​ Rabbi Dr. Seth Farber “אחר הדברים האלה— After these things.” In Parshat Vayera, this phrase appears both immediately prior to the Akeida – the binding of Isaac – and immediately following it, introducing a list of descendants belonging to Abraham’s brother, Nachor. Structurally, this list brings literary closure to Abraham’s journey. Chapter 12 begins with the command lech lecha, asking Abraham to cut himself off from his past, while chapter 22 uses that exact phrase to ask him to surrender his future. Just as Nachor’s family is mentioned right before the first command, they reappear immediately after the second. Yet classical commentators look beyond literary symmetry to understand what this news meant to an exhausted Abraham in the aftermath of crisis. According to Rashi (citing Bereshit Rabbah), Abraham returned from Mount Moriah in a state of deep reflection and second-guessing. He agonized over what might have been; had Isaac been slain, he wo...

Rabbi Asher Lopatin The sainted Rav Isaiah Wohlgemuth zt”l is well remembered for teaching Beurei HaTefillah to generations of Maimonides students. He is also remembered for his ability to tell stories from the Gemara with drama, flair, and depth, and for his spoonerisms (chotato pips, for example). However, one memory stands out for me because it was so outside his seeming religious identity: he appeared to be fluent in Latin. Not that any of us were fluent in Latin, but it sounded like he could really speak it flawlessly – and sounded even better than our regular Latin teacher, Mr. Miller. What was this incredible rabbi, steeped in the Torah of the Rav zt”l and dedicated wholly to teaching the next generation – including his beloved family – to hold on to Torah with love and fervor, doing speaking – and knowing – Latin? The same question can be asked about Avram Avinu in this week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, when he not only frees his nephew Lot, but...

Rabbi Oren Simhi Middle and Upper School Limudei Kodesh Teacher   In addition to teaching Talmud and Chumash, Rabbi Simhi serves as rabbi of Beit Sasson – The Sephardic Congregation of Newton. He was chosen by our students as the 2024-25 recipient of the Class of 1977 Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence. Rabbi Simhi is the proud father of two Maimo students and two alumni.   We are entering an important period of the school year, a time of tests, assignments, and academic challenges. Every student wants to succeed and see the fruits of their hard work, while our educators work hard to help every student reach their full potential. But during this busy period, it is worth asking an important question: What is the best way to succeed? Parshat Noach presents us with two great figures, Noah and Moshe Rabbeinu, and teaches us a profound lesson about the c...

Kaylee Frager Elementary School Limudei Kodesh Teacher   Mrs. Kaylee Frager teaches limudei kodesh in second grade and fourth grade. She is beginning her tenth year as a member of the Maimonides School faculty.   As we begin the Torah anew with Parshat Bereishit, we are reminded that every beginning holds endless possibilities. The creation of humanity b’tzelem Elokim —in the image of Hashem —teaches us that every person has unique strengths, purpose, and potential. This is fundamental to Jewish education, and at the heart of our mission at Maimonides School. As teachers, our role goes far beyond teaching Tefillah, Chumash, Navi, Parsha, Mishnah, and Talmud . From our youngest two-year-olds in the Early Childhood Center to our incredible Upper School students, we strive to nurture each child’s curiosity, strengthen their connection to Torah, and help ...

Rabbi Yaakov Beker Middle School Limudei Kodesh Teacher   In addition to teaching Chumash and Talmud, Rabbi Beker serves as our Sixth Grade Rebbe. He was chosen by the students as the 2024 recipient of the Class of 1977 Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence.   ​יַעֲרֹ֤ף כַּמָּטָר֙ לִקְחִ֔י תִּזַּ֥ל כַּטַּ֖ל אִמְרָתִ֑י (דברים ל"ב ב')​ Let my teaching flow like rainfall, let my saying drip like dew (Devarim 32:2) In this pasuk, Moshe is requesting that his teachings, the Torah, should permeate the Jewish people like flowing rain and dripping dew. Rashi sheds some light on what Moshe had in mind with these similes. Regarding rain, he explains that Torah brings life to the world, just as rain does. Yet despite rain’s life-giving qualities, we must admit that we are not always thrilled when it rains. (Just speak to our M-Cat student-athletes for elaboratio...

Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Jaffe Dean of Judaic Studies   Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Jaffe is Dean of Judaic Studies, Director of Tanach, and an Upper School Judaic Studies teacher, and also leads the Maimonides Kehillah. He is the proud father of a recent alumnus and three Maimonides students. There are many reasons why our beloved school is called Maimonides.   Chiefly because Maimonides, Rambam, was one of the Chachmei HaMesorah, the great Torah scholars who passed down our halacha and tradition as part of the chain that runs from Sinai until today. Possibly because Maimonides was a physician, a long-time aspiration for our students and alumni, immortalized in our athletic teams’ mascot, the M-Cat. And also because Maimonides' worldview is one that resonated deeply with our illustrious founder, the Rav zt"l, and with our community until this day. Earlier this w...

Rabbi Yaakov Green (’98) Head of School   Rabbi Yaakov Green ('98) is the proud father of four Maimonides students and one recent alumna. He is beginning his fifth year as Maimo's Head of School. Ever since I watched Rabbi Dov Huff teach a new song to our eighth graders at our weekly kumsitz several years ago, there is a phrase in this week’s parsha that I have loved: כִּי קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד, בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתו ֹ For the matter is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it. Moshe is telling the Jewish people that Torah, meaning, growth, and a relationship with G-d are not impossibly distant. לא בשמים היא , they are not somewhere up in heaven. ולא מעבר לים היא , they are not waiting for us on the other side of the sea. They are, in fact, already close. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l pointed out that we often have exactly the opposite instinct. We imagine that real spirituality must be found somewhere else, someplace more exotic, more...