Search
-
Read Rabbi Knopf’s Recent Posts
- Crimes Against Humanity — Parashat Nasso 5783 June 4, 2023
- 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
Tag Archives: community
Help Elect me to J Street Board!
The past four years have been extremely difficult for those of us who cherish democracy and human rights: injustice has spread and authoritarianism has risen at home and abroad. This dark period also saw too many in the American Jewish … Continue reading
A New Prayer for the United States of America
Our God and God of our ancestors, bless and protect the United States of America and secure, strengthen, and advance the ideals and institutions that are its pride and its glory. Guide our leaders and officials to see Your image … Continue reading
Posted in Prayers, Uncategorized
Tagged community, culture, current-events, faith, God, history, human-rights, inclusion, justice, Liberation, liberty, morality, peace, philosophy, politics, prayer, religion, social justice, society, spirituality
1 Comment
Reflections on the COVID-19 Pandemic
I wrote the following statement along with my multi-faith partners on the Standing Together Steering Committee of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities: These are turbulent and anxious times. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended so many of our lives. We … Continue reading
Posted in Public Statements
Tagged community, coronavirus, covid-19, current-events, faith, health, inclusion, interfaith, justice, Muslim-Jewish relations, politics, religion, social justice, society
Leave a comment
The Promises of Israel
Sermon from Kol Nidrei — October 8, 2019 It is striking that we initiate Yom Kippur with Kol Nidrei, a liturgical poem that both highlights the promises we make and alludes to the fact that we have an unfortunate … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged American Judaism, community, culture, current-events, faith, history, human-rights, Israel, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, justice, middle-east, peace, personal, philosophy, politics, religion, social justice, society, spirituality, terrorism
1 Comment
The Heart Repair of Hanukkah: Blessing Each Other’s Light
Compared to many other Jewish holidays, Hanukkah is relatively simple. Sure, there are many lovely customs — latkes, dreidels, sufganiyot, gelt, and the like — but the essential practice of the festival is lighting the menorah each night. And, just … Continue reading
Posted in Illumin8, Public Statements, Reflections, Uncategorized
Tagged Chanukah, community, culture, faith, Hanukkah, Jewish holidays, religion, social justice, society, tikkun olam
Leave a comment
A Non-Partisan Jewish Voting Guide
1. Anti-Semitism, racism, hate, and bigotry. Does the candidate stand up against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of bigotry? Did s/he condemn the neo-Nazis and other white nationalists who marched with guns and torches in Charlottesville in 2017? Does s/he … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds, Reflections
Tagged community, culture, current-events, education, environment, faith, health, healthcare, history, human-rights, Israel, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, justice, medicine, middle-east, peace, politics, religion, science, security, social justice, society, theology
Leave a comment
Think Different: A Sermon on the Tower of Babel
Toward the end of Parashat Noah we encounter an intriguing but perplexing story: After the flood, Noah’s descendants multiplied and began to settle in the land of Shinar, otherwise known as Babylon. There, they decide to build a great city … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged community, culture, current-events, faith, parashah, politics, religion, society, spirituality
Leave a comment
Just Walk Beside Me
Some of my earliest and sweetest Jewish memories are of Junior Congregation at my childhood synagogue, Ahavath Achim in Atlanta. In those days, Junior Congregation was led by a kind and energetic woman named Janet Schatten. One of the first … Continue reading
The World is Yours, But it Doesn’t Belong to You
On June 14, 2018, I was honored to speak to the graduating class of Maggie Walker Governor’s School at their Baccalaureate ceremony. Here’s what I said: Class of 2018, Let me begin by expressing my gratitude for having been invited … Continue reading
Posted in Public Statements, Reflections, Sermons
Tagged community, current-events, gratitude, growth, history, human-rights, justice, peace, personal, politics, prayer, religion, social justice, society, spirituality, terrorism
Leave a comment
Inauguration Benediction
I was honored to have been invited to deliver the benediction at the Inauguration Ceremonies for Governor Ralph Northam, Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, and Attorney General Mark Herring at the Virginia State Capitol, January 13, 2018. Below is the text … Continue reading
Posted in Public Statements, Sermons, Uncategorized
Tagged American Judaism, community, culture, current-events, equality, ethics, faith, history, human-rights, inclusion, Judaism, justice, peace, politics, religion, social justice, society
Leave a comment
Rabbi Michael Rose Knopf 