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Read Rabbi Knopf’s Recent Posts
- 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
- ‘Earn This’: Last Day of Passover 5782 April 24, 2022
Tag Archives: terrorism
The Promises of Israel
Sermon from Kol Nidrei — October 8, 2019 It is striking that we initiate Yom Kippur with Kol Nidrei, a liturgical poem that both highlights the promises we make and alludes to the fact that we have an unfortunate … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged American Judaism, community, culture, current-events, faith, history, human-rights, Israel, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, justice, middle-east, peace, personal, philosophy, politics, religion, social justice, society, spirituality, terrorism
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Remarks at Islamic Center Standing Together Event (March 17, 2019)
Asalamu aleikum. Peace be upon you, my brothers, and sisters. As I utter those words, I am cognizant of how painfully ironic it feels to be extending greetings of peace to a community shattered by a cruel and horrific act … Continue reading
Posted in Public Statements, Reflections, Sermons
Tagged current-events, faith, Gun Control, Guns, history, Islam, Muslim-Jewish relations, politics, prayer, religion, society, terrorism
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The World is Yours, But it Doesn’t Belong to You
On June 14, 2018, I was honored to speak to the graduating class of Maggie Walker Governor’s School at their Baccalaureate ceremony. Here’s what I said: Class of 2018, Let me begin by expressing my gratitude for having been invited … Continue reading
Posted in Public Statements, Reflections, Sermons
Tagged community, current-events, gratitude, growth, history, human-rights, justice, peace, personal, politics, prayer, religion, social justice, society, spirituality, terrorism
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Haspel nomination reignites torture debate
On 9/11, I was a brand-new college student living in New York City for the first time. In the aftermath of that day’s tragic events, I, like other Americans, was consumed with fear and anger. But then, as the War … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds
Tagged current-events, faith, history, human-rights, justice, peace, philosophy, politics, religion, Religion and Politics, security, social justice, society, terrorism, Torture
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Pray for Healing, Fight for Justice: A Response to the Sutherland Springs Mass-Shooting
I am heartbroken over the news of yesterday’s mass shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. 26 people, ranging from toddlers to retirees, including eight members of a single family, were murdered in cold blood. I extend my … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections, Uncategorized
Tagged Gun Control, Guns, personal, politics, religion, social justice, society, terrorism
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Do You control Your Monuments, or Do They Control You? – Shavuot 2017
Recently, the City of New Orleans removed its Confederate monuments, prompting both celebrations and protests. The actions and their aftermath reverberated across the country and, not surprisingly, into Virginia. Protests and counter-protests erupted – violently – in Charlottesville a couple … Continue reading
Posted in Sermons
Tagged civil war, confederate monuments, culture, current-events, education, history, ioldatry, politics, race, racism, religion, social justice, society, terrorism
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Remarks from Richmond Rally Against Muslim Ban
Video of these remarks can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/jewishaction.us/videos/705614492975135/ Video of all speeches can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/moveon/videos/10154390220140493/ In 1790, our first president, George Washington, sent a letter to the Jewish community in Newport, Rhode Island, pledging that “the government of the … Continue reading
Posted in Public Statements, Reflections
Tagged current-events, history, human-rights, justice, peace, politics, refugee crisis, refugees, religion, security, social justice, society, terrorism
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The light that can dispel the Boston bombing’s darkness
“We are not safe.” That was the resigned and terrified refrain echoed in the media following the bombings at the Boston Marathon. It was as if we were collectively saying we should have been safe following September 11, when we … Continue reading
Posted in Articles and Op-Eds, Reflections
Tagged bombing, Boston, God, growth, Israel, Judaism, nature of god, peace, politics, psychology, spirituality, terrorism, theology, Torah, tragedy, wisdom
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