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Mending the circle Judaism offers us a multitude of ways to connect to God, to rejoice, to strengthen our connection with Jewish history and to underline the values that bind us together. Yet none of these has the power to attract massive numbers of Jews to the synagogue like Yom Kippur. What is the spiritual magnetism of this day? Perhaps it is the unique emphasis on forgiveness, which is so close to our hearts on the Day of Atonement. Read more |
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Compassion vs. Justice Rabbi Amy Eilberg poignantly articulartes the visceral Jewish response to the Arizona law, AZ SB 1070, when she writes that, "My heart tells me there is only one authentically Jewish response to the immigration debate raging in our country." Yes, we Jews have always stood in solidarity with the stranger, the outsider. It is mitzvah for us to remember the Exodus from Egypt on a daily basis, and we should never forget the formative experience of slavery.aps it is the unique emphasis on forgiveness, which is so close to our hearts on the Day of Atonement. Read more |
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A Ritual of Transition We come together at this time of transition, to the end of this deployment, and prepare for the journey home. It is a bittersweet moment as we pause to reflect on our experiences during this period of service. We are pained by the memories of our losses; we think of those who will not be returning with us and of those who will forever carry the wounds of battle. Although our injuries may not be visible to the naked eye, our souls bear the scars of this war. Read more |
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Koppell named to Forward's influential list The Forward has named Temple Chai's Rabbi Bonnie Koppell one of the "Sisterhood 50," a listing of the 50 most influential women rabbis in the United States and Israel. The list was compiled as the Forward's response to the under-representation of women on Newsweek's annual "50 Most Influential Rabbis" list. Read more |
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Kosher, halal MREs feed religious diversity Jewish troops observing the Passover holiday cannot consume bread or – in some traditions – beans and corn or their derivatives, making it difficult for deployed soldiers to comply with their religious obligations. Often, they have cobbled together meals on their own from permissible foods, such as salami, canned tuna, fresh fruit and matzoh, said Army Reserve Col. Bonnie Koppell, a Phoenix rabbi and command chaplain with the 63rd Regional Support Command. Read more |
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Seders in Kuwait When Col. Rabbi Bonnie Koppell travels to Kuwait for Passover, it will be far from her first act of spiritual leadership overseas. In the last five years, her chaplaincy in the Army Reserve has taken her to Iraq and Afghanistan twice, visiting combat zones in both countries. Read more |
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A prescription for ‘Too much “bar,” not enough “mitzvah”’ Who doesn't love a good party, especially when we're young? But there's a lot more to the bar or bat mitzvah experience - or at least there ought to be - than gifts and merry-making. We asked some local rabbis how they help the bar/bat mitzvah child stay focused on the spiritual aspect of the ceremony (as opposed to the social) in a culture that doesn't always stress the former. Read more |
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Nish'ma - Gun Control Judaism is not a pacifist tradition. We recognize not only a right but, it can be argued, an obligation of self-defense. We acknowledge the "yetzer ha-ra," the inclination toward evil, the temptation toward wrongdoing with which we struggle individually and communally. Read more |
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Who Shall Live? In traditional congregations it is customary to don a shroud for services on Yom Kippur. To the best of my knowledge, Judaism is the only religion in which we rehearse our own death in this graphic way. Read more |
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Feeding the spirit of troops in Iraq I have served in the United States Army Reserve for more than half my life - 26 years. During that time, I have never volunteered for a job. In the Army, you don't volunteer. Read more |
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Colonel, U.S. Army Reserves Rabbi Bonnie Koppell, a U.S. Army Reserve chaplain since 1978, was promoted to colonel on May 3 of this year making her the first female rabbi in the U.S. Army to hold that rank. Read more |
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Valley's first female rabbi celebrates 10 years at Beth Sholom Rabbinical milestones come only so often - say, every 10 years or so. And Rabbi Bonnie Koppell has hit the first such marker with 10 years of service Read more |
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Rabbinically Approved... We realize that you might have some questions regarding the validity of performing a 30minute-Seder™ and rightly so. That is why we sought out a prominent Rabbi in the community Read more |
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Jimmy Carter Meets With Rabbis About Controversial Book on Mideast Conflict The Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix said they wouldn't call for a boycott of Carter's book, "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," but they also won't suggest that anyone read it. Read more |
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Jews and Baby Showers: Are They Okay? In Jewish tradition, baby showers were taboo. Neither Halakha or Jewish law forbids gifts for an unborn child, but custom effectively prohibits them. Read more |
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A letter to Jewish citizens of America During my recent book tour I signed more than 10,000 books and was interviewed on 100 news media outlets.* The high point for me was a meeting with leaders of the Board of Rabbis Read more |
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Ten Commandments for Synagogue Board Members Give Everyone the Benefit of the Doubt- Our sages teach that we should judge everyone in the scale of merit. As a Board member, there will come a time when you Read more |
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A rabbi extols the wonders of mikveh Having had a fascination with mikveh since adolescence, I was filled with anticipation on the eve of my wedding. As a rabbi, I have had occasion to guide many converts Read more |
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A Filmmaker, a Rabbi, and Iraq This week, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences honored the first Iranian Jew with an Emmy. She also happens to a woman Lila Yomtoob. The Forward profiles Lila today Read more |
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Now you can listen to past shows -- right on our website! Just click on any of the shows below ... Read more |
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Jr. GETY Faces and Places - May 2008 Rabbis Jessica Zimmerman, Ayla Grafstein, Lisa Tzur, Mari Chernow, and Bonnie Koppel celebrate the installation of Rabbi Tzur at TGE Read more |
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“There is no question that the Torah’s ideal is vegetarianism.” Consumption of animals – and the ways in which meat is produced today – conflicts with Judaism in at least ten important ways. Read more |
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This Day ... In Jewish History 12: Birthdate of Gaius Caligula, Roman Emperor. Caligula was crowned in 37 and murdered in 41. Life for Jews during his reign was part of the downward spiral that would result in three Read more |
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Bibliography of Sexual and Domestic Violence in the Jewish Community Because of the increased reporting of incidents of abuse in the Jewish and general press, it is no longer possible to maintain a list of such articles. In addition to daily papers in major cities Read more |
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Unpacking Apology from Rabbi Bonnie Koppell In this Yom Kippur Sermon written for this year, Rabbi Bonnie Koppel draws on the work of Maimonidies' Hilchot Teshuva, the Laws of Repentance, and Gary Chapman and Jennifer Read more |
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The Few. The Proud. Jewish Women Who Serve Bonnie Koppell, 47, is the sole woman currently serving as a Jewish chaplain in the reserves. Growing up in Brooklyn near the Army chaplain school, Koppell, who knew she wanted to be Read more |
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FIRSTS - AND OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS It is most gratifying to receive information about the women who are serving or have served, and it bears sharing with the many site visitors. Here, in no particular order, you will find Read more |
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Random Blogthoughts by Rabbi Brant Rosen God called to Israel in a vision by night: ‘Jacob! Jacob!’ He answered, ‘Hineini.’And (God) said, ‘I am God, the God of your father. Fear not to go down to Egypt, for I will make you Read more |
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell on www.google.com Rabbi Bonnie Koppell search results Read more |
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Yiddishe Mamas on www.books.google.com Read more |