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Read Rabbi Knopf’s Recent Posts
- Why Are You Here? — Rosh Hashanah 5783 September 28, 2022
- Shabbat for Shabbat’s Sake: Parashat Sh’lakh Lekha 5782 June 25, 2022
- Embrace the Wilderness: Parashat Beha’alotekha 5782 June 21, 2022
- Message to the Class of 2022 June 20, 2022
- Punk’s Not Dead, It’s Jewish: Shavuot 5782 June 7, 2022
Tag Archives: sedra
When the Devil Comes for You: Parashat Tazria 5782
Sometimes, live television affords us moments that could never have been predicted in advance and yet, as you watch them happen, you know you are witnessing something that everyone is going to be talking about for years to come. Last … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged academy awards, Chris rock, Denzel washington, Oscars, parashah, pop culture, religion, sedra, society, spirituality, Torah, torah portion, will smith, wisdom
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A Purpose-Driven Conservative Movement
A few days ago, I returned from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ)’s centennial celebration, entitled the “Conversation of the Century.” I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for the USCJ leadership and for the convention’s organizers, … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections, Sermons
Tagged Conservative Judaism, Denominations, God, Jewish People, Judaism, justice, parashah, religion, sedra, sermon, social justice, spirituality, theology, Torah, wisdom
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Camp Where the Clouds Are
In last week’s parashah, B’ha’alotkha, we learned that when our ancestors were travelling through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land, they knew where to make camp only when they saw God’s cloud. Where the cloud was, they … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections
Tagged current-events, ethics, growth, Jewish People, Judaism, parashah, religion, sedra, spirituality, tragedy
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The Power of Love – Rosh Ha-Shanah 2012
As most of you know, last month, Adira and I welcomed our first child into the world. In place of a sermon this morning, I wanted to invite you to listen in on a letter I wrote to my daughter. … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged God, growth, holidays, Judaism, love, nature of god, psychology, religion, rosh ha-shanah, rosh hashana, rosh hashanah, sedra, sermon, spirituality, theology, Torah
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Doubt and Certainty – Parashat Naso 2012
The Torah teaches that our great, great, great grandfather, Levi, had three sons. Their names were Gershon, Kehat, and Merari. All three sons, along with their children and grandchildren, ended up going into the family business: Being the caretakers of … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged God, growth, Judaism, nature of god, numbers, parashah, psychology, religion, sedra, sermon, spirituality, theology, Torah, wisdom
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The Observant Life: Parashat Emor 2012
As many of you know, over the past week I had the great privilege and joy of attending the annual Rabbinical Assembly convention, which this year was held in Atlanta. The Rabbinical Assembly, or the “RA” as it is known … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Conservative Judaism, Denominations, ethics, God, halakhah, Jewish law, Judaism, leviticus, parashah, rabbis, religion, religious thinkers, sedra, sermon, Torah
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Reflections on a Pilgrimage to Whitwell – Parashat Shemini/Yom Ha-Shoah 2012
This past Sunday and Monday, I accompanied a group of our teens and parents to Whitwell, Tennessee. It was a pilgrimage, of sorts, to visit the Whitwell Middle School Children’s Holocaust Memorial, the culmination of what has become known worldwide … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged current-events, ethics, God, holocaust, human-rights, Jewish People, Judaism, justice, paperclip project, paperclips, parashah, peace, politics, religion, sedra, sermon, social justice, society, theology, Torah, tragedy, war
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Born Again Judaism – Parashat Tzav/Shabbat Hagadol 2012
This Shabbat, the Shabbat before the onset of Passover, is commonly referred to as “Shabbat Ha-Gadol.” Shabbat Ha-Gadol means “The Great or Big Sabbath,” and it is given this name because on this Shabbat we announce the impending arrival of … Continue reading
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Tagged born again, Conversion, halakhah, Jewish home, Jewish law, Jewish People, Judaism, leviticus, meaningful conversation, parashah, religion, sedra, sermon, spiritual transformation, spirituality, theology, Torah, Who is a Jew, wisdom
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Where Do You Belong? – Parashat Ki Va-Yak’hel/P’kudei 2012
One of the questions I always ask my conversion students is “If your future great-grandchild was here today and asked you why you chose to become Jewish, what would you say?” I asked this to one of my students, Johnathan, … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Conservative Judaism, Conversion, God, growth, identity, Jewish home, Jewish People, Judaism, leviticus, religion, sedra, sermon, Torah, USY, Who is a Jew
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My Song and My Strength – Parashat Beshallah 2012
The splitting of the Sea of Reeds is, perhaps, the most exhilarating scene in the Torah: The Israelites, escaping Pharaoh’s cruel slavery, hastily flee from Egypt and camp at the banks of the Sea. Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened one … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged exodus, exodus story, growth, Judaism, miracles, nature of god, parashah, positive thinking, psychology, rabbinic midrash, red sea, religion, sea of reeds, sedra, sermon, spirituality, theology, Torah, torah portion, wisdom
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Rabbi Michael Rose Knopf 