The Spark

I wanted to share a conversation with Matt Fieldman, executive director of Rekindle, that proves sometimes the most powerful movements start with one simple observation: our communities should stop working in parallel and start working in partnership. Matt's career has been a winding road through Jewish communal work—from leading Hillel services at University of Florida to volunteering in Israel,...

I wanted to share a conversation with Yirmeyahu Yosef—host of That Jewish Podcast —that beautifully illustrates how Jewish identity can be chosen, embraced, and lived with profound conviction. Yirmeyahu grew up Christian in rural Carbondale, Illinois, where Charlton Heston as Moses and Fiddler on the Roof were his only references to Judaism. Raised in the Church of God in Christ, he attended a Chr...

"I was the textbook definition of ADHD. I color outside the lines." I wanted to share a conversation with Eli Ostrow that proves sometimes the best careers come from coloring outside the lines. Eli attended Bornblum as a self-described dork with a bowl cut, convinced he wasn't creative because he couldn't draw. He remembers crumpling up a coloring project in frustration because he couldn't stay in...

"Finding Jewish joy isn't ignoring the pain—it's refusing to let pain be the only story." I wanted to share a conversation with Benji Rosenzweig that completely redefines what Jewish education can look like. Benji moved from Israel to Cleveland at age five and grew up Orthodox, the son of a rabbi. In tenth grade, during a yeshiva discussion about the Torah's perfection, he learned there are seven...

I wanted to share a conversation with Alison Lebovitz —Emmy-nominated PBS host, motivational speaker, and author—that perfectly captures how the things we resist as children become our greatest gifts as adults. Alison grew up in Birmingham attending a Jewish day school in its infancy—literally a one-room school with partitions. She was the only girl in her graduating class of five and resented fee...

I wanted to share a remarkable conversation with Ramon Dennis—the father of two Bornblum students—about his journey to Judaism. Growing up Christian in Memphis, Ramon found himself asking questions no one could answer. When told to "just obey God," he asked "but how?" The responses—"just because" or "have faith"—left him unsatisfied. As a teenager, he stopped going to church and began reading the...

Sometimes the most meaningful conversations begin with the most unexpected connections. Fifteen years ago, during a Cleveland snowstorm, Dr. Weiss and his wife Jessica couldn't make it to a Peter Himmelman concert. But Peter—Grammy and Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter, visual artist, and Bob Dylan's son-in-law—took a phone call from their cousin in the middle of his performance and dedicated his s...

Ever wondered what makes Dr. Weiss tick? In this candid conversation, our beloved Head of School opens up about his journey from theater kid to educational leader, sharing stories of childhood bullying, finding his voice, and discovering his passion for building inclusive Jewish communities. Learn the surprising origin story behind Dr. Weiss's famous costume collection (yes, there's a sponsor invo...

In this inspiring episode of The Spark Podcast, Dr. Weiss welcomes back beloved former Bornblum teacher Tami Hershkovitz, who has created something truly special during her time away from Memphis. Tami shares her innovative "Mishnafari" program—a groundbreaking curriculum that brings the timeless wisdom of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) to life for preschoolers through second graders. Through...

In this moving episode of The Spark Podcast, Dr. Weiss sits down with Bornblum 8th Graders just days after their return from a powerful two-week journey to Israel during a historically significant time. As these students prepare to leave Bornblum, they share profound reflections on bringing ceramic hearts to Hostages Square, honoring their culture at the Western Wall, witnessing memorial ceremonie...

In this episode of The Spark Podcast, Dr. Weiss shines a spotlight on two remarkably talented Third Grade musicians. Meet Arielle, a dedicated violinist following in her mother's musical footsteps, and Miller, a budding rock guitarist with an ear for grunge and classic rock These young performers share their musical journeys, from Arielle's daily practice routine and symphony performances to Mille...

In this episode of The Spark Podcast, Dr. Weiss sat down with a remarkable Bornblum Fourth Grader, Island Austin, who opens up about her extraordinary journey from dedicated gymnast to rising Hollywood actress, balancing schoolwork with her blossoming film career. Island shares behind-the-scenes stories from her recent films, including working alongside Heather Graham and her upcoming project with...

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sits down with Ronit Dahan and Iris Raber-Cohen, two passionate educators from Shoham, Israel who are visiting Memphis to strengthen the educational partnership between sister cities. They talk about how Memphis and Shoham have created meaningful connections that transcend distance, allowing students to explore their shared Jewish identity while celebrating...

What do cooking, racism, jewelry, the Israel-Hamas war, podcasting, and animal abuse awareness have in common? In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sits down with three Bornblum Middle students—Jacob, Bennett, and Rosie— who share their remarkable year-long Design Thinking Capstone projects built through design thinking principles. They explain how they transformed their passions into meaningfu...

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss turns the microphone around to interview our own Director of Marketing and Communications, Zack Orsborn, who typically produces the podcast from behind the scenes. They explored Zack's journey from small-town Mississippi to becoming an integral part of both the Memphis artistic community and Bornblum. They talked about Zack's "Like Really Creative" podcast,...

In this follow-up interview, Dr. Weiss welcomes back renowned Memphis artist Ephraim Urevbu to discuss his ongoing collaboration with Bornblum. They talk about Ephraim's innovative "Tiles Project," which is transforming sidewalks into interactive history lessons about civil rights through QR-embedded ceramic tiles, and how Bornblum Middle students are creating their own artistic interpretations of...

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sits down with Rabbi Noach Karp and Rebbetzin Miriam Karp, a couple who recently moved to Memphis to engage with the Jewish community through Memphis Jewish Experience , exploring their life journeys and approach to community building. The Karps met through family matchmaking, lived in Providence and Columbus working with Jewish communities, and eventually m...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sits down with Avi Posen, Director of Education for Unpacked for Educators , the powerhouse behind engaging Israel education in over 2,000 schools worldwide. They dive into three key ways to teach about Israel, the importance of presenting multiple perspectives, and the painful complexity of bringing hostages home. Avi also shares his vision for the future of Unpacked fo...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sits down with an extraordinary group of Fourth Graders—Olivia, Ari, Brody, Ori, Nora, and Tamara—to explore their Jewish Identity Art Project. Through colorful paintings filled with meaningful symbols, they expressed what their Jewish identity means to them. They share the personal stories behind their chosen symbols, from the Torah to shofars, and reflect on the values...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sat down with Bornblum's PE Teacher, Jeffery Johnson, a man of many talents. From growing up in Miami to becoming a walk-on basketball player at Mississippi State University to owning his own athlete training facility, Jeffery shares the ups and downs of his journey and what he’s learned along the way. They talk about how his background as a visual artist translates to t...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sat down with Diane McNeil, a board member of Unknown Children Foundation and an inspiring advocate for Holocaust remberance and education. In 2009, she helped to start the "Pennies Project," where middle school students were challenged to collected 1.5 million pennies—one for each child murdered during the Holocaust.  They explore the fascinating history of the penny an...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sits down with Sally Poolat, the regional representative for Leket Israel , the national food bank of Israel. Sally shares the incredible work Leket does to combat food insecurity, feeding more than 300,000 people each week in a country where 20% of the population lives below the poverty line. She talks about how Leket Israel rescues surplus produce from over 200 farmers...

Eight years ago, Paul Bernstein, Founding CEO of Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools , launched a cutting edge organization with a mission to bring together schools, funders, and communities to invest in quality teachers, advance the financial vitality of schools, and enhance education excellence in Jewish day schools. During his visit to Memphis, Dr. Weiss had the opportunity to sit down with...

Elisheva Rose Ida Lubin Z"L, granddaughter of Nathan and Alla Lubin, grew up with a fierce passion for Israel ever since she visited at the age of 5 with her grandfather. As she grew up, she knew it was her mission to make Aliyah and serve in Israel Defense Force as a Lone Soldier. Following the events of October 7, 2023, Rose died fighting for Israel's peace. To honor her memory and all Lone Sold...

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sat down with Bornblum alum and Lone Soldier, Avi Bierman, who made Aliyah to Israel and served in the IDF Tank Battalion.  Avi discussed his long-held desire to move to Israel and join the army, which was influenced by his teachers at Bornblum. They talk about his experience going through Garin Tzabar to facilitate his Aliyah and integration into Israeli so...