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, working for Federation in Cleveland and the Joint Distribution Committee in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2020, standing on a Cleveland street corner watching the Jewish and Black communities run separate voter registration drives on opposite sides of the street, he had an epiphany: with so few resources and volunteer hours, we could be exponentially more effective working together.That observation became Rekindle, a space for Black and Jewish communities to build genuine relationships through difficult conversations. Starting with just his friends around a restaurant table, Rekindle now runs in 20 cities with over 400 alumni nationally and three full-time staff. Participants don't just walk away with good feelings. They start internship programs for Black youth at their businesses, join literacy programs, and invite each other to Shabbat tables and church services. Matt's lesson? Sometimes being a follower is just as important as being a leader, and there's a deep human need for connection that transcends our differences. When Black and Jewish folks ally, we become extremely powerful in fighting for democracy and civil rights.

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 Christian college in Memphis where his questions about scripture contradictions went unanswered. At 32, he left the church entirely and began a two-year conversion process with Rabbi Joel Finkelstein. He, his wife Chanah, and their three daughters compressed everything a Jewish child learns from age three to bar mitzvah into intense weekly sessions. A year ago, they completed conversion and even remarried in a Jewish ceremony with all three kids present.Now at Nike, Yirmeyahu navigates coworker questions about why he doesn't eat in the cafeteria or work Saturdays. He's open about his journey. His podcast, "That Jewish Podcast," evolved from personal spiritual journey into combating antisemitism through education. His philosophy: the biggest weapon against antisemitism is an educated Jewish person who knows their identity so deeply that no one can take it from them.What struck me most was his conviction that being Jewish is easier than converting—because now his future is in his hands, not waiting for approval. He chose Jewish day school for his daughters before even completing conversion because he understood its power in forming identity. As someone who deliberately chose this path, his perspective that Jewish education is about building the confidence kids need to face the world proudly knowing exactly who they are.

"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 inside the lines. Today, he's Memphis's favorite photographer—literally winning the Memphis Most award. He realized that with a camera, "you don't have to color in the lines anymore, they're already colored in."During COVID, he posted veteran advocacy videos wearing overalls to stand out, going viral and learning the algorithms. When an ex-girlfriend's sister told him to "never pick up a camera again," he kept shooting. When a 50-something photographer accused him of stealing clients, Eli realized: "If he's threatened by a 21-year-old entering the field, I'm doing something right." He started using negative feedback as fuel.Now in his third year as a full-time photographer, Eli captures people at weddings and bar mitzvahs, helps businesses reinvent their brands, and recently photographed a United Hatzalah concert featuring Eden Golan. He's passionate about lifting Memphis talent from within, believing the city deserves it. His advice? If you're going to fail, do it young.

"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 differences between Sephardic and Ashkenazi scrolls. When he pressed his teacher—they can't both be God's exact word if they're different—he realized he's an atheist who deeply believes in Judaism as community, culture, and peoplehood. He doesn't believe in God, but he believes Jewish culture is beautiful and worth celebrating, just like he believes Hindu or Native American cultures are worth celebrating without believing in their gods.His daughter Ellah was born with agenesis of the corpus callosum, missing the main bridge connecting her brain hemispheres. After four years of isolation, he discovered a Facebook community. During COVID, he posted videos of Ellah, who is nonverbal, singing along to Lizzo and Metallica while he played guitar. TEDx invited him to speak about using music to create language, which launched a consulting career teaching companies about nonverbal communication. For eight years he posted daily "morning mantras" with his older daughter on drives to school—affirmations that went viral and still hang as a poster in their home.He's also the founder of Storied, a live show combining storytelling with music through a Jewish lens, exploring contributions from the Beatles to grunge to reggae. At the recent reggae show featuring Matisyahu, a donor bought 100 tickets for students. They sold out 600 seats, with 95 young people learning about Jewish roots in Rastafarianism and Zion references throughout the music. Benji's teaching Jewish pride through joy—proving that education happens when stories make you proud to be part of this ancient, creative people, whether or not you believe in God.

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 feeling socially isolated from the popular kids. Today, she realizes her parents gave her an extraordinary gift as pioneers of Southern Jewish education.Her path took her from Brandeis to Northwestern, then working for Coca-Cola during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, where she met her Chattanooga husband. She now hosts a PBS show called "The A-List with Alison Lebovtiz" in its 17th season and runs a podcast with her comedian sister called Sis & Tell. Her approach to both? Don't let perfect be the enemy of great. The podcast went from kitchen joke to live in three days.Her most meaningful work is leading One Clip at a Time, extending the legacy of Tennessee's Paperclip Project. She started by collecting business cards at a Lion of Judah event where 75 women wanted to join something that barely existed. Sixteen years later, the organization runs Holocaust education programming in 37 states, Canada, and Israel.Everything meaningful in Alison's life traces back to that day school she once resented. She sight-reads Torah, speaks Hebrew, and for years hosted Shabbat dinners that became legendary with her sons and their friends.She wears "billboard sweaters" with messages like "Be Kind" because she wants to be a thermostat that changes the climate, not a thermometer that just measures it. She's built a life on curiosity, asking "what's your story?" and believing our shared stories unite more than divide us.Her only regret? Chattanooga doesn't have a day school beyond preschool. The foundation she once resisted became everything—proof that sometimes the gifts we push against become the ones we're most grateful for.

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 Torah, setting up makeshift sukkahs in his mother's living room and lighting tea candles for Hanukkah, not quite knowing what he was doing but desperate for answers.His family, including his future wife Amber, noticed and began joining him. Eventually they walked into a synagogue for the first time—on Purim, of all days—and found a community. They converted and enrolled their children at Bornblum, knowing they couldn't provide the Jewish foundation they themselves didn't have growing up.What struck me most was Ramon's experience with racism. In forty years as a Black man in the South, he'd never faced it—until he became Jewish. Suddenly, antisemitic hate flooded his social media, threatening messages from people hiding behind keyboards.Today, with over 48,000 Instagram followers drawn to his authentic spiritual journey, he sometimes has to step away from the hate.Ramon and Amber visited Israel four months before October 7th, experiencing the warmth and beauty of the land. Now their children teach them Hebrew prayers they don't know, and they're growing in their Judaism alongside their kids. His journey from makeshift observance to beloved community member reminds us that paths to Judaism take many forms, and our community is enriched by every person who chooses to join us with intention and love.

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 song "Closer" to them anyway.That song became the soundtrack to their relationship and, for Dr. Weiss, a teaching tool about prayer and seeking closeness to God. Now, years later, these two finally sit down for an extraordinary conversation about faith, music, and finding the sacred in the everyday.Peter opens up about his spiritual awakening at 25—how meeting a Lubavitcher rabbi in Crown Heights transformed him from secular rock musician to observant Jew overnight. He shares the moment that changed everything: learning that "the entirety of existence is miraculous," from walking on earth to flying 50 feet above it.Since October 7th, Peter has written 68 essays and poems, using his platform not to change minds but to strengthen Jewish unity. He talks about touching the Kotel at age 8 and crying without knowing why, touring the Soviet Union with tefillin in 1988, and why he believes we're emerging from darkness into light.This isn't just a conversation about music—it's about radical amazement, authentic relationships, and using your gifts to illuminate the world. As Peter reminds us: "We are the light."

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 involved!) and how his theatrical background shaped his approach to leadership. Spoiler alert: he owns enough costumes to wear a different one every day of the school year!Discover Dr. Weiss's philosophy on vulnerability, relationship-building, and why he believes there's no such thing as work-life balance—only work-life integration. Plus, hear about the books and mentors that have shaped his leadership style.Using the beautiful metaphor of the four species from Sukkot, Dr. Weiss explains his vision for creating a school where every type of Jewish family feels welcome and valued—a mission that extends far beyond education.

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 charming adventure stories, young children meet ancient Jewish sages and learn valuable life lessons about friendship, strength, generosity, and character. But this isn't just storytelling - it's a comprehensive educational program that seamlessly weaves together Jewish studies and social-emotional learning in ways that teachers can use flexibly throughout their day.Tami discusses her collaboration with renowned children's musician Robbo, shares touching stories about her father's influence on the project, and explains how teachers are already using these lessons to address real classroom challenges. Whether you're an educator looking for meaningful curriculum, a parent seeking quality Jewish children's literature, or someone interested in innovative approaches to character education, this conversation offers valuable insights into making ancient wisdom accessible to modern young minds.

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 ceremonies, and navigating Israel during ongoing conflict.The conversation takes a thoughtful turn as these young adults discuss their upcoming transitions to various high schools. They candidly share their hopes, fears, and how their Jewish education and Israel experience will shape their identities moving forward. Some will attend Jewish schools, others public institutions, and two are moving to California – each facing unique challenges in maintaining their Jewish connections.

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 rockThese young performers share their musical journeys, from Arielle's daily practice routine and symphony performances to Miller's School of Rock training and upcoming gig. Listen as they discuss their inspirations, demonstrate their impressive skills (including live performances of Vivaldi and "Seven Nation Army"), and reveal dreams of future orchestras and rock bands.Beyond showcasing their considerable talents, this episode highlights the extraordinary dedication these students bring to their craft—whether it's Arielle's hour-a-day practice schedule or Miller's expanding collection of instruments (including a three-hour LEGO guitar build!). Join us for a heartwarming conversation about passion, perseverance, and the joy of making music, as these Bornblum students demonstrate why arts education matters.

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 Dennis Quaid. She talks about her life on set, from long days of filming to the special bond she formed with castmates—including a heartwarming story about matching fluffy slippers with a Hollywood star!What makes Island's story truly special is her unwavering commitment to education and her deep connection to the Bornblum community despite her demanding schedule. Her infectious enthusiasm, coupled with wisdom beyond her years, offers valuable insights for anyone pursuing their dreams while staying grounded in their roots.

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 their unique cultural perspectives.They share touching stories about collaborative projects, emotional moments of hearing American students singing Israeli songs, and their admiration for Memphis's unified Jewish community. This conversation reveals how educational partnerships can foster global understanding and create powerful bonds between young people across continents, especially during challenging times.Join us for an inspiring discussion about building bridges between communities and the beautiful moments that emerge when students and teachers connect heart-to-heart across borders.

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 meaningful projects addressing real-world issues.Jacob combined his love of cooking with addressing racism by creating a cookbook that connects Jewish holiday recipes with African food traditions. Bennett channeled his interest in technology to create a podcast raising awareness about animal welfare after interviewing representatives from the Humane Society. Rosie designed symbolic jewelry with laser-cut charms to raise funds for families affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict.Each student discusses their creative process, challenges, mentorship experiences, and key learnings. Their stories highlight the power of persistence, the evolution of ideas, and how middle school students can make meaningful contributions to causes they care about. This episode offers a glimpse into Bornblum's Design Thinking approach that encourages students to connect personal interests with societal problems to create enduring solutions.

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, where he's interviewed 30 artists in just six weeks so far, and learn about his evolution from journalism to marketing while maintaining his identity as a multidisciplinary artist. Zack shares candid insights about finding his place in the Jewish community despite coming from a different background, and how Bornblum's values have influenced his personal growth.This conversation reveals how creativity flows between Zack's professional role at Bornblum—where he documents student joy and achievement—and his artistic pursuits in collage, music production, and writing. Listen in as they explore the intersection of creativity, community, and connection through the perspective of someone who helps others shine while creating his own artistic path.

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 this history for their own tiles.Ephraim shares powerful insights from his visit to the Nova Music Festival massacre exhibit in New York and draws thoughtful parallels to other historical tragedies. He also talks his ambitious "Dinner & Dialogue Tour," which uses art as a catalyst for reconciliation conversations between different communities across America and beyond.This episode explores how art can build bridges between cultures, preserve history, and inspire young leaders. Join us for an intimate look at how one artist's vision is fostering understanding and connection!

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 moved to Memphis.Their connection to Memphis began unexpectedly during a dads' trip to Israel, where Rabbi Karp met several Memphis community members, leading to their current work with the Memphis Kollel creating programming for the entire Jewish community regardless of observance level.The Karps now run numerous community programs including "Chill Zone" for children, monthly "Scotch & Schmooze" gatherings, open Shabbat meals, and one-on-one Torah study sessions, while emphasizing Jewish unity and inclusivity.

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 for Educators and opens up about his personal connection to one of Israel’s most beloved songs right now.

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 and traditions that inspire them. The conversation takes a heartfelt turn as they discuss the act of giving—how generosity and community are integral to their identity and their art.

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 the design of physical activities and youth development, how he learned character development from sports movies, his favorite story about none other than Sylvester Stalone, what goes into owning an athlete training facility, the interesting backstory about how the Ruth and Boaz story led to his marriage with his wife, the process of learning Hebrew, and how he wants to teach Bornblum students the science behind movement.

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 and its symbolism in this monumental project. Diane shares her personal calling to build bridges between Jewish and Christian communities, the challenges of transforming 1.5 million coins into a meaningful memorial, and the incredible triumphs that came along the way. We also discuss the ongoing work of the Unknown Child Foundation (like its A Night to Shine event with special guest Priscilla Presley on Monday, Dec. 16) and its mission to educate and inspire current and future generations to protect and value all children, regardless of their background.

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, a lifeline during these challenging times when displaced individuals have increased demand while resources and day laborers have dwindled. She highlights the resilience and dedication driving their mission and discusses how we can all support their vital efforts.

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 him for a chat about alleviating the loneliness of Jewish day schools leaders, changes in Jewish education in the last 5 years, how to increase resources to Jewish day schools, Prizmah's new strategic plan, how to encourage quality teachers to come back to their schools, and how his mother inspired him to be a teacher.

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 Soldiers, past and future, the Lubin family has created The Lone Solider Garden on Bornblum's campus. After a stirring dedication ceremony (which you can watch here) where Rose's cousins spoke and Fourth through Eighth Grade students planted ceramic poppies they made in the Lone Solider Garden, Dr. Weiss sat down with Nathan and Alla Lubin to speak with them about Rose's life as a proud Lone Soldier, why Nathan has been saying Kaddish for Rose every morning for the last year at minyan, how Alla has become close with Rose's friends, Rose's vision of the future, and the significance of memorializing her life with a Lone Solider Garden. 

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 society as a lone solider. He shared his experiences from October 7 and a harrowing story from his former security coordinator. He reflected on the importance of the close-knit community he found through Garin Tzabar, similar to his experiences at Bornblum.This week's Spark is dedicated to the memory of Rav Avi Goldberg z"l. Rav Goldberg was the Rosh Kollel (head Rabbi) of Kollel Torah Mitzion in Memphis from 2008-2011. Rav Goldberg believed strongly in K'lal Yisrael (the entire Jewish community) and was the first Torah Mitzion Rabbi to come regularly to Bornblum to teach our students. He taught Taamei HaMikra (Torah trops) to our students, taught them about Israel and created a Tu B'Shvat Seder that we still use to this day. While not a Lone Soldier, Rav Goldberg regularly opened his home to lone soldiers and those traveling to Israel. May his memory be for a blessing.

The tragedies of October 7th completely upended our lives, especially the lives of our Israeli faculty who were inundated with group messages from friends and family about sirens, taking shelter, and prayers for the state of Israel.In this episode, Dr. Weiss sat down with Michal Almalem, Bornblum's Jewish Studies Principal, and Rinat Kremer, Bornblum's 4th and 5th Grade Jewish Studies and Hebrew teacher, to take a look back at how everything has changed—from what and how they teach, how they interact with students, and the personal toll it took on them.The overall message they instilled in Bornblum students? Hope and heroism.

Sally Baer—our Director of Student Services and Assistant Head of School—is Bornblum. She is one of the pioneers who started in the genesis of this school 36 years ago and has continued to come back every day.  In this episode, Dr. Weiss had the privilege of having a conversation with Sally—who will be honored at Bornblum's 36th Anniversary Gala on March 30, 2025—about her childhood growing up in Memphis, the moment she became enamored with Judaism at the age of 12, Israeli dancing with her Baron Hirsch Sunday School teacher, her experience teaching an 81-student class, the conversation she had with her lifelong friend (and Bornblum teacher) Annette Eisenberg about taking a job at an ambitious school that didn't even have a building yet, how Bornblum and children in general have transformed, and what gets her up every morning to come to work.

Not only is it the 36th Anniversary of Bornblum, it's also Season 3 of The Spark! To kick off the new season, Dr Weiss had the honor of sitting down with the four members of the 36th Anniversary Committee—Alla Lubin (alumni parent and current grandparent), Jaclyn Marshall (current parent and Board of Directors Vice President), Kara Bierman (alumni parent and Board of Directors Past President), and Abby Felsenthal (alumni and current parent).They talked about why the number 36 is so important in Judaism, why they chose to volunteer their time to the Committee, and they give us a sneak peek in what we have in store for the 36th Anniversary celebrations, like 36FEST, (tickets on sale now!) the Bornblum Family Cookbook (submit a recipe here!), and the 36th Anniversary Gala (save the date for March 30, 2025!).To keep up with all we have planned for the 36th Year and look through past yearbooks, view our celebration page here.

Our Eighth Graders are back from their nine-day excursion to New York and Boston where they explored iconic Jewish sights, toured historical monuments and museums, and got to learn more about each other and the chaperones that traveled with them.In this week's episode, Dr. Weiss speaks with four Bornblum Eighth Graders—Mollie, Nava, Kenny, and Ross—about their class trip that fostered the creation of unforgettable memories.They talk about a Broadway show about the Women's Suffrage movement, throwing fake tea in the Griffith's Wharf in Boston, seeing a clumsy proposal in Central Park, a Kosher food crisis at Fenway Park, their unique Shabbat hosts, challah shaped into the Star of David, hearing personal stories during a Yom Hazikaron ceremony, seeing sand art inspired by the October 7 attacks, learning about family on Ellis Island, seeing a $3 million Torah at a Spanish/Portuguese synagogue, and hilarious stories about the quirks of their chaperones.

It's Teacher Appreciation Week! Our teachers add incredible care, talent, knowledge, warmth and so much more to the Bornblum community that we just had to talk about it.In this week's episode, Dr. Weiss speaks with three Bornblum parents/alum—Abby Felsenthal, Cara Munekata, and Justin Katz—about their experience with teachers they grew up with at Bornblum and the teachers that now instruct their children. They talk about their favorite teachers, what makes a good teacher, engaging activities that left lasting impacts, the importance of dedicating a week to appreciating teachers, the feeling Dr. Weiss had when receiving a letter of appreciation from a student, how Bornblum teachers send students home with a wealth of knowledge, the Teacher Appreciation Parade, and more! 

Chaos has erupted at college campuses across the nation due to pro-Palestine protests. Since April, nearly 2,000 protesters have been arrested nationwide, according to The Associated Press. In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss speaks with Isaac Ostrow—a Student Life Associate at Colombia/Barnard Hillel—and Alex Fogelman—a senior at Tulane University—about the unrest they have witnessed in the last week.Isaac and Dr. Weiss talk about his strategy for speaking with prospective students touring campus, how the Jewish community came together to make DIY seder kits, what it's been like to hear protests from the Hillel building, what he saw walking around campus in the lead up to the massive arrests, and his hopes for next year. In Dr. Weiss's conversation with Alex, they talk about her witnessing the pro-Palestine encampment, hearing chants of hate speech, her fears of the chaos on campus, and how she maintains her cool.

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sits down with Bornblum's beloved security guards, Titus and BJ. The two security guards joined Bornblum at the beginning of the school year and have become a staple in our community. They talk how about being part of the Bornblum family have changed their lives in a positive way, how students learn respect, how Titus formulated his famous handshakes with nearly every student on campus, how Judaism fueled BJ's curiosity, and more. They also swap some of their favorite riddles!

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sits down with Bornblum science teacher Mary Beth Beeber to talk all things butterflies! Mary Beth is instrumental in the upkeep and beautification of our Heather Samuels Butterfly Garden, which is listed as a Monarch Waystation. They talk about how butterflies fit into Bornblum curriculum, teaching students to be responsible in the environment, the process of how we plant milkweed to attract Monarch butterflies, and the importance of outdoor education.

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sits down with Rabbi Levi and Rivky Klein from Chabad of Tennessee. Thirty years ago, they moved to Memphis to start Chabad of Tennessee and have since created several Chabad communities across the state. They talk about the fascinating history of Chabad of Tennessee, how to build resources for the Memphis Jewish community, taking it one mitzvah at a time, and why tradition (with a twist) matters today!

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss is joined by parent and former Bornblum board member Margo Fogelman and past president of the Bornblum board Jill Shanker, as they recount their experience with 20 members of the Memphis Jewish community as they traveled around Israel on a mission.They talked about the feeling of the atmosphere and the “veil of normalcy” they witnessed, visiting a car graveyard in southern Israel, visiting the site of the Nova Festival, meeting and hearing harrowing stories from ZAKA Search and Rescue volunteers, touring the kibbutz where the heroic Rose Lubin lived, visiting the state-of-the-art Magen David Adom blood center, going to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, delivering cards and pottery made by Bornblum students, and more.

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sits down with Fourth Grader Sammie and Fifth Grader Graham, who placed in the Top 5 out of 254 entries for their team submission to ADI Negev's Make the Change Challenge for Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month! Sammie and Graham came up with the Helmet Pillow, designed to prevent Muscular Dystrophy head injuries due to falls.He is also joined by Samantha Schmidt—our Design Thinking teacher—and Nathan Collier—our Fourth and Fifth Grade Science and Math teacher—to talk about the Design Thinking process and how this project came to life.

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sits down with three Bornblum Fifth Graders—Sasha, Dylan, and Ezra—to talk about their experience meeting and talking with Dwania Kyles, one of the Memphis 13 and co-founder and president of the Memphis 13 Foundation. They talk about the importance of the Civil Rights Movement, showing empathy to others not like us, what they've learned in Fifth Grade Social Studies in regards to desegregation, and what we can do to make the world a kinder place. 

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sits down with artist Ephraim Urevbu who spearheaded the Naked Truth Art project, a body of work that consists of 150 pieces of art that explore race and reconciliation, telling untold stories, and connecting artists.They talk about Ephraim's journey from Nigeria to Memphis to pursue his life's purpose, how he developed the South Main Arts District, how music and the Civil Rights Movement influence his work, the therapeutic qualities of having an artistic practice to process trauma, and how healing starts with conversation.

On the day before her 23rd birthday, Noa Abitbul—a paramedic with Magen David Adom, Israel's national medical emergency service—hoped for a quiet 8-hour shift. Then, she heard the sirens.What followed was a 16-hour shift tending to wounded soldiers and civilians during the October 7 attacks in Israel.In this episode of the Spark, Dr. Weiss sat down with Noa Abitbul and Adi Ben Ezra—Senior Development Executive for American Friends of Magen David Adom—to talk about Noa's harrowing shift, navigating risky decisions, a touching moment between two soldiers in the back of Noa's ambulance, and how we can help support Magen David Adom.

In this episode of the Spark, Dr. Weiss sat down with our eight Eighth Graders to talk about their journey through Bornblum. Four of the Eighth Graders interviewed were part of the first Kindergarten class at Bornblum!They talked about the importance of the 7th and 8th grade years of Bornblum in strengthening a student's Jewish identity and combating anti-Semitism, cultivating a family amongst their class, preparing for challenges that high school brings, learning empathy, and more!

In this episode of the Spark, Dr. Weiss sat down with Alan Harkavy, who has spent nearly 10 years in Israel as a tour guide.They talked about the unification of people in Israel, the impact of volunteerism and Alan's own experience with volunteering at citrus farms in Israel, Alan's favorite places to give a tour, and what happened during a tour with 40 people when news of the October 7 attack happened. 

In this episode of the Spark, Dr. Weiss is honored to be joined by Elie Klein, Director of Development & Marketing for ADI Negev — Nahalat Eran.Founded in 2005, the 40-acre ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran Rehabilitation Village was named to honor the memory of Eran Almog, the late son and guiding light of founders Didi and Major General (Res.) Doron Almog. In addition to caring for and empowering more than 300 residents and special education students with severe disabilities, the expansive and progressive village pioneers cutting-edge therapeutic and recovery services for anyone touched by disability, cultivates empathy and acceptance through education, and provides individuals with disabilities with a framework for personal advancement, social integration and gainful employment. They talk about the harrowing yet beautiful history of ADI Negev, how the village works and the myriad of therapies offered, and how the village adapted to being 12 miles from the Gaza border after the October 7 attack.

In this episode of the Spark, Dr. Weiss is joined by Bornblum's Design Thinking experts Mary Beth Beeber and Samantha Schmidt.They talk about the 40% drop in empathy among young people, how Bornblum students expanded the chicken coop through a Design Thinking project, the creation of the Design Lab, how Design Thinking aligns with Judaism, and the Bornblum Middle Capstone Project.

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss is joined by five Bornblum faculty members—Rinat Kremer, Charna Schubert, Amy Goldkin, Michelle Johnson, and Stephanie Osher—to talk about their experience at the Rally for Israel in Washington, D.C.They talked about the importance of showing up in support of Israel, the impact of being around over 300,000 supporters, and the beauty of connection.

In this entertaining episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss is joined by Jessica Greenberg—Bornblum alum and daughter to Bornblum art teacher, Paula Greenberg—who is a self-proclaimed family historian who has researched the life of her fascinating grandfather.When presented with two bound volumes with hundreds of letters written by her grandfather between 1942 and 1946, Jessica began a journey of exploration to find out more about her grandfather who was stationed in Berlin, Germany, during World War II. She tells the story of how her grandfather got a bombed-out synagogue up and running and how he helped thousands of displaced families and started an orphanage after the Liberation.Along with her mother, she visited the places in Germany that her grandfather mentioned in his letters and self-published memoirs in order to learn even more about him. Now, she inspires young people to be their own family historians.

In this episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss had the honor of sitting down with Rabbi Charles Savenor, the Executive Director of Civic Spirit. This summer, three Bornblum faculty members—Michal Almalem, Stephanie Osher, and Cindy VanGunda—attended The Summer Institute to learn how to integrate civics into lessons. They talk about how teachers can use civics to teach students how to dialogue and debate, why Civic Spirit took teachers to see the musical Hamilton, why Charles became a rabbi, and ways to tell America's complex story. 

In this eye-opening episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss gathered four unique perspectives and Bornblum alumni from college campuses across the nation: Seth Taub, a freshman at Susquehanna University; Alex Fogelman, a senior at Tulane University; Sarah Boxer, a second-year law student at Harvard Law School; and Isaac Ostrow, a Student Life Associate at Columbia Barnard Hillel.Through candid conversations, they shared their personal journeys and insights into how the Israel-Hamas war and the increase in anti-Semitism have affected them on campus. These voices explored the challenges of discussing these sensitive topics on campus, navigating the difference between free speech and hate speech, and the emotional toll on individuals and communities. They also discussed the importance of dialogue, education, and empathy in promoting peace and understanding among diverse student populations.

In this powerful episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss sat down with Bornblum's Israeli faculty—Sapir Pinto, Amir Sharabi, Michal Almalem, Rinat Kremer, and Maya Sharabi—to hear updates about their family and friends who are in the midst of war in Israel.

On this week’s episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss is joined by Rabbi Akiva Weisinger—one of Bornblum Middle's Jewish Studies teachers—who runs a successful podcast and blog about Jewish identity called Misfit Torah.They talk about happiness involving Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, how he teaches Torah through a different lens each and every year, and his experience of professional development with the Rabbi Johnathan Sacks Legacy for experience on Torah-related curriculum.

On this week’s episode of The Spark, Dr. Weiss is joined by Julie Goldstein—Bornblum's new Director of Admissions & Parent Engagement. A lifelong Memphian, Julie has worked in the Memphis Jewish community in a variety of roles. Julie's wealth of experience and talent position her perfectly to help Bornblum continue to grow and thrive. They talk about the reason she enrolled her son into Bornblum, the unique events she's witnessed in Afterschool Activities, and the upcoming Imagination Station event.