Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
I spent last weekend in Salt Lake City where my Army unit, the 807th Medical Command, has its headquarters. One of the things that I enjoy about the military is its respect for ritual, which parallels Jewish tradition. Last weekend was filled with festivities in honor of the change of…
Psalm 29, verse 11, has always been special to me. “Adonai oz l’amo yiten, Adonai yivarech et amo b’shalom- Adonai will give strength to the people, Adonai will bless the people with peace.” As a Soldier, this verse appealed to me in terms of national security strategy. I understood that…
I wanted to share with you a few lines from an article in the Arizona Republic Jobs section on May 10th[1] entitled, “Without Meaning, Work is a Chore.” Angelo Kinicki writes that, “People are happier, healthier and more productive when they are doing “meaningful” work. . . We believe that…
When David was so sick, this was the prayer that made me leave the sanctuary in tears. Hashkivenu l’shalom- Holy God-lay us down in peace; v’Ha-a-mee-denu l’chayim- stand us up in the morning, alive. The simplest blessing that we simply take for granted. The most profound blessing. The only prayer…
Memorial Day: Reflections of a Military Chaplain May 22, 2015 by Rabbi Bonnie Koppell “It’s almost like being home.” This was the response of a young Soldier at Forward Operating Base Taji, Iraq, following the Passover seder in 2005. As I traveled throughout the country, seder participants were amazed and…
Members of the Maricopa Community College Governing Board, Chancellor Rufus Glasper and members of the Executive Council, administrators, faculty and staff, parents and friends, and, most of all, fellow veterans! It is a privilege to stand before you today and celebrate your achievement with you and your loved ones. On…
Tazria-Metzora, Leviticus 12:1-15:33 Mark Twain wrote, “It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart; the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.” It’s no wonder that 25 percent of the sins that we confess on Yom Kippur…
SELECTED TEXTS ON BUSINESS ETHICS “Do what is right and good in the eyes of God.” Deuteronomy 6:18 Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu melech ha-olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzeevanu la’asok b’divrei Torah. We praise You, Adonai our God, ruling force of the universe, who makes us holy with your mitzvot, giving…
Tonight is our first Shabbas together counting the omer. Since Passover began on a Friday night, each week as we come together for kabbalat Shabbat we will count in multiples of 7, marking this time as we anticipate receiving the Torah on the holiday of Shavuot and preparing ourselves intellectually,…