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 284 min read
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 204 min read
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, 20234 min read
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, 20238 min read
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, 20233 min read
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, 20222 min read
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, 20227 min read
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, 20225 min read
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, 20222 min read
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, 20222 min read
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, 20222 min read
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, 20213 min read
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, 20212 min read
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, 20213 min read
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, 20217 min read
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, 20213 min read
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, 20213 min read
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, 20213 min read
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, 20204 min read
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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