Passover Jewish News 2024
After perhaps too much preparation, we find ourselves in the midst of our Passover celebration. Perhaps the message of “Dayenu” has found...
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The God Show Podcast With Pat McMahon - Ep. 282 Israel under attack. How could it happen?
Ask an Army Colonel. Ask a Rabbi. Ask a woman. They are all.
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Mar 28
- 4 min
Passover Seder 2024
Why is this Passover different from all other Passover seders?
Passover celebrates liberation. It celebrates freedom...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Mar 20
- 4 min
Purim and Antisemitism 2024
I’ve been thinking a lot about the upcoming holiday of Purim, a moment in our calendar characterized by much joy and not a small amount of..
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Dec 26, 2023
- 4 min
Chanukkah in a Time of War-2023
As the holiday of Chanukkah draws to a close, I am struck by the fact that this is the only Jewish holiday that celebrates a military...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Sep 19, 2023
- 8 min
HAPPY New Year
Are you happy to be here this morning? I am! First of all, I’m happy that we can be together. Personally I am not yet so far past the...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Sep 10, 2023
- 3 min
Do NOT Curb Your Enthusiasm!
Labor Day- check. Selichot- tomorrow night. Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur- imminent. Are you ready for yet another holiday? And I...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Dec 25, 2022
- 2 min
Al Ha-Nissim: The Miracle of Survival
I wanted to call to your attention a special feature of our prayers during Chanukkah – the addition of “Al Ha-Nissim” to the Amidah. Al...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Oct 6, 2022
- 7 min
What Unenforceable Rule is Driving Your Grievance Story?
Kol Nidre, Temple Chai, 2022 Tonight we begin our Yom Kippur journey. This time is a gift we give ourselves to renew and restore...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Sep 25, 2022
- 5 min
No Regrets in the Year Ahead
Listen to the words of Frank Sinatra’s memorable tune, “My Way.” And now the end is hereAnd so I face that final curtainMy friend I’ll...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Sep 1, 2022
- 2 min
Elul: The Days of Questioning
I remember seeing an Army wall calendar that had a sign next to it, “Dates on the calendar are closer than they may appear.” Isn’t that...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Mar 13, 2022
- 2 min
Putin IS Amalek
Shabbat Zachor- the Shabbat of Remembering. That’s the special name given to this Shabbas, the Shabbat before Purim. So what, exactly,...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Mar 13, 2022
- 2 min
Purim 2022: A deadly serious celebration
This Wednesday night we will come together for the light and joyous holiday of Purim. Purim comes on the 14th of Adar, the final full...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Dec 29, 2021
- 3 min
When Christmas Eve and Shabbat Coincide
It’s a quiet night for the Jewish community tonight. 65% of the population in the United States identify as Christian and our neighbors...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Oct 31, 2021
- 2 min
Commas and Shabbat
When Jessie was pregnant with Helena, we had a baby shower for her. Cards were passed out, and among the questions was, “I hope that you...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Sep 26, 2021
- 3 min
What's the Hardest Mitzvah?
What is the hardest mitzvah for you? Is it not eating shrimp or bacon? Is it remembering to light shabbat candles each week? Is it...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Sep 19, 2021
- 7 min
Tevye Explains It All: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Judaism Can Be Learned From "Fiddler on the Roof"
Erev Rosh HaShanah 2021, Temple Chai, Phoenix, AZ A Fiddler on the Roof? Sounds crazy, no? In 1905, Shalom Aleichem published his...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Apr 4, 2021
- 3 min
The Pandemic and the Seder- 2021
A year ago when we celebrated Pesach, I don’t think we realized that we were actually ENTERING Egypt, Mitzrayim, the narrow place, the...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Feb 28, 2021
- 3 min
It's a 3-Day Purim!
It’s still Purim! Shushan Purim is a thing every year. Even in the time of Mordecai and Esther, Purim was celebrated on a different day...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Feb 28, 2021
- 3 min
Esther, Vashti, and Women Leaders
We can still talk about Purim, right? Purim may have officially ended when we lit candles and entered into Shabbat. However, in some...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
- Dec 26, 2020
- 4 min
Judaism and Christianity: A Rabbi's Christmas Sermon
Updated: Dec 8 It’s impossible to ignore today’s date. December 25th. As a Jewish minority living among a Christian majority, we can’t...
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