Tag Archives: spirituality

When the Party’s Over — Shemini Atzeret 5783

Posted on October 20, 2022 by mjknopf

My friend and drumming teacher, Chris Parker, once taught me a lesson about music that has always stayed with me: “Music,” he said, “is sound organized in time.” In other words, sound without time is just noise. Time without sound … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The World Was Created for You — Parashat Ha-Azinu 5783

Posted on October 8, 2022 by mjknopf

The 19th century hasidic master Reb Simcha Bunim of Peshischa famously taught that a person should always carry a note in each of their pockets. On one should be written the biblical verse, “anokhi afar va-efer / I am dust … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are You a Hero? — Yom Kippur 5783

Posted on October 6, 2022 by mjknopf

By now, you’ve heard quite a bit about my sabbatical; perhaps more than you wanted to know. Apologies if that’s the case.  On Rosh Hashanah, I talked about how I tried to embrace the spirit of Shabbat by refraining from … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Who Are You? — Kol Nidrei 5783

Posted on October 6, 2022 by mjknopf

During my sabbatical this summer, I began finally putting pen to paper on a project that I’d been dreaming about for some time – a series of comic books based on the weekly Torah portion, with at least one volume … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shabbat for Shabbat’s Sake: Parashat Sh’lakh Lekha 5782

Posted on June 25, 2022 by mjknopf

I didn’t grow up in a sabbath-observant home. The first time I encountered traditional Shabbat observance was during my first summer at Camp Ramah in New England, when I was about 11 years old. And if I’m being totally honest, … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Embrace the Wilderness: Parashat Beha’alotekha 5782

Posted on June 21, 2022 by mjknopf

One of the central tensions of the Book of Numbers is perfectly expressed by the two very different names by which it is known. In English, of course, we call it Numbers, a name derived from the book’s opening narrative … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Up Close and Far Away: Parashat Bo 5782

Posted on January 10, 2022 by mjknopf

Whenever I talk to or run into someone I haven’t spoken to or seen in a while, and they say something like, “I love seeing pictures of your family on social media; your kids always look so happy and well-behaved. … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Time to Live: Parashat Va-Yeshev 5782

Posted on November 28, 2021 by mjknopf

In the grand scheme of things, our lives are extremely short. On average, most of us will only live to 75 or 80. If we’re lucky, maybe we will live 120 joyful years. Perhaps modern medicine will help us to … Continue reading →

Posted in Sermons | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

To Be, or Not To Be: Sukkot 5782

Posted on September 26, 2021 by mjknopf

When I first became a father, I felt the predictable mix of joy, excitement, and fear. Other fathers had told me to expect all of those feelings, particularly the fear. Babies are fragile and needy and apparently don’t come with … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment