Experience Akiva
Rabbi Grossman’s Blog Corner
Rabbi Grossman's Corner
Preparing for the Seder
Mar 19, 2015
Many of us spend hours preparing for the “physical” i.e. food parts of the Seder. However, we do not spend nearly enough time getting ready for the “spiritual” experience of the seder, which is accomplished through recitation of the Haggadah. I would like to spend the...
Parshat Vayakhel-Pikudei- Creativity – The Wisdom of the Heart
Mar 13, 2015
(Adapted from Creativity without Bounds by Rochel Holzkenner) This week we read the last parshiyot of the book of Exodus. The Jewish people were called upon to donate both their time and talents to help build the Mishkan. In Judaism, we believe that we use the heart...
Purim 2015 – Arrogance vs. Ambition
Mar 6, 2015
When we think about the Purim story, we immediately think of the central element of the plot, how the Persian Jews were saved through the action plan of Esther. But like all of Tanach, there’s more than one lesson, and when we look again at the characters and the plot...
Parshat Terumah– A Portable Home
Feb 18, 2015
Please enjoy this abridged version of a dvar Torah by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks about the origins and important role of the synagogue in our Jewish lives. Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom and great week off. Lisa...
Parshat Mishpatim – The Truth about Lies
Feb 13, 2015
This week we witnessed the downfall of one of television’s celebrated news anchors- Brian Williams. Mr. Williams admitted that he might have “misrepresented” an incident which he reported during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Mr. Williams said that during the war, his...
Parshat Yitro – Learning to disengage
Feb 5, 2015
The highlight of our parsha is the Jews receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The fourth commandment is: “Remember the Sabbath day….Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do...
Remember the past to build the future
Jan 29, 2015
This week, to commemorate, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I would like to share a blog post from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks written in the blog of Times of Israel. Remember the past to build the future.
Parshat Bo – Choosing a Jewish High School
Jan 21, 2015
Parshat Bo details one of the most critical events in Jewish history – the Exodus from Egypt/Yeziat mitzrayim. It is the beginning of the formation of the Jewish nation. Immediately after this monumental event, Moses begins with the task of educating and teaching...
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A “HARD HEART”?
Jan 19, 2015
In the course of the Torash reading, we are told about Pharaoh’s repeated rejections of the Jew’s request to go free. Three different verbs are used in this week’s Torah portion centering on the plagues to indicate the hardening of the Pharoah’s heart: Kasha (k-sh-h),...
The Land of Israel – There’s “Snow” Better Place on Earth
Jan 12, 2015
My family and I have just returned safely from Israel. We were fortunate to have had two weeks of time to spend with our two sons studying outside Jerusalem and with extended family and friends. We met families from our Akiva community and had the zechut (good...