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Read Rabbi Knopf’s Recent Posts
- A Temple For All – Parashat Ki Tissa 5783 March 12, 2023
- Don’t Hate One Another More Than Necessary March 10, 2023
- Antisemitism bills shouldn’t stifle free speech February 13, 2023
- With Israel’s Democracy In Danger, We Must Not Silence Critics January 23, 2023
- Saving Democracy is a Jewish Obligation November 1, 2022
Author Archives: mjknopf
A Temple For All – Parashat Ki Tissa 5783
We usually think about human progress as the story of individuals – usually white men, if we’re being honest – that create major breakthroughs or innovations that revolutionize the way the world works: think of Edison and the light bulb, … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged exodus, Judaism, spirituality, synagogue, synagogues, temple, Torah
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Don’t Hate One Another More Than Necessary
These remarks were originally shared a speech to Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg, VA, on March 8, 2023. Last year, I came and spoke to the faculty and administration about rising antisemitism in America and around the world; what it … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged anti-semitism, antisemitism, culture, current-events, immigration, Judaism, justice, LGBTQ+, politics, racism, religion, society, Torah
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Antisemitism bills shouldn’t stifle free speech
Antisemitism is a serious and growing problem in the United States. Attacks on American Jews and Jewish communal institutions are at an all-time high, and a new survey finds that “classical fascist” antisemitic views, pernicious conspiracy theories about Jews as a powerful conspiratorial … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds, Public Statements
Tagged anti-semitism, antisemitism, BDS, Israel, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Judaism, justice, politics, social justice, society, Torah
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With Israel’s Democracy In Danger, We Must Not Silence Critics
As a new far-right government takes power in Israel, a debate among Jewish Americans has erupted about what it means to be “pro-Israel.” This is not new. Even before the First Zionist Congress convened over 120 years ago, there were … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds
Tagged AIPAC, American Judaism, Israel, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Judaism, justice, politics, social justice, society, wisdom, Zionism
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Saving Democracy is a Jewish Obligation
Saying that democracy itself is on the ballot has become a cliche for a reason. Experts widely agree that threats to democracy in the U.S. and around the world are rising, including the specter of political violence and election subversion … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds
Tagged Democracy, Judaism, justice, politics, religion, social justice, Torah, wisdom
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When the Party’s Over — Shemini Atzeret 5783
My friend and drumming teacher, Chris Parker, once taught me a lesson about music that has always stayed with me: “Music,” he said, “is sound organized in time.” In other words, sound without time is just noise. Time without sound … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged grief, High Holidays, High Holy Days, holidays, Judaism, music, religion, Shemini Atzeret, spirituality, Sukkot, Torah, wisdom, yizkor
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The World Was Created for You — Parashat Ha-Azinu 5783
The 19th century hasidic master Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa famously taught that a person should always carry a note in each of their pockets. On one should be written the biblical verse, “anokhi afar va-efer / I am dust … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged ethics, God, human dignity, human-rights, Judaism, justice, parashah, religion, social justice, society, spirituality, Torah, torah portion, wisdom
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Are You a Hero? — Yom Kippur 5783
By now, you’ve heard quite a bit about my sabbatical; perhaps more than you wanted to know. Apologies if that’s the case. On Rosh Hashanah, I talked about how I tried to embrace the spirit of Shabbat by refraining from … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged david bowie, High Holidays, High Holy Days, holidays, Judaism, religion, society, spirituality, superheroes, Torah, wisdom, Yom Kippur
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Who Are You? — Kol Nidrei 5783
During my sabbatical this summer, I began finally putting pen to paper on a project that I’d been dreaming about for some time – a series of comic books based on the weekly Torah portion, with at least one volume … Continue reading
Why Are You Here? — Rosh Hashanah 5783
As a people that is well over three thousand years old, Jews have collectively lived through many eras of upheaval. We have endured revolutions and conquests; crusades, inquisitions and expulsions; the rise and fall of empires; civil wars and world … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged High Holidays, High Holy Days, holidays, Judaism, justice, politics, religion, rosh ha-shanah, rosh hashana, rosh hashanah, social justice, society, Torah
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Rabbi Michael Rose Knopf 