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Read Rabbi Knopf’s Recent Posts
- A Temple For All – Parashat Ki Tissa 5783 March 12, 2023
- Don’t Hate One Another More Than Necessary March 10, 2023
- Antisemitism bills shouldn’t stifle free speech February 13, 2023
- With Israel’s Democracy In Danger, We Must Not Silence Critics January 23, 2023
- Saving Democracy is a Jewish Obligation November 1, 2022
Tag Archives: synagogues
A Temple For All – Parashat Ki Tissa 5783
We usually think about human progress as the story of individuals – usually white men, if we’re being honest – that create major breakthroughs or innovations that revolutionize the way the world works: think of Edison and the light bulb, … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged exodus, Judaism, spirituality, synagogue, synagogues, temple, Torah
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What’s Driving Jews Away From Synagogues? Not Dues, but ‘Membership’
It is no secret that the traditional synagogue model is showing signs of age: Over the past two decades, membership has declined across the United States, forcing many synagogues to merge and even to close for good. There has been … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds
Tagged american jews, American Judaism, faith, religion, society, spirituality, synagogue, synagogues
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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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Where They Are – Rosh Hashanah Day 1 5776/2015
What would it look like for synagogues to truly meet people where they are? Lessons from God and Wall Drug. Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged community, Conservative Judaism, Conversion, Jewish holidays, outreach, rosh hashanah, synagogues
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Installation Address
On Saturday, October 25th, I was formally installed as the Rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, becoming only the 6th person in the Temple’s 83 year history to hold that office. Below are the remarks I shared during the service: … Continue reading
Recipe for a Renaissance – Kol Nidrei 5774
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Conservative Judaism, growth, holidays, Judaism, religion, sermon, social justice, synagogues, Torah, wisdom, Yom Kippur
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The Internal Israel War – Rosh Hashanah Day 2 5775
There is no way to sugarcoat it: this was an extremely long and brutal summer for the State of Israel. After three young Israeli boys were kidnapped by terrorists linked to Hamas and then … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged holidays, Israel, Jewish People, Judaism, peace, politics, rabbis, religion, religious thinkers, rosh hashanah, sermon, social justice, synagogues, Torah, war, wisdom
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A House of Prayer for All People – Rosh Hashanah Day 1 5775
In the Jewish tradition, each new year provides an opportunity to pause, reflect, and refocus. We consider the events of the year that has passed, celebrate our triumphs, and confront our failures. Looking … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged Conversion, Denominations, halakhah, High Holidays, holidays, intermarriage, Jewish law, Jewish People, pew report, religion, rosh hashanah, synagogues, Who is a Jew
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My First 3 Years as a Rabbi: What I’ve Learned
Yesterday, I completed my tenure as Assistant Rabbi of Har Zion Temple. As I transition to the next stage of my life, I find myself reflecting on my first three years in the rabbinate. What follows are some of things that I have learned during … Continue reading
Rabbi Michael Rose Knopf 