Tag Archives: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Antisemitism bills shouldn’t stifle free speech

Posted on February 13, 2023 by mjknopf

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 →

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With Israel’s Democracy In Danger, We Must Not Silence Critics

Posted on January 23, 2023 by mjknopf

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 →

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A call for justice and peace in Israel and Palestine from an imam and a rabbi

Posted on May 23, 2021 by mjknopf

As our respective communities celebrate the Islamic Holy Day of Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) and the Jewish festival of Shavuot (which commemorates the receiving of the Torah), we call upon Muslims, Jews and people of conscience everywhere to denounce … Continue reading →

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Help Elect me to J Street Board!

Posted on November 22, 2020 by mjknopf

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 →

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Shavuot and Collective Responsibility

Posted on May 26, 2020 by mjknopf

It is telling that when Jewish faith is born, it is born in community. The revelation at Sinai, which we commemorate on the festival Shavuot (which begins this Thursday evening), is a national encounter with the Divine, a collective experience. … Continue reading →

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The Promises of Israel

Posted on October 12, 2019 by mjknopf

  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 →

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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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Ben Affleck, Batman and Us: A Spiritual Reflection on the Backlash

Posted on September 13, 2013 by mjknopf

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 →

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