Akiva School – École Akiva

Why Do I Have To Go To School?

by Rabbi Grossman | Jan 30, 2020 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School

Chidushim B’chinuch—Insights into Education Eleventh in an Ongoing Series Most people have asked this question at some point in their academic careers, and most parents have had to answer this query for their children. With elementary school students, the question is...

Unparalleled Prayer

by Rabbi Grossman | Jan 23, 2020 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School

Chidushim B’Chinuch—Insights into Education Tenth of an Ongoing Series Watching Akiva students participate in prayer services, one would never know that prayer, or tefillah, in Hebrew, is considered the greatest educational challenge in the Jewish day school world. ...

What’s in a Name?

by Rabbi Grossman | Jan 16, 2020 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School

Chidushim B’Chinuch—Insights into Education Ninth of an Ongoing Series Jewish schools today tend to take their names from magnanimous donors. This system of nomenclature rightly honours those who have provided for the needs and welfare of our community, called in...

Lessons from the Land of Egypt

by Rabbi Grossman | Jan 9, 2020 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School

When we conclude the Book of Genesis this week in synagogue, the Israelites will have taken up residence in a most hospitable and welcoming country: Egypt. Invited there by Pharaoh himself, with the Hebrew Joseph as his viceroy, our people prospered financially and...

There’s No Place Like Home

by Rabbi Grossman | Dec 18, 2019 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School

Before we go off for Winter Vacation, I wanted to wish the entire Akiva community a restful break and a happy Chanukah. We are wrapping up this secular year with energy and inspiration courtesy of the Akiva Players amazing production of the original musical, Cyber...

Chanukah Musings

by Rabbi Grossman | Dec 12, 2019 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School

During the Chanukah season it is traditional to reflect upon the relationship between Jewish and Greek civilization. The story of Chanukah celebrates the literal and figurative victory of Judaism over Greek cultural and military forces in the battle between Jews and...

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Rabbi Grossman’s Corner

The Call to God

Sep 25, 2020

The Content of our Character The most ancient of all of the prayers for the High Holidays has a special connection to The Akiva School. Avinu Malkeinu is almost 2,000 years old, yet its central words have remained unchanged. Akiva’s founder, Rabbi David Hartman,...

Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael

Sep 3, 2020

On Thursday mornings in synagogue, we recite a prayer that begins with the words, “Acheinu kol beit yisrael—Our brethren, all the House of Israel.” The tefillah offers the image of all Jews living as siblings in the same home, caring for each other as brothers and...

An “A” and an “F” for Flexibility

Aug 27, 2020

One would hardly associate religion with flexibility. Religion is about rules, and rules are, by nature, rigid. This is by no means an affront to religion. Rules provide our lives with structure and meaning. Rules keep us safe. The myriad COVID-related regulations...

A Year of Forgiveness

Aug 20, 2020

Today is Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul. Elul marks the beginning of the season of forgiveness, leading into Rosh Hashanah, the holiday of repentance, including Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and concluding with Hoshanah Rabbah, the end of...

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