Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

On Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate Creation. We recognize that a higher power in the universe created the world "ex nihilo," or "out of nothing." It is a time we can step back and say in the words of the Psalmist "Ma Rabu Ma'asecha," or "how magnificent is Your work and Your creation."

From time immemorial, human beings have had that similar innate desire to create, to imagine, and to innovate. Humankind has created beautiful works of art, magnificent temples and cathedrals, and remarkable cities. We are separated from other living beings because we have been given the gift of creativity and the ability to imagine not just the world as it is, but the world as it could be. In the words of Albert Einstein, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."

At the Jewish Academy of Orlando we are focusing our attention on this very same creative process-thinking, imagining, innovating, problem-solving and creating. This year, we have introduced a new feature to our school's already stellar curriculum. We have created a space for the creative process to take shape. We are calling it our "Innovation Lab."

Alan Rusonik, Head of School

At the Jewish Academy of Orlando, we believe that creativity blossoms in each child in unique ways. With the launch of our Innovation Lab, parents will see great innovations and ideas come home from their little Einsteins and Edisons. The Innovation Lab is part of the "STEAM"-focused curriculum at the Jewish Academy. STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. But it is much more. Beginning in kindergarten, the Innovation Lab will offer experiences in problem-solving, coding and electronics, graphic and fashion design, video and music editing and architecture to name just a few. The Innovation Lab is a space for the students at the Jewish Academy of Orlando to create and dream!

As we begin a new year, let it be a year full of wonder! Let us celebrate creativity, ingenuity and innovation! May the coming year be a year of imagination where we can look at our work and say: "How magnificent is our work and our creation!"

Dr. Jordan Steinberg, Board President

Alan Rusonik, Head of School