The happiness of Sukkot, about which I wrote last week, culminates in the holiday of Simchat Torah that we will celebrate next Tuesday. The name of the holiday is usually rendered into English as “The Holiday of Rejoicing with the Torah,” but its literal...
The sounds of Jewish music
The topic of this week’s Torah portion is the Tabernacle, the tent-shrine that served as the religious center of the Israelites throughout their wanderings in the desert and during their early years of settlement in the land of Canaan. In fact, the Tabernacle has...
Chag Purim Sameach – Message from the Head of School
There are four mitzvot, four commandments that we are required to perform on Purim: Listening to the reading of the Megillah, partaking of a festive meal, sending gifts of food to friends, and giving alms to the poor. Though these requirements seem unrelated, there...
The Dignity of Difference – Message from the Head of School
The story of how our world came to have numerous nations populating different lands is told in Genesis 11, the story of the Tower of Babel:Now the whole world had one language and a common speech [and lived in the same land]. People said to each other… “Come, let us...Chidon HaTanach
I have been waiting for this week since the first time I was introduced to the Akiva community. During the meet-and-greet when I first spoke at Akiva, I shared the following story:Growing up in Toronto, I did not have the privilege of going to a school like Akiva. ...
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...Akiva Calendar
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Rabbi Grossman’s Blog Corner
Rabbi Grossman's Corner
Message from the Head of School – What makes us happy?
Message from the Head of School – Sept 20
The holiday of Sukkot, which we celebrate next week, is unique in that it is the only holiday specifically associated with joy. While nearly all Jewish holidays have an element of joy associated with them (even Yom Kippur!), it is only Sukkot that is singled out by...
Message from the Head of School – Sept 12, 2018
The Road to Repentance Starts at School Rabbi Eric Grossman Head of School, Akiva School Excerpt from the Congregation Beth Israel Beth Aaron High Holiday Magazine, September 2018 Maimonides divided his Laws of Repentance into precisely ten chapters,...
Rosh Hashanah Message – September 2018
Rabbi Grossman Rosh Hashanah appears to be a holiday about the past and the future. In our thoughts and our prayers, we recall our past sins and misdeeds, and promise to do better next year. And while there is much significance to this looking back and...
Message from the Head of School
Our Journey Begins Rabbi Grossman The halls of Akiva are once again filled with movement. Students are moving from class to class, up and down stairs, in and out for arrival, recess, and dismissal. All the while, we are moving forward on our journeys as...
MESSAGE TO THE AKIVA FAMILY
I have come to the end of a remarkable, albeit brief, journey that I started with you sixteen months ago. It has been, of course, a continuation of a profound association with Akiva that started many, many years before that. And while my day-to-day involvement is...
Faces of Akiva – Akiva Alumnus Alan Iny
Alan Iny, Class of 1989 An integral part of an education at Akiva School is teaching our students how to think creatively, problem-solve and be innovators. With his book and current consultant role, Akiva alumnus Alan Iny represents what we hope to inspire in every...
Parasha Shlach – Developing a Growth Mind Set
This week's Dvar Torah is by Akiva grade 4 teacher, Yelena Plis, which she gave as part of her speech at a reception held in her honour this week in recognition of receiving the Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education... By Yelena Plis This week's Parasha...
PARASHAT SHELACH LEKHA – All about Challah
In this week’s parashah, God tells Moses to instruct the Israelites that when they enter the land of Israel and they bake bread, they must set aside a portion for God. And you eat of the bread of the land, you shall set aside as a gift to the Lord: as the first yield...
Parashat Nasso
This week, I'd like to refer to an article written on the "My Jewish Learning" Blog: Parents as Models