by Rabbi Grossman | Oct 15, 2020 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School
This week we begin the annual Torah reading cycle, starting with the creation of the world in the first chapter of Genesis. Standard English translations, based primarily on non-Jewish sources, render the first words of our parasha, “In the beginning, God created the...
by Rabbi Grossman | Sep 25, 2020 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School
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,...
by Rabbi Grossman | Sep 3, 2020 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School
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...
by Rabbi Grossman | Aug 27, 2020 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School
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...
by Rabbi Grossman | Aug 20, 2020 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School
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...
by Rabbi Grossman | Jun 18, 2020 | Blog, Messages from the Head of School
As I look at our students during the final days of school before the summer, I am reminded of the Israelites standing at the border of the Promised Land. Behind them are the trials and toils that marked their trek through the desert, the hard work that characterized...
