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...

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. ...

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...

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...

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...

Cast me not off when I am old; forsake me not when my usefulness fails. Psalm 71:9 Mr. Stein would not sell you a book unless he thought you worthy of reading it.  His books were located on the ancient shelves of his store—behind the counter and out of reach of...

Chidushim B’Chinuch—Insights into Education Eighth of an Ongoing Series When I moved to Massachusetts many years ago, one of my first stops was the Granary Burial Ground, located in downtown Boston. Tourists and residents alike make pilgrimages to this cemetery to pay...

Chidushim B’Chinuch—Insights into Education Seventh in an Ongoing Series As a child, neither my friends nor I were afraid of monsters or vampires, and I know whom to thank.  When children of a previous generation imagined monsters or Gothic villains they would think...

Chidushim B’Chinuch—Insights into Education Sixth of an Ongoing Series My decision to pursue a career in education was solidified in 1989 when I saw Peter Weir’s Oscar-winning film, Dead Poets Society.  As far as I can remember, I wanted to become a teacher from the...