Tag Archives: healthcare

‘We can be so much more when we live in love’: Two area faith leaders share thoughts of hope, help during COVID pandemic

Posted on May 25, 2020 by mjknopf

The following are thoughts that David Dwight, Lead Pastor of Hope Church in Richmond, and I shared with the Richmond Times-Dispatch on helping people through the difficulties of life in COVID-19. (The questions and responses have been edited for length … Continue reading →

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Leaning Into Love: A Jewish Message for Lent/Easter 2020

Posted on April 27, 2020 by mjknopf

I was honored to be invited to offer remarks at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Richmond, VA) during the Lenten season. Unfortunately, those plans were…altered…by the pandemic. But my message has been posted on YouTube. You can check it out here:

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Wearing a face mask? You’re doing a mitzvah. Make a brachah!

Posted on April 14, 2020 by mjknopf

Among the Jewish tradition’s most cherished values is the sanctity of human life. With a few notable exceptions, one must not endanger their life in order to fulfill a religious obligation. And one must violate even the most significant commandments … Continue reading →

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What God Needs Now: A Brief Pandemic Passover Reflection

Posted on April 12, 2020 by mjknopf

“Once, Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai was traveling out of Jerusalem. Rabbi Yehoshua was walking behind him and saw the Temple in ruins. He said, ‘Alas for us, for this place which lies in ruins was where the people Israel atoned … Continue reading →

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Coronavirus is our Amalek. The Torah’s lesson is clear: Protect the vulnerable.

Posted on March 9, 2020 by mjknopf

As Jewish communities gather to celebrate the Purim holiday under the shadow of a global pandemic, it is worth heeding a piece of wisdom embedded in one of the scriptures most closely associated with the holiday. On the Sabbath before … Continue reading →

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A Non-Partisan Jewish Voting Guide

Posted on December 3, 2018 by mjknopf

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 →

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In The Face of Injustice, ‘Neutrality Is Not a Morally Acceptable Option’

Posted on March 30, 2018 by mjknopf

Passover, the Jewish holiday commemorating the enslavement and liberation of the Children of Israel from Egypt, is right around the corner. In just a few days, Jews everywhere will gather not only to recall the story of the Exodus but … Continue reading →

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Virginia House of Delegates Invocation, February 23, 2018

Posted on February 23, 2018 by mjknopf

Mekor ha-hayyim, somkeh noflim, matir asurim— Champion of the downtrodden, we ask that, today and every day, You show our leaders how to walk Your paths: Enable them to see Your image in all people, eradicating all forms of bigotry … Continue reading →

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