The Spark

Bornblum Jewish Community School

The Spark, hosted by Bornblum Jewish Community School's Head of School Daniel R. Weiss, Ed.D., hopes to ignite inspiration in the Memphis Jewish community through storytelling, student involvement, and insights on Torah portions.

  1. 12/05/2025

    Memphis' Best Photographer from Bornblum with Eli Ostrow

    "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.

    29 min

  2. 11/13/2025

    The Special Needs Advocate Who Became a Jewish Storyteller with Benji Rosenzweig

    "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.

    58 min

  3. 11/06/2025

    The Enemy of Great with Alison Lebovitz

    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.

    42 min

  4. 09/19/2025

    The Spiritual Journey of Ramon Dennis

    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.

    23 min

  5. 08/22/2025

    Peter Himmelman: From Rock Star to Spiritual Leader

    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."

    58 min

  6. 08/15/2025

    The Serious Yet Silly Head of School with Dr. Daniel R. Weiss

    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.

    32 min

  7. 06/20/2025

    The magic of Mishnafari with Tami Hershkovitz

    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.

    25 min

  8. 05/16/2025

    Seeing the Sunset in Israel with Bornblum 8th Graders

    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.

    27 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

The Spark, hosted by Bornblum Jewish Community School's Head of School Daniel R. Weiss, Ed.D., hopes to ignite inspiration in the Memphis Jewish community through storytelling, student involvement, and insights on Torah portions.

Information

  • Creator
    Bornblum Jewish Community School
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Bornblum Jewish Community School
  • Show Website
    The Spark