Spirituality

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My Life in Quotes- #91-100

By Rabbi Bonnie Koppell | 09/02/2025 |

91. “Religion- the relatively modest dogma that God is not mad.”- Salvador de Madariaga  Though sometimes it seems that way, doesn’t it.  The incomprehensible variety of the creation, not to mention the inexplicable challenges life brings, both could lead us to question the sanity of the Creator.  Without descending into…

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BaMidbar: Everyone Counts

By Rabbi Bonnie Koppell | 06/07/2024 | Comments Off on BaMidbar: Everyone Counts

The book of BaMidbar picks up where Exodus left off. Our Israelite ancestors escaped from slavery in Egypt, successfully passed through the red sea, and received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The story is interrupted by the entire book of Leviticus, describing the responsibilities of the priests as they establish…

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Chanukkah in a Time of War-2023

By Rabbi Bonnie Koppell | 12/26/2023 | Comments Off on 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 victory.  The victory of the few against the many when it had seemed improbable,  the struggle for the right to be different, to live…

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What I’ve Learned in 40 Years as a Rabbi

By Rabbi Bonnie Koppell | 09/19/2021 | Comments Off on What I’ve Learned in 40 Years as a Rabbi

The number of days from the beginning of the month of Elul until Yom Kippur The number of days that it rained on Noah and the ark The number of days that the ark rested on the top of the mountain The number of days that Moses spent with God…

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Friendship and Holiness

By Rabbi Bonnie Koppell | 03/13/2018 | Comments Off on Friendship and Holiness

Welcome back and I trust that you are enjoying a wonderful day of friendship and community. It’s great to see friends on Facebook, and even better to see our friends’ faces in person!  The Rabbis acknowledged our deep human need for companionship long ago when they taught, “O chevruta, o…

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Holiness and Goodness

By Rabbi Bonnie Koppell | 03/13/2018 | Comments Off on Holiness and Goodness

With your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for (his or her) life.” With your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: “Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in (his or her) life.” With your attention…