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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: Jewish holidays
‘Earn This’: Last Day of Passover 5782
Over the course of the past year or so, I’ve committed to filling in what I call my “pop culture blindspots,” making a point to watch movies with a significant cultural footprint that I, for various reasons, haven’t seen. One … Continue reading
Shavuot and Collective Responsibility
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
What God Needs Now: A Brief Pandemic Passover Reflection
“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
Posted in Reflections, Sermons
Tagged coronavirus, covid-19, current-events, faith, health, healthcare, Jewish holidays, love, Passover, personal, religion, society, spirituality
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A Eulogy for Helen Zimm (z”l)
Today, I had the painful honor of burying my dear friend and teacher, Helen Zimm. The experience was made even more painful by the fact that most of Helen’s family and virtually all of her community were not able to … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged coronavirus, covid-19, current-events, faith, history, holocaust, hope, Jewish holidays, Jewish People, jewish state, love, Passover, personal, religion, society, spirituality, women
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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
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30 Days of Liberation 2018
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. … Continue reading
Posted in 30 Days of Liberation, Reflections
Tagged culture, faith, history, Jewish holidays, Passover, Pesah, politics, religion, society, spirituality
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In The Face of Injustice, ‘Neutrality Is Not a Morally Acceptable Option’
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
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds
Tagged current-events, faith, healthcare, history, Jewish holidays, justice, Money, Passover, peace, Pesah, politics, religion, social justice, society, Trump
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Purim and the Responsibilities of Privilege
When Queen Esther contemplated whether to approach the King of Persia, uninvited, to ask that the Jews be spared, the stakes were high. Stay silent, and her people would be slaughtered. Speak up, and risk death herself at the hands … Continue reading
Posted in Purim Prep, Reflections
Tagged civil disobedience, faith, history, Jewish holidays, politics, protest, purim, religion, social justice, society
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Three Essentials to Pack for Your Journey – Kol Nidrei 2017
“Birth is a beginning/ and death a destination./ And life is a journey.” The notion that our lives are a journey, and that we, in our fallibility, might have gone off course, haunts us each Yom Kippur. On eight separate … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged culture, faith, health, history, Jewish holidays, parents, personal, prayer, religion, spirituality, wisdom, Yom Kippur
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After Charlottesville, Be a Light – Rosh Hashanah 2017
JJ Grey, a contemporary rock and blues singer, once recalled a lesson his grandmother taught him: “you can’t fight darkness, so be a light.” Last month, darkness came to Virginia: An unholy alliance of white supremacists marched on Charlottesville. Just … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged current-events, history, holocaust, Jewish holidays, Jewish thought, justice, peace, philosophy, politics, religion, resistance, rosh hashanah, social justice, society, Trump
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Rabbi Michael Rose Knopf 