Rabbi Koppell’s Writings
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…
“Patience is a virtue,” or, as George Eliot expressed it more poetically, “The wine and the sun will make vinegar without any shouting to help them.”[1] My children think I’m the most impatient person on the planet, but that’s only because they haven’t spent more time with my mom. My…
Erev Rosh HaShanah– Rabbi Mari Chernow S. Y. Agnon tells the story[1] of a young man who became estranged from his father, the king. The son left his father’s palace and wandered from village to village and from city to city. His clothes became tattered and torn. His face changed…
After we study a text, it is customary to say the Kaddish D’Rabbanan- the Rabbi’s or Teacher’s kaddish- probably the least known among the variations on the kaddish prayer. It is a special favorite because it combines two of Judaism’s highest values- learning and gratitude. In the Kaddish D’Rabbanan, we…
One of the more memorably ridiculous lines in literature comes from a work that was popular in my childhood- Love Story– in which the author famously wrote, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” Raise your hand if you agree that you can successfully sustain long-term, loving relationships without…
Forgiveness means so many different things to each of us. However we understand forgiveness, however we approach forgiveness, it is never easy. In fact, for most of us it is the greatest spiritual struggle of our lives. Sue Monk Kidd expressed it this way- “If God said in plain language,…
strategy temple chai 1 nov[1] An analysis of how military strategic planning can be applied to the religious community.
Pinchas, the son of Elazar, was a religious zealot. The book of Numbers, chapter 25 verses 1-9, describes his act of vigilante justice, thrusting a spear through an Israelite man and a Midianite woman, thus staying the plague which had afflicted the Israelites and killed 24,000 people. Living as we…