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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
Tag Archives: High Holidays
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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One Community, One Campus: Rosh Hashanah Day 1, 5777
Of all the enemies our ancestors faced in antiquity, perhaps none were more fearsome than the Assyrians. Around 900 BCE, Assyria began to conquer much of what was at the time the known world. The empire Assyria built stretched from … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged American Judaism, Conservative Judaism, faith, High Holidays, High Holy Days, Jewish holidays, Judaism, religion, rosh hashanah, spirituality, synagogue, synagogues
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The Quantified Life – Yom Kippur 5775
Little Emily waits at the bus stop for her first day of 3rd Grade. She’s excited – to reunite with her friends, share some summer stories, and get to know her new teachers – but there is little unfamiliar about … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged data, God, growth, High Holidays, holidays, meaning of life, psychology, religion, sermon, social media, society
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A House of Prayer for All People – Rosh Hashanah Day 1 5775
In the Jewish tradition, each new year provides an opportunity to pause, reflect, and refocus. We consider the events of the year that has passed, celebrate our triumphs, and confront our failures. Looking … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Conversion, Denominations, halakhah, High Holidays, holidays, intermarriage, Jewish law, Jewish People, pew report, religion, rosh hashanah, synagogues, Who is a Jew
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No inspiration without perspiration: The key to meaningful Judaism
Just before the High Holy Days, a panic seizes many Jews. Those who rarely, if ever, step foot in synagogue the rest of the year feel compelled to attend worship on the Days of Awe. They come despite knowing that … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds, Reflections
Tagged Conservative Judaism, High Holidays, holidays, Jewish People, Judaism, rabbis, religion, spirituality, synagogues, Torah, wisdom
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Ben Affleck, Batman and Us: A Spiritual Reflection on the Backlash
When news broke last week that Ben Affleck was cast as Batman for the upcoming Man of Steel sequel, the fan reaction was swift, harsh, and pervasive. Within hours of the announcement — and months before production is slated to begin on … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds, Reflections
Tagged batman, Batman Ben Affleck, Ben Affleck, Ben Affleck As Batman, Ben Affleck Batman, Ben Affleck Batman Backlash, growth, High Holidays, holidays, Israel, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Judaism, man of steel, Postmodernism, psychology, Religion News, Talmud, Torah
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King, The High Holy Days, and the ‘Threat to Justice Everywhere’
Last Wednesday [August 28, 2013] was the fiftieth anniversary of the 1963 “March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom” and Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech. In the lead up to this day, many spoke about … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged ethics, freedom, High Holidays, High Holy Days, holidays, justice, Martin Luther King, responsibility, rosh hashanah, social justice, Torah
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