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Read Rabbi Knopf’s Recent Posts
- A New Prayer for the United States of America July 15, 2020
- Statement of Moral Outrage at Police Violence and Systemic Racism July 9, 2020
- Justice Demands RISC June 15, 2020
- Message to the Class of 2020 June 14, 2020
- Richmond’s Wailing Wall June 12, 2020
Tag Archives: Judaism
The New Jerusalem
This sermon was originally delivered at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia on April 3, 2019. At the center of the Jewish Sabbath liturgy is a question. The Jewish worshipper asks God: “מתי תמלך בציון, when will You reign … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Jerusalem, Judaism, justice, peace, religion, social justice, society
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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
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Statement about the President’s Islamophobic Tweets
Tuesday morning, President Trump retweeted several outrageous (and, reports indicate, phony) Islamophobic videos from a fringe British ultranationalist group. The outburst represents a continuation of a disturbing pattern. President Trump routinely targets and vilifies Muslims. The pattern seems to intensify … Continue reading
Posted in Public Statements, Reflections
Tagged American Judaism, community, equality, ethics, fear, God, human-rights, Islam, Islamophobia, Jewish thought, Judaism, justice, leadership, middle-east, Muslim-Jewish relations, peace, politics, race, racism, religion, social justice, theology, Torah, Trump
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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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Remarks at 2016 Community Eid Dinner
As-Salam-u-Alaikum and Eid Mubarak. Adira joins me in expressing what an honor it is to be with you this evening. I am deeply grateful to the organizers for their generous invitation, for all their holy work on behalf of the … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged ethics, God, holidays, interfaith, Jewish holidays, Jewish People, Judaism, justice, nature of god, peace, politics, rabbis, religion, social justice, society, Tisha B'Av, Torah, wisdom
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Moses for President
As the U.S. presidential primary process slouches toward what will doubtlessly be a contested convention season this summer, I find myself not infrequently wondering what guidance the Jewish tradition would have for selecting our next leader. I have already written … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds
Tagged ethics, holidays, Judaism, justice, Moses, Passover, Pesah, politics, religion, social justice, society, Torah, wisdom
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30 Days of Liberation – 2016
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. I hope you find these … Continue reading
Posted in 30 Days of Liberation, Reflections
Tagged ethics, God, growth, holidays, Jewish People, Judaism, Passover, Pesah, religion, social justice, society, spirituality, theology, Torah, wisdom
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The Jewish Case Against Donald Trump
A few months ago, a New Jersey rabbi had a dream of rallying his colleagues in support of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump. Rabbi Bernhard Rosenberg reportedly built a Facebook page called “Rabbis for Trump,” hoping it would attract like-minded rabbis. … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds, Reflections
Tagged Judaism, justice, politics, social justice, theology, Torah, Trump, wisdom
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I Fell in Love With David Bowie and Judaism Together, for Complementary Reasons
Like millions of others, I was shocked and devastated to hear of David Bowie’s tragic and untimely death on Monday. But as is so frequently the case, we only reflect on what someone meant to us, on what they taught … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds
Tagged david bowie, growth, Judaism, religion, Torah, wisdom
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Converting to Judaism Doesn’t Have to be So Hard
Jewish communities around the world celebrated the festival of Shavuot over the weekend, commemorating the Jewish people receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. During this holiday, it is customary to chant from the biblical Book of Ruth, at least in … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged assimilation, Conversion, Jewish People, Judaism, rabbis, ruth, Talmud, Torah
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