Shtender

Rabbi Knopf’s sermon for Yom Kippur. How a strange, ancient ritual offers powerful insights on the state of our world, our presidential election, and us.

Rabbi Knopf’s sermon for Kol Nidrei. Tikkun Olam is hard work. Rabbi Knopf offers thoughts on how to be most effective in our work of world repair, and also why we should bother.

Rabbi Knopf offers words of inspiration and prayer to Richmond’s community-wide interfaith Eid dinner, the Muslim celebration of the end of Ramadan.  

Rabbi Knopf’s teaching for Parshat Devarim (Aug. 12, 2016). Words are powerful, but we so often do not treat them as such. This is readily apparent in contemporary politics, but also, if we look, in our own lives.  

Rabbi Knopf’s teaching for Parshat Pinhas (July 30, 2016). Many people think that leadership is about passion, energy, and decisive action, no matter the cost. The Torah warns us about such leaders, and insists that true leadership requires compassion, understanding, patience, and relationship.  

Rabbi Knopf’s teaching for Parshat Bamidbar (June 11, 2016). How a close read of the opening verses of Numbers can teach us how to hear God’s voice today.  

Rabbi Knopf shares a graduation message with the Class of 2016, reminding them that we are all connected to each other, a fact that calls for awareness and action.  

Rabbi Knopf’s message for Parashat Emor (May 21, 2016), on the importance of presence, not sacrificing the moment for the unknown future.

Rabbi Knopf’s message for Parashat Kedoshim (May 14, 2016), on the impossibility of dual loyalties, and the value of commitment.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Yizkor message for the last day of Passover (April 30, 2016), on the power and importance of memory, including what happens when we lose it.  

Rabbi Knopf’s message for the eve of the 8th day of Passover (April 29, 2016), about the connection between Shabbat and the Exodus, and why it matters.  

Rabbi Knopf’s message for the second day of Passover (April 24, 2016), on the question of the justice of the 5th plague, the death of livestock: How can God seem to be so cruel?  

Rabbi Knopf’s message for the first day of Passover (April 23, 2016), on the growing generational divide over Israel in the Jewish community, and what we can do about it.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Shemini (April 1, 2016), on the spiritual impact of a very physical act, eating.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Saturday message for Parashat Tzav (March 26, 2016), on how a religious life needs both the continual nourishment of tradition and exposure to the outside world.  

Rabbi Knopf offers some words of prayer to kick off Richmond’s February city council meeting.      

Some brief reflections on how Judaism can guide our thinking about welcoming refugees.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Saturday message for Parashat Bo (January 16, 2016), on the plague of darkness, in ancient Egypt, and today.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Saturday message for Parashat Va-Era (January 9, 2016), on the infinite possibility of our lives.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Va-Era (January 8, 2016), on the importance of the fierce urgency of now.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Vayigash (December 18, 2015), on the legacy of Judah, and our communal responsibilities as Jews.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Va-Yeitzei (November 20, 2015), as the country debates resettling Syrian refugees in the wake of the Paris terror attacks, some moral clarity from the Torah and from Jewish history.    

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Tol’dot (November 13, 2015), as the Conservative Movement gathers for its biennial convention in Chicago, a reflection on its enduring importance.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Va-Yera (October 30, 2015), why the destruction of an ancient city has enduring relevance for our world.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Noah (October 16, 2015), what the behavior of the animals on Noah’s Ark can teach us about being our best selves.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Saturday message for Shabbat Sukkot (October 3, 2015), Rabbi Knopf unpacks an enduring Sukkot mystery.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Shabbat Sukkot (October 2, 2015), how building and dismantling a Sukkah prepares us for life.  

Rabbi Knopf’s message for Second Day Sukkot (September 29, 2015), the practice of Sukkah can set you up for a great year. Here’s how.  

Rabbi Knopf’s message for First Day Sukkot (September 28, 2015), what Sukkot teaches us about the nature of our world and everything in it.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Va-Yelekh (September 25, 2015), what the four species of Sukkot teach us about the importance of Jewish unity.  

Rabbi Knopf’s message for Yom Kippur day 5776/2015, on seeing all kids as our kids, from Baltimore to Damascus, and everything in between.  

Rabbi Knopf’s message for Kol Nidrei 5776/2015, on prayer for us skeptics.  

Rabbi Knopf’s sermon for Rosh Hashanah Live on the 2nd night of Rosh Hashanah 5776.  

Rabbi Knopf’s sermon for 1st Day Rosh Hashanah 5776, a vision for how synagogues can win the future by being more like God and Wall Drug.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Nitzavim (September 11, 2015). Torah is not simply about what you believe, but what you do; not about religious acts, but about making every act a religious expression  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Ki Tavo (September 4, 2015). A message from the Torah on the refugee crisis: The proper response to blessings in our life is gratitude and generosity.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Ki Tetzei (August 28, 2015). When you want to encourage someone to behave a certain way, it’s important to lead by example.    

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Re’eh (August 14, 2015). Most of us don’t live religious lives because we don’t believe in a commanding God. But what if we had the equation backwards?  

Rabbi Knopf’s Saturday message for Parashat Re’eh (August 15, 2015). Not only is loving criticism of Israel kosher, it’s commanded.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Saturday message for Parashat Eikev (August 8, 2015). Why we dare not take Israel for granted.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Eikev (August 7, 2015). Most of us know that prayer doesn’t save us, but here’s how prayer makes us worth saving.

Rabbi Knopf’s Saturday message for Parashat Va-Et’hanan (August 1, 2015). The Jewish culture made possible only through statehood benefits us all.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Va-Et’hanan (July 31, 2015). As the Jewish community debates the Iran deal, we must remember that no one can predict the future.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Saturday message for Parashat Devarim (July 25, 2015). A provocative suggestion for what it means to call Israel “The Jewish State.”  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Devarim (July 24, 2015). Tisha B’Av reminds us of the ethical dangers of independence.  

Rabbi Knopf's message for Shabbat Parashat Korah (June 19-20, 2015). A Jewish response to last week's horrific attack on Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC.

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Shelah Lekha (June 12, 2015). What the founders of Home Depot, a toddler, and two good spies have in common.  

Rabbi Knopf’s Shabbat message for parashat Emor (May 9, 2015): Rabbi Knopf’s second sermon for the series “Be Holy.”  

Rabbi Knopf’s Friday message for Parashat Emor (May 8, 2015).  

A D’var Torah for Temple Beth-El’s 84th annual meeting.