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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.
What is God’s Love Language?
Gold and silver and brass. Blue and purple and scarlet. Plus precious stones and fine oil and fabrics and skins. Terumah begins.
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Feb 16, 20244 min read
Loneliness New Year’s Weekend 2024
Did you read where Dr. Ruth Westheimer has a new job? At the age of 95, she was just appointed as New York’s first “loneliness ambassador.”
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Dec 29, 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...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Dec 26, 20234 min read
To Be a Free People in Our Own Land
A commentary on Parshat Vayeitze published in the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix, Nov. 24, 2023 In Genesis 27:13-14 God speaks to the...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Dec 3, 20233 min read
"I Will Bless Those Who Bless You"- Genesis 12:3
THANK YOU TO MY NON-JEWISH MILITARY COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote these powerful words- “In the end, we...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Oct 19, 20234 min read
Bereshit and Justice
And so it begins again. This week, Parshat Bereshit, we have the opportunity to open our Torah scroll to the very beginning and take it...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Oct 11, 20234 min read
Violating the Law of Land Warfare
Violating the Law of Land Warfare Rabbi Bonnie Koppell CH (COL) USAR- Retired War has been part of human history for as long as we know. ...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Oct 8, 20232 min read
Israel at War
Israel at War Simchat Torah 2023 Rabbi Bonnie Koppell It was just last night, in the before time, that Alan Zeichick and I were chatting...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Oct 7, 20233 min read
A Jewish Perspective on Artificial Intelligence
A Jewish Perspective on Artificial Intelligence Rabbi Bonnie Koppell Kol Nidre 2023 I want you to look at the Torah. I want you to think...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Sep 27, 20237 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...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Sep 19, 20238 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...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Sep 10, 20233 min read
Jews and Labor Day
On this Labor Day weekend, we can be so proud of the critical role of the Jewish community in supporting labor rights and union movements...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Sep 4, 20233 min read
In Support of Medical Aid in Dying
Let me tell you about Mary Cohen. A refined woman of Southern upbringing, she lived in a modest two-room apartment in an assisted living...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Jul 18, 20236 min read
Negotiation: What NOT to do (Chukkat-Balak)
Respect different perspectives. Listen actively to the other person and try to understand the logic of their position. Never use force-...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Jul 5, 20232 min read
Pirke Imahot- A Tribute to the Wisdom of My Mom on Her 89th Birthday
In the world of the rabbinate, we use the expression, “freedom of the pulpit.” It means that, theoretically, no one is supposed to tell...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Jun 12, 20235 min read
Remembering America’s Rabbi- Rabbi Harold Kushner
Looking around at the bookshelves in my office, there are only three authors of whom I have collected at least 7 of their works....
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
May 16, 20237 min read
The Aloha Spirit
Akahai- kindness expressed with tenderness. What we might call, “chesed,” gemilut chasadim- loving acts of kindness. Going out of our way...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Feb 26, 20233 min read
Mishpatim: Trust, But Verify
A Temple Chai member approached me at the nosh a couple of weeks ago with the words, “Rabbi, can I ask you to do me a favor?” I replied,...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Feb 21, 20233 min read
Awe is Awesome
As we come together for Kabbalat Shabbat, I want to talk about something really awesome. That is- the sense of awe itself. In Hebrew we...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Jan 19, 20232 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...
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Dec 25, 20222 min read
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