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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
Sep 27, 20237 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...
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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
Sep 4, 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...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Jul 18, 20236 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...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Jul 5, 20232 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-...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Jun 12, 20235 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...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
May 16, 20237 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....
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Feb 26, 20233 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...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Feb 21, 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,...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Jan 19, 20232 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...
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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
Nov 16, 20223 min read
Chayye Sarah- Try a Little Kindness
Eliezer has a tough job in this week’s Torah portion. How would you like to be responsible for choosing a partner for your boss’s child?...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Nov 2, 20224 min read
Noah and Nakedness
We all know the story of this week’s Torah portion, how Noah is identified as the only righteous person in his generation, and delegated...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
Oct 24, 20223 min read
Bereyshit- Let There Be Light
I recently read that “Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”...
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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
May 15, 20223 min read
Emor: Good Enough is the New Perfect
The word “Emor,” the name of this week’s Torah portion, means “speak.” In the Torah, God gives instruction to Moses to pass along to the...
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Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
May 9, 20222 min read
The Supreme Court Leak
As we come together on this Shabbat, I want to speak for a moment about the controversy that erupted this week regarding a possible...
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