In this episode (recorded at Temple Beth-El’s virtual Kol Nidrei/Yom Kippur service on September 27, 2020), Rabbi Knopf discusses how to live in a world that increasingly seems to have gone mad -- by being committed to truth and justice.

“Socially Distant, Spiritually Close” is recorded during virtual gatherings of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, and is produced by Dr. Gillian Frank. Our theme music is composed and produced by Stephen Frost. Our cover art was designed by Judith Rushin, using a photograph by Miriam Aniel. These teachings, presentations, and conversations reflect the dynamism, warmth, passion, and kindness of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA.

In this episode (recorded at Temple Beth-El’s virtual Rosh Hashanah service on September 20, 2020), Rabbi Knopf and special guest and Rabbi Jack Moline, President of Interfaith Alliance, discuss the meaning of Rosh Hashanah during this challenging and extraordinary season, using the biblical story of the binding of Isaac as a starting point.

“Socially Distant, Spiritually Close” is recorded during virtual gatherings of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, and is produced by Dr. Gillian Frank. Our theme music is composed and produced by Stephen Frost. Our cover art was designed by Judith Rushin, using a photograph by Miriam Aniel. These teachings, presentations, and conversations reflect the dynamism, warmth, passion, and kindness of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA.

In this episode (recorded at Temple Beth-El’s virtual Rosh Hashanah service on September 20, 2020), Rabbi Knopf explains that the pandemic revealed our lives and the world as they actually are -- fragile and vulnerable -- and offers some guidance about how to make it through, using the Netflix game show The Floor is Lava as a model.

“Socially Distant, Spiritually Close” is recorded during virtual gatherings of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, and is produced by Dr. Gillian Frank. Our theme music is composed and produced by Stephen Frost. Our cover art was designed by Judith Rushin, using a photograph by Miriam Aniel. These teachings, presentations, and conversations reflect the dynamism, warmth, passion, and kindness of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA.

In this episode (recorded at Temple Beth-El’s virtual Rosh Hashanah service on September 19, 2020), Rabbi Knopf and special guest and Rev. David Dwight, Senior Pastor of Hope Church in Goochland, Virginia, discuss the meaning of Rosh Hashanah during a challenging and extraordinary season, using the biblical story of the birth of Ishmael as a starting point.
“Socially Distant, Spiritually Close” is recorded during virtual gatherings of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, and is produced by Dr. Gillian Frank. Our theme music is composed and produced by Stephen Frost. Our cover art was designed by Judith Rushin, using a photograph by Miriam Aniel. These teachings, presentations, and conversations reflect the dynamism, warmth, passion, and kindness of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA.

In this episode (recorded at Temple Beth-El’s virtual Rosh Hashanah service on September 19, 2020), Rabbi Knopf discusses how we remain spiritually close, even when we may be socially distant.

“Socially Distant, Spiritually Close” is recorded during virtual gatherings of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, and is produced by Dr. Gillian Frank. Our theme music is composed and produced by Stephen Frost. Our cover art was designed by Judith Rushin, using a photograph by Miriam Aniel. These teachings, presentations, and conversations reflect the dynamism, warmth, passion, and kindness of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA.

IIn this episode (recorded at Temple Beth-El’s virtual Rosh Hashanah service on September 18, 2020), Rabbi Knopf sets the stage for a truly extraordinary High Holy Day season, focusing on a story about Adam and Eve, the first humans in the Bible.
“Socially Distant, Spiritually Close” is recorded during virtual gatherings of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, and is produced by Dr. Gillian Frank. Our theme music is composed and produced by Stephen Frost. Our cover art was designed by Judith Rushin, using a photograph by Miriam Aniel. These teachings, presentations, and conversations reflect the dynamism, warmth, passion, and kindness of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA.

In this episode (recorded at Temple Beth-El’s virtual Shabbat morning gathering on September 5, 2020), Rabbi Knopf discusses how to discover blessings in any situation, no matter how challenging.

“Socially Distant, Spiritually Close” is recorded during virtual gatherings of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, and is produced by Dr. Gillian Frank. Our theme music is composed and produced by Stephen Frost. Our cover art was designed by Judith Rushin, using a photograph by Miriam Aniel. These teachings, presentations, and conversations reflect the dynamism, warmth, passion, and kindness of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA.

In this episode (recorded at Temple Beth-El’s virtual Shabbat morning gathering on August 15, 2020), Rabbi Knopf explains how even though we can’t always choose our circumstances, we do have the power to choose how we view those circumstances. And if we choose to see the right way, if we look closely and clearly and intentionally enough, we can transform just about any circumstance and experience, no matter how mundane or difficult, into a blessing.

“Socially Distant, Spiritually Close” is recorded during virtual gatherings of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, and is produced by Dr. Gillian Frank. Our theme music is composed and produced by Stephen Frost. Our cover art was designed by Judith Rushin, using a photograph by Miriam Aniel. These teachings, presentations, and conversations reflect the dynamism, warmth, passion, and kindness of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA.

The pandemic, along with widespread racial justice protests, has exposed the many inequities of our society. In this episode (recorded at Temple Beth-El’s virtual Shabbat morning gathering on July 11, 2020), Rabbi Knopf and special guest Dr. Judith Rosenbaum discuss the biblical story of the Daughters of Zelophehad (along with various other protests recounted in the Book of Numbers), the Broadway sensation Hamilton, and the contemporary fight for equality for all, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

“Socially Distant, Spiritually Close” is recorded during virtual gatherings of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, and is produced by Dr. Gillian Frank. Our theme music is composed and produced by Stephen Frost. Our cover art was designed by Judith Rushin, using a photograph by Miriam Aniel. These teachings, presentations, and conversations reflect the dynamism, warmth, passion, and kindness of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA.

What does Independence Day mean in this unique era? And how do we make a difference when the challenges we confront feel so big? In this episode (recorded at Temple Beth-El’s virtual Shabbat morning gathering on July 4, 2020), Rabbi Knopf and special guest Billy Planer (Founder & Director of Etgar 36, an independent, pluralistic, nonpartisan and nonprofit Jewish educational venture that empowers Jews of all ages and backgrounds to create change in the world), discuss the connections between the weekly Torah portion (Hukkat-Balak), what’s going on in our country and our world in this moment, the meaning of Independence Day in our time, and what it means to “give a damn” today. 

“Socially Distant, Spiritually Close” is recorded during virtual gatherings of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, Virginia, and is produced by Dr. Gillian Frank. Our theme music is composed and produced by Stephen Frost. Our cover art was designed by Judith Rushin, using a photograph by Miriam Aniel. These teachings, presentations, and conversations reflect the dynamism, warmth, passion, and kindness of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA.