Tag Archives: racism

Don’t Hate One Another More Than Necessary

Posted on March 10, 2023 by mjknopf

These remarks were originally shared a speech to Germanna Community College in Fredericksburg, VA, on March 8, 2023. Last year, I came and spoke to the faculty and administration about rising antisemitism in America and around the world; what it … Continue reading →

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How to topple tyranny? Simple. Just never give up.

Posted on December 27, 2020 by mjknopf

If it’s been good for anything at all, 2020 has been a year for seeing things more clearly. Living in Richmond, Virginia, the former capital of the Confederacy, I’ve seen how a lie can normalize oppression. A lie can even … Continue reading →

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The Jewish Urgency of this Moment

Posted on October 1, 2020 by mjknopf

Pictured: Rabbi Michael Knopf giving the introduction at Jewish Americans for Biden Event in Richmond on October 1, 2020, featuring Mr. Doug Emhoff, former Governor Terry McAuliffe, and Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (photo credit: Kristin Gorin) Good morning. It is good … Continue reading →

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Statement of Moral Outrage at Police Violence and Systemic Racism

Posted on July 9, 2020 by mjknopf

On June 30, 2020, a group of about 60 Richmond-area clergy representing many faiths, now known as Clergy Action RVA, gathered at Marcus David Peters Circle (formerly known as the Robert E. Lee Monument) to demand an end to police … Continue reading →

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Justice Demands RISC

Posted on June 15, 2020 by mjknopf

On June 15, 2020, I was asked to give closing remarks at the (virtual) annual gathering for RISC — Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities — an organization of congregations from throughout the Richmond region working to solve critical community … Continue reading →

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Richmond’s Wailing Wall

Posted on June 12, 2020 by mjknopf

The recent wave of anti-racism protests have produced at least one tangible outcome: Sometime soon, Richmond’s Confederate monuments will be removed. As I have argued before, this move is both welcome and long overdue.  However, as plans are drawn for … Continue reading →

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A History Lesson

Posted on June 11, 2020 by mjknopf

During the first weekend of demonstrations, Richmonders joined in the nationwide protests over police brutality towards African Americans, launched in response to the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer. The mostly peaceful … Continue reading →

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A Statement on George Floyd’s Murder and Systemic Racial Injustice

Posted on June 2, 2020 by mjknopf

Like many of you, I have been heartbroken and angry since George Floyd’s murder on May 25. Central to Jewish tradition is the notion that every human being is created in God’s image, that we are all equal in value … Continue reading →

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Celebrating Jewish Culture in Troubled Times

Posted on November 7, 2019 by mjknopf

Keynote address at University of Mary Washington’s Jewish Cultural Celebration (November 6, 2019) Good evening. It is such an honor and a joy to be with you this evening for this celebration of Jewish Culture. It is especially meaningful to … Continue reading →

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Bad Faith Broke Us. Only Good Faith Can Fix Us.

Posted on October 4, 2019 by mjknopf

Sermon for Rosh Hashanah Day 25780 — October 1, 2019 Just over 400 years ago, in August 1619, a ship called The White Lion landed at Point Comfort, now Fort Monroe, in Hampton, about 60 miles downriver from us here … Continue reading →

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