Sparks of Light 5780: Introduction
Dear Friends, If you look closely at the picture above you might be wondering what it is and why is it being included as an opening message within our annual Sparks of Light Chanukah series? The picture comes from a note that three BAS students left for the staff of the Fern Resort following […]
Messages from the Four Species: A Dvar Torah for Sukkot
by Feiga Werner Grade 12, Ulpanat Orot There are three festivals during the Jewish year in which all the Jews, together, would make a pilgrimage to the Temple, namely Jerusalem, Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot. Rav Chanoch Ehrentreu, in his work Kometz Hamincha, teaches that each of these three festivals corresponds to core beliefs of Judaism […]
Graduation Message 2019 from Rabbi Dr. Seth Grauer
Graduation 2019 Rabbi Dr. Seth Grauer כבוד הרבנים, מנהלים, צוות המורים, חברי הועד, הורים, וכמובן כל הבוגרים – ברוכים הבאים ותודה. Honored Rabbis, fellow administrators, members of the faculty, members of the board of directors, parents and of course our graduates – welcome and thank you. Seniors – I know there is much […]
Teaching Young Men in the #MeToo Era
Mr. Gerald Lazar Director of Student Life, Yeshivat Or Chaim A couple of years ago, I chaperoned a school trip to attend Me to We Day, run by the We organization (previously Free the Children), started by the Kielburger brothers. The purpose of the day is to inspire students to engage in social action and […]
Watering Seeds: Reflections on Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut
Mr. Daniel Gofine Director of Engagement and Development A mentor once told me that the purpose of an overnight camp experience is to allow counsellors and staff to plant small seeds that, with enough nourishing and watering, will grow into strong well rooted trees. At the time, I was working at Camp Moshava […]
Confronting Anti-Semitism and the “New Normal”
Rabbi Seth Grauer Rosh Yeshiva & Head of School “Never lose your instincts for danger that has preserved you for generations.” Such were the words spoken by New York Times political columnist Bret Stephens Tuesday evening at Congregation Adath Israel in which he spoke about the recent anti-Semitic cartoon published by the New York Times and […]
What do 10-year-olds hang on the walls of their bedrooms?
Rabbi Seth Grauer Rosh Yeshiva & Head of School I was recently at a Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush) rabbinic and leadership conference in which I heard Moishe Bane, the President of the OU, ask the question: “What do 10-year-olds hang up in their bedrooms and place on their shelves?” It was a great question […]
Extracurriculars Should be Part of the Curriculum
Mrs. Nili Zivan Bnei Akiva Shlicha and Ulpana Guidance Counselor Growing up with learning difficulties, it was sports, Bnei Akiva and other leadership opportunities that provided important incentives for me to continue to try and succeed in school. Activities outside of school were opportunities for me to shine and be successful in something other than […]
For the Love of the Game: Thoughts on Maximizing Students’ Potential in the Classroom
Mr. Eric Saltsman Integrated Arts and English Teacher For the Toronto Raptors, the summer of 2018 was one to remember. The team pulled off perhaps one of the most unlikely heists in the history of the league by landing superstar forward Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs. The momentous occasion marked the first time […]
How do we Teach Empathy?
Mr. Eli Schneider Journal Editor and Student Support Teacher In the days and weeks after the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, local officials struggled to cope with tragedy at the same time as attempting to provide for the physical and emotional needs of a traumatized community. In addition to providing counseling, attending […]
