The Spark

On this week’s episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss is joined by Harry Samuels, writer and Memphis Jewish community figurehead,  to talk about what he's learned throughout his astute observations serving the local and even international Jewish community. Interestingly, Harry served as the president of the Memphis Jewish Federation and was nominated by Bert Bornblum. Harry had previously consulted with...

On this week’s episode of The Spark, we kick off Season 2. Bornblum Jewish Community School’s theme for the 2023 school year is Community. Throughout the year, 8 different keywords will play a central role in how we understand the word community. Each of those eight words is the name of one of our Bornblum Mishpachot, families. This week, our word is Manhigut, leadership. Last year at our Eighth G...

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sat down with longtime Bornblum supporters and grandparents of alumni, Jerry and Louise Sklar. Jerry wanted to surprise his wife, Louise, with an exceptional birthday gift, so he purchased a Musical Garden for the students at Bornblum! They talk about why they choose to give back to Bornblum, how the school impacted their grandchildren, and their experience...

In this episode of The Spark, the Eighth Graders are in the last week of their Israel trip. They reflect on their experiences at the Kotel, Yad Vashem, Har Herzl, Nachlaot, and more. Dr. Weiss also talked with their tour guide, Tuvia. Plus, Michal Almalem, our Jewish Studies Principal, reflects on what it means to see these Eighth Graders in Israel.

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss was blessed to have traveled with our Bornblum Eighth Graders as they embarked on their trip to Israel. He was able to ask them questions in real time about their multitude of experiences from visiting Shoham (Memphis's sister city), listening to the siren go off across the land on Yom HaShoah, shopping and eating at Machane Yehuda, praying at the Western Wa...

In this special episode of The Spark, we're having a Pesachpalooza! Dr. Weiss interviewed Bornblum Middle schoolers about their favorite family Pesach traditions (Silly String involved!). We also hear music from Kindergarteners (The Frog Song and Dayenu), Second Graders (Vehi Sheamda), and Third and Fourth Graders (Betzeit Yisrael).

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sat down to talk with the three "Kollel Guys" (as we call them) from Torah Mitzion: Netanel Aronson, Yair Wolicki, and Uriya Ben David. Over the past year, they have come to Bornblum weekly to work with classes through songs, d'vrei Torah, games, dances, and activities on Friday mornings and Friday afternoons at Kabbalat Shabbat. They talk about why they chose to come to...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sat down to talk with Cindy VanGunda, Fourth Grade Teacher, who has been teaching at Bornblum for ten years.  They talk about her working in a Jewish day school as a Christian, what she's learned about the values of Judaism, the unity of religion, and how working at Bornblum has impacted her as a parent.

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sat down to talk with Jill Cross, Bornblum's Director of Curriculum & Instruction for the last three years. She pioneered our Design Thinking program which has increased student engagement across the board.  They talk about her role as President Elect of Emerging Leaders for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, her obsession with George Washing...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sits down to talk with the amazing and longtime Bornblum teacher, Deanna McAlexander. She started working at Bornblum in 2000 and has 23 years of teaching under her belt. Eighteen years ago, she started teaching Middle School where she has been a mainstay. Currently, she teaches Social Studies and English.  They talk about how she breaks down high-level and deep topics f...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss had the pleasure of talking about mental health with child psychologist and author, Dr. Amy Murrell. In her long career, Dr. Murrell has researched and developed acceptance and mindfulness-based psychotherapies and has even published a six-part children's book series on mindfulness. Her new book about healing trauma with play activities for both parents and children is c...

The week leading up to Design Day students learned about refugees and the refugee experience in both their General Studies and Jewish Studies time. Students were then tasked to create a project or program that would benefit the Refugee Empowerment Program. Here's how our Design Thinking curriculum promotes empathy, brainstorming, prototyping, leadership skills and collaboration.

This week, Dr. Weiss had the pleasure to attend the Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools Conference in Denver, Colorado, where he ran into three amazing leaders who have helped him along his career: Avi Halzel (Head of School/CEO at the Denver Jewish Day School and former Bornblum Head of School), Rabbi Jim Rogozen (Director of the Center for Excellence in Day School Education), and Cheryl Maaya...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sits down with Rabbi Sarit Horwitz from Beth Sholom Synagogue. They discuss the cultivation of empathy and why it must be a foundation of Judaism. Also, they speculate why levels of empathy have decreased by 40% and how it's led to a mental health crisis. Rabbi Horwitz flips the script and asks Dr. Weiss questions!

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sits down with Maya Sharabi, Bornblum’s longest-running Jewish Studies teacher.    What was going to be just a one-year visit to the United States from their home in Israel, Maya and her husband Amir Sharabi— Bornblum’s Technology Director and teacher—ended up staying in Memphis to teach and enroll their two sons at Bornblum. They fell in love with the school and communi...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sits down with Bornblum alumnae and parent, Ellee Breit, for a conversation about the immeasurable qualities children gain from attending a Jewish day school and the impact of giving back to the Jewish community. Ellee relays her journey through Bornblum from First through Eighth grade, Ridgeway High School, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, then to New York City wher...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss sits down with Temple Israel's Rabbi Micah Greenstein for an enlightening conversation on gratitude, kindness, social justice, and how Bornblum teaches students how to be good humans. Rabbi Greenstein talks about what led him to Memphis 32 years ago, how Memphis Jews can be torch bearers for the betterment of the city, ways to speak out against anti-Semitism, techniques...

In this episode, Dr. Weiss speaks with Sally Baer, Bornblum's Director of Student Services, who has been with Bornblum since its inception in 1988. Over the last three years, Sally has spearheaded social-emotional learning, helping students become more self-aware and empathetic toward others. With November being National Gratitude Month, Sally talks with Dr. Weiss about her "Attitude of Gratitude"...

 In this episode, I sit down with Isaac James, the DEI Coordinator with Refugee Empowerment Program , which is one of the phenomenal education programs the 2nd Annual Ride for Education is supporting. Isaac tells his story of being a refugee, how his mother started REP over 20 years ago, the real-life impact of their adult and youth education programs on thousands of students, and how we can all m...

What are the Kindergarteners up to? In this episode, I speak to some of our youngest friends at Bornblum, five of our Kindergarteners: Amariyah, Ellie, Parker, Sabe, and Samara. They share with me the story of what the first month of Kindergarten has been like for them at Bornblum. Listen, and enjoy the sounds of these amazing young people.

On the very first episode of Bornblum Jewish Community School's brand new podcast, Daniel R. Weiss, Ed. D., defines what a spark means to him and how sparks are ignited each at Bornblum. He talks about the books he's read over the summer that informed him how to make Bornblum's culture flourish. In the upcoming episodes, he will be interviewing students, faculty, and members of the community with...