Tag Archives: society

Message to the Class of 2022

Posted on June 20, 2022 by mjknopf

Delivered at Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School Baccalaureate Ceremony, June 16, 2022 Let me begin by expressing my gratitude for having been invited here this evening. It is such an honor to be with you to celebrate this milestone with … Continue reading →

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Punk’s Not Dead, It’s Jewish: Shavuot 5782

Posted on June 7, 2022 by mjknopf

I couldn’t be more excited for the new FX/Hulu miniseries Pistol, which promises to tell the true story of one of my favorite bands, The Sex Pistols. I first discovered The Pistols as a teen, when my natural disposition toward … Continue reading →

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‘Earn This’: Last Day of Passover 5782

Posted on April 24, 2022 by mjknopf

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 →

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When the Devil Comes for You: Parashat Tazria 5782

Posted on April 2, 2022 by mjknopf

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 →

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Having a Heart: Parashat Teztaveh 5782

Posted on February 13, 2022 by mjknopf

As far as I can tell, it was contemporary author Elizabeth Stone who first said that having a child is to forever “have your heart go walking around outside your body.” It’s since become something of a cliche, a quote … Continue reading →

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What Oneness Demands of Us

Posted on January 31, 2022 by mjknopf

The following remarks were delivered at Trinity Episcopal School in Richmond, Virginia on Monday, January 31, 2022. Good morning, Trinity. It’s such an honor to be with you today, and I’m deeply grateful for the invitation and opportunity to speak … Continue reading →

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And Out Come the Wolves: Parashat Va-Yehi 5782

Posted on December 18, 2021 by mjknopf

**Trigger warning: sexual assault and violence** It’s altogether fitting that we read Parashat Va-Yehi, the last portion in the Book of Genesis, this Shabbat, as we approach the end of the secular year. Endings are always meaningful opportunities to reflect … Continue reading →

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Blessings Are Not a Finite Resource: Parashat Toldot 5782

Posted on November 6, 2021 by mjknopf

The first half of the 20th century heralded a building boom of public swimming pools in the US. These were not dinky little DIY neighborhood projects. Rather, communities all over the country were building grand, resort-style, pools, the kind that … Continue reading →

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Introducing ‘No Time for Neutrality’

Posted on October 8, 2021 by mjknopf

I am excited to announce the publication of my latest book, No Time for Neutrality: American Rabbinic Voices from an Era of Upheaval! It is available for purchase on Amazon. The book is a compilation of the best rabbinic writings from the … Continue reading →

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Let’s Talk About How We Talk: Yom Kippur 5782

Posted on September 20, 2021 by mjknopf

One of the noteworthy features of our Yom Kippur liturgy is that the viddui, the list of transgressions we confess ten times over the course of this holy day, is dominated by sins of communication. Al het sh’hatanu b’vitu’i s’fatayim, … Continue reading →

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