Shtender Jcast Network

Waving the Lulav and Etrog on Sukkot is how we take the secular act of repeating a harvest and turn it into the spiritual act of gratitude, which elevates and directs our joy in an already joyous season.

Introducing the confessional prayer on Yom Kippur morning, Rabbi Knopf points out that its plural language means we share responsibility for the sins of our community. In a democracy, that means we must participate in the processes — like voting — that make our society better.      

In his Shabbat message for Parashat Noah (October 13, 2018), Rabbi Knopf discusses how the Tower of Babel story teaches us about the dangers of uniform thinking.      

In his Yom Kippur sermon, Rabbi Knopf talks about the role of luck in our lives, and how Jewish tradition offers pathways for the privileged few to level the playing field for those who have been less fortunate.      

For his Kol Nidrei sermon, Rabbi Knopf shares a personal account of his struggles with social media addiction, and what he learned about himself could help others, and open up a new way of relating to the holiest day of the Jewish year.

Rabbi Knopf teaches the Torah’s commandment not to return runaway slaves, and discusses its implications for today, particularly regarding the current assaults on immigrant communities, in his Shabbat message for Parashat Ki Teitzei (August 25, 2018)      

Rabbi Knopf’s introduction to the Shofar service on the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah 2018, introducing the Shofar’s call as a reminder of how to be sane in a world gone mad.      

Rabbi Knopf’s message for the 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah 2018, an exploration of what it means to be part of a community, and an invitation to show up for each other.      

Rabbi Knopf’s message for the 1st day of Rosh Hashanah 2018, a forceful call for women’s equality in the Jewish world and beyond.      

In his Shabbat message for Parashat Eikev (August 4, 2018), Rabbi Knopf discusses the conditions the Torah attaches to living in the Land of Israel, and their implications for the modern-day Jewish State.      

Rabbi Knopf’s Shabbat message for Parashat Va-Et’hanan (Saturday, July 28, 2018), discussing the significance and challenge of the 10th commandment – not to desire that which does not belong to us.

Rabbi Knopf’s message for Parashat Mattot-Mase’i (July 14, 2018), discussing the importance honestly confronting the mistakes of our past in order to move forward in a positive direction.      

Guest preacher Rev. Wallace Adams-Riley discusses the intersection of race, the history of America’s South, and the implications for our lives today, sharing from his own story, his family’s story, and from his work on the History & Reconciliation Initiative at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Richmond.

Rabbi Knopf’s address to the Maggie Walker Governor’s School graduating class of 2018, at their Baccalaureate ceremony (June 14, 2018).  

In his Yizkor message for Shavuot (May 20, 2018), Rabbi Knopf argues that it is the job of all Jews, and not just the rabbi, to minister to and care for each other.

Rabbi Knopf’s message for the first day of Shavuot (May 20, 2018), discussing the importance of treating the Torah as a living, breathing document.      

In his Shabbat message for Parashat Bamidbar (May 19, 2018), Rabbi Knopf argues that the set up of the ancient Israelites’ camp in the wilderness offers powerful guidance for our world today, where poverty and inequality are rampant, and we have an epidemic of in/visibility.

In his Shabbat message for Parashat Emor (May 5, 2018), Rabbi Knopf offers a glimpse at the true purpose of counting the Omer, through a close reading of the biblical text.      

Rabbi Knopf’s Yizkor message on the last day of Passover 2018, in which he proposes that death is, in a certain sense, an illusion. No one is ever really gone.      

On the eve of the 8th day of Passover 2018, Rabbi Knopf invites us to consider what insights from the holiday will stay with us after the holiday ends.