va-Yehi, this week’s final parashah of the book of Bereishit, Jacob blesses his sons before he dies. Among his words is the formula we use today to bless our own children: So he blessed them that day saying, “May God make you like Ephraim and like...
Parashat VaYeshev – “A single candle can both defy and define the darkness.” – Anne Frank
The week began with a power failure that showed us some of the most special qualities of Akiva School – community, teamwork, perseverance, commitment, and of course, the best interest of every child. Even in physical, concrete darkness, the Akiva family light shone...
Parashat VaYishlach
As our Akiva players begin their first performances of The Magic Lamp, they are full of excitement and nervous energy. Over the last few months, they have studied their lines, memorized their cues and rehearsed their dances – they have all worked so hard – but...
Parashat Vayetzei
This week we are fortunate to have as our guest blogger, Rabbi Lisa Grushcow, Akiva parent and Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom. Shabbat Shalom. In this parsha, Jacob has a dream with a ladder, and angels going up and down. God reassures him...
