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Read Rabbi Knopf’s Recent Posts
- 6 Years as a Rabbi: What I’ve Learned June 16, 2017
- Do You control Your Monuments, or Do They Control You? – Shavuot 2017 June 2, 2017
- Remarks from Richmond Rally Against Muslim Ban May 9, 2017
- 30 Days of Liberation 2017 April 14, 2017
- Illumin8 2016 December 27, 2016
Author Archives: mjknopf
6 Years as a Rabbi: What I’ve Learned
A few weeks ago, I completed my sixth year as a rabbi. As I look ahead to the next stage of my professional life, I find myself reflecting on the wisdom I’ve gained on my journey so far. Much like I did when … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections
Tagged education, faith, leadership, personal, philosophy, prayer, rabbis, religion, spirituality
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Do You control Your Monuments, or Do They Control You? – Shavuot 2017
Recently, the City of New Orleans removed its Confederate monuments, prompting both celebrations and protests. The actions and their aftermath reverberated across the country and, not surprisingly, into Virginia. Protests and counter-protests erupted – violently – in Charlottesville a couple … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged civil war, confederate monuments, culture, current-events, education, history, ioldatry, politics, race, racism, religion, social justice, society, terrorism
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Remarks from Richmond Rally Against Muslim Ban
Video of these remarks can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/jewishaction.us/videos/705614492975135/ Video of all speeches can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/moveon/videos/10154390220140493/ In 1790, our first president, George Washington, sent a letter to the Jewish community in Newport, Rhode Island, pledging that “the government of the … Continue reading
Posted in Public Statements, Reflections
Tagged current-events, history, human-rights, justice, peace, politics, refugee crisis, refugees, religion, security, social justice, society, terrorism
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30 Days of Liberation 2017
The Talmud teaches that, during the 30 days before Passover, we should learn about matters related to the holiday. In that spirit, I composed a brief message for each of the previous 30 days, drawing from the wisdom Passover imparts. I hope you find these … Continue reading
Posted in 30 Days of Liberation, Reflections
Tagged faith, God, holidays, Jewish holidays, Liberation, Passover, personal, Pesah, religion, spirituality
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Illumin8 2016
1st Night – Playing with Fire During the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Holy Temple had been used for the worship of Greek gods. When the Maccabees captured it, they set about rededicating it for the service of the God … Continue reading
Posted in Illumin8, Reflections, Uncategorized
Tagged Chanukah, faith, Hanukkah, holidays, Jewish holidays, positive psychology, psychology, religion, spirituality
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Remarks at Interfaith Standing Together Press Conference
It is an honor to stand in this sanctuary surrounded by colleagues and friends representing so many brother and sister faith traditions. To my mind, this synagogue is the perfect place for us to stand together against hate and deliver … Continue reading
Posted in Public Statements, Uncategorized
Tagged current-events, faith, history, peace, politics, religion, social justice, society
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From Great to Good: Rosh Hashanah Day 2, 5777
In the 19th Century, British philosopher Thomas Carlyle argued that history is mainly about the accomplishments of great people. Since then, many thinkers have pointed out the flaws in Carlyle’s “Great Men” theory, but, whether intentionally or not, history is … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged culture, current-events, faith, health, High Holidays, High Holy Days, Jewish holidays, Jewish thought, personal, religion, rosh hashanah, spirituality
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