This week we are fortunate to have as our guest blogger, Jessica Yaffe Balinsky, Akiva parent and board member. Shabbat Shalom. In October of 2016, Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature. One of his best-loved songs, Highway 61 Revisited,...
Parshat Emor – Counting the Omer
“And you shall count for yourselves from the morrow of the day of rest… there should be seven complete weeks. Until the morrow of the seventh week, you shall count fifty days.” (Leviticus 23:15-16) The Torah commands us to count forty nine days from the first day of...
Parshat Kedoshim 2015: “Love thy Neighbor as Thyself?”– How jealousy impacts relationships
“Ve-ahavta Lere-acha Kamocha.” These famous words from this week’s parsha became the “raison d’etre” and basis for all of the teachings of Rabbi Akiva. During this period of counting the Omer and the days leading up to the giving of the Torah, we remind ourselves of...
In honour of Yom HaShoah
In honour of Yom HaShoah, I am including an (abridged) article about the future of Holocaust Education which I believe will be one of our upcoming challenges in Jewish education for the near future. Shabbat Shalom. Holocaust education prepares for era without...
Pesach 2015
The goal of our Seders is to engage our children in dialogue about the story of leaving Egypt. Here is a little humour to help bridge the serious moments with the song and food of the evening. Print them and put them under everyone’s plate to help keep the children...
Parshat Tzav – Preparation for Passover- The Four Sons
The number four is prevalent in the rituals of the seder. We have 4 cups of wine, 4 (or 5) words of redemption, four questions asked by the youngest at the seder and the four sons. I would like to present some ideas this week about the four sons. What does the wise...Akiva Calendar
Rabbi Grossman’s Corner
Parsha Vayera
Parashat Lekh Lekha – Your Shabbat Journey
The simple definition of the word journey is the act of travelling from one place to another, but I believe the word conveys a lot more than driving to the grocery store. A journey implies a process in which you are changed or in which you learn something. If going...
Faces of Akiva
Vanessa Nezri Ohayon Akiva Parent of 1 Akiva Alumni, 2 current Akiva students and 1 future Akiva student “… I feel like my family has a real connection with Akiva School. I’m so comfortable whenever I come here and I know my kids are happy and thriving. Every morning,...
Parashat Noah – Unified words
My youngest daughter was discussing with her sisters possibilities for the catchphrase of kindness she would try and use more often this month as part of Akiva School’s Derekh Eretz program. She had some good ideas – don’t give up, I’ll help, thank you – all phrases...