Contemporary Life

Remembering America’s Rabbi- Rabbi Harold Kushner Rabbi Bonnie Koppell Looking around at the bookshelves in my office, there are only three authors of whom I have collected at least 7 of [...]

The Aloha Spirit Rabbi Bonnie Koppell   Shalom Aleichem.  How would you translate that?  Peace be upon you.  We know the word Shalom as we pray so often for that elusive sense of peace.  [...]

Mishpatim:  Trust, But Verify Rabbi Bonnie Koppell   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, [...]

Awe is Awesome Rabbi Bonnie Koppell   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 use the term [...]

Noah and Nakedness Rabbi Bonnie Koppell   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 to build an [...]

No Regrets in the Year Ahead Rabbi Bonnie Koppell   Listen to the words of Frank Sinatra’s memorable tune, “My Way.” And now the end is here And so I face that final curtain My friend [...]

As we come together on this Shabbat, I want to speak for a moment about the controversy that erupted this week regarding a possible Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade which made [...]

Putin IS Amalek- Purim 2022 Rabbi Bonnie Koppell   Shabbat Zachor- the Shabbat of Remembering.  That’s the special name given to this Shabbas, the Shabbat before Purim.  So what, exactly, [...]

  Purim 2022:  A deadly serious celebration Rabbi Bonnie Koppell This Wednesday night we will come together for the light and joyous holiday of Purim.  Purim comes on the 14th of Adar, the [...]

Dear Friends, I can’t stop thinking about Babi Yar this week, a ravine in the Ukraine where 75,000 Jews were slaughtered in WWII. Bloodshed is, sadly, well-known to the people of the Ukraine, [...]