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Read Rabbi Knopf’s Recent Posts
- 6 Years as a Rabbi: What I’ve Learned June 16, 2017
- Do You control Your Monuments, or Do They Control You? – Shavuot 2017 June 2, 2017
- Remarks from Richmond Rally Against Muslim Ban May 9, 2017
- 30 Days of Liberation 2017 April 14, 2017
- Illumin8 2016 December 27, 2016
Tag Archives: spirituality
6 Years as a Rabbi: What I’ve Learned
A few weeks ago, I completed my sixth year as a rabbi. As I look ahead to the next stage of my professional life, I find myself reflecting on the wisdom I’ve gained on my journey so far. Much like I did when … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections
Tagged education, faith, leadership, personal, philosophy, prayer, rabbis, religion, spirituality
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30 Days of Liberation 2017
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 faith, God, holidays, Jewish holidays, Liberation, Passover, personal, Pesah, religion, spirituality
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Illumin8 2016
1st Night – Playing with Fire During the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Holy Temple had been used for the worship of Greek gods. When the Maccabees captured it, they set about rededicating it for the service of the God … Continue reading
Posted in Illumin8, Reflections, Uncategorized
Tagged Chanukah, faith, Hanukkah, holidays, Jewish holidays, positive psychology, psychology, religion, spirituality
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From Great to Good: Rosh Hashanah Day 2, 5777
In the 19th Century, British philosopher Thomas Carlyle argued that history is mainly about the accomplishments of great people. Since then, many thinkers have pointed out the flaws in Carlyle’s “Great Men” theory, but, whether intentionally or not, history is … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged culture, current-events, faith, health, High Holidays, High Holy Days, Jewish holidays, Jewish thought, personal, religion, rosh hashanah, spirituality
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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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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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Illumin8: 7th Night – Spiritual But Not Religious?
Hanukkah, unlike many other Jewish holidays, is basically a one-note song. The one ritual required, aside from a few changes to the liturgy, is lighting candles. Sure, many of us exchange gifts, eat deep-fried treats and gamble chocolate coins … Continue reading
Posted in Illumin8, Reflections
Tagged assimilation, Chanukah, Hanukkah, holidays, Pew Study, religion, spirituality
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