Rabbi Bonnie Koppell
In the Gettysburg address, President Abraham Lincoln described the United States of America as “conceived in liberty.” The story of the Jewish people shares this common thread: our foundational epic is the exodus from Egypt, a celebration of freedom from tyranny. When we reflect on our own history as Jews-…
a commentary on Parshat Korach, Numbers 16:1-18:32 The rabbis were very threatened by Korach, the lead in our story this week. He represented the most serious rebellion against Moses’ authority in the wilderness, as he and his followers challenged Moses and Aaron: “You have gone too far! For all the…
Personal courage is one of 7 Army Values. Captain Matthew Riggs, in an essay on this value, writes that, “Personal Courage as defined by the Army, is to face fear, danger or adversity. Personal Courage is the ability one has to overcome a difficult task or situation with steadfastness, or…
Beginning this talk by saying thank you is not just an exercise in protocol. It speaks directly to the theme of this gathering, which is, Spiritual Fitness. Becoming an appreciative person is a top strategy for spiritual fitness. 1. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. There is a reason that…
Tazria, Leviticus 12:1-15:33 In this week’s Torah portion, Tazria, we see Aaron and his sons in their priestly role as tribal medicine men. Forget the fancy clothes and presiding over rituals and eating yummy offerings. Now, it’s down to the nitty-gritty, time to get their hands dirty, time to be…
Honored to be the speaker at the Days of Remembrance commemoration in Kuwait. Days of Remembrance- April 2014, CH (COL) Bonnie Koppell Count by ones to six million, the number of Jews killed during what has come to be known as the Holocaust, a number each second, and you will…
Thank you so much for this opportunity to reflect with you on this season of holidays. Chanukkah is the only Jewish holiday that celebrates a military victory, so it is a particularly appropriate theme for us to consider here at Fort Huachuca. Despite its proximity to Christmas, the two holidays…
Defensiveness is such a visceral, human response at even the hint that we may not be perfect. None of us wants to be reminded of our flaws, of the times we stumbled- I know I surely don’t! The struggle to be open to uncomfortable feedback has been a lifelong spiritual…
Why every strategic leader needs to understand religious factors in the operational environment.religion and strategy final[1] A briefing presented to the 807th Medical Command, Deployment Support
As we turn now to the powerful words of the Unetaneh Tokef prayer, we contemplate this question- What is the elusive, awful charisma of martyrdom? Tragically, in our own generation, we have seen a resurgence of the notion that there is great glory in dying for one’s religious beliefs. The…