By: Rabbi Dr. B. Barry Levy
The Akiva School Educational consultant
Akiva was founded in 1968 by Rabbi Dr. David Hartman and a group of parents to provide exciting, idealistic Jewish education. This tone was set by David August and strengthened by Dr. Howard Rosenblatt, the first administrators, and it remains a guiding principle.
Under Rosenblatt, Akiva moved from the YMHA to TMR’s Beth El Synagogue. This forced departure from a central Snowdon location – with pool, gym, park, and the Jewish Public Library’s children’s branch – caused ten percent of the students to leave. Many creative holiday and camping programs and language courses were developed during those years, but, when Rosenblatt resigned, no suitable long-term replacement could be found. A large debt, declining enrollment, and waning enthusiasm suggested the “Akiva experiment” was over.
In a temporary move to get Akiva back on its feet, a leadership team of Rabbi Dr. Barry Levy and Evelyn Cherniak directed it for two years, during which the pre-kindergarten was added and enrollment increased from 125 to 175. During the subsequent two years, Cherniak and Tova Shimon, both senior Akiva teachers, served as co-principals and led much creative curricular experimentation. But Shimon’s work with Tal Sela precluded fulltime administration, and her resignation prompted another international search. Rabbi Dr. Raymond Bloom of England served for three difficult years, during which it became apparent that Akiva would again have to move.
In 1988, Akiva moved to the school building of the Shaar HaShomayim, a warm, inviting synagogue in a large, greatly improved facility. Concomitantly, Cooki Levy became principal, the administrative leadership was restructured, the building was remodeled, and the curriculum was improved. Soon Akiva sustained its largest enrollment increase ever.
In 2002, Akiva accepted two incoming classes, and began the journey to doubling enrolment and increasing opportunities for students and parents by becoming a two-stream school. The decision to do this was in response to encouragement from many members of the Jewish community for increased access to the Akiva experience and, within the existing Akiva community, to share that experience with more families. That expansion was completed in 2009 with 350 students in grades K – 6 .
Akiva’s founders wanted all families, regardless of their place on the spectrum of Jewish observance, to be comfortable and able to grow Jewishly in Akiva’s respectful, stimulating environment. Their original vision remains fresh and will serve Akiva well into the twenty-first century. Home to a growing student population and, as always, an outstanding staff, Akiva is a premier Canadian school.
