“What’s the point of Judaism?” How many of us have asked this question? Turns out, Jews have been asking them for a long time. Join Rabbi Knopf as he and his students study and discuss “Sefer Ha-Hinukh / The Book of Education.” Written anonymously in the mid-13th century, this radical book offers rationales for every commandment in the Torah.
This week, a very challenging topic: why does the Torah command that murderers be executed? What’s the point of the death penalty, and is the point relevant in our time?
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Rabbi Michael Knopf is the Rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Richmond, VA. He is dedicated to engaging and supporting spiritual seekers; communicating the transformative power of Torah and prayer; and building welcoming, supportive, and inspiring community. These passions inspired him, prior to assuming the pulpit at Temple Beth-El, to serve as Assistant Rabbi of Har Zion Temple in Penn Valley, PA. Before his ordination from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in 2011, Rabbi Knopf helped coordinate the nation’s largest preparatory program for conversion to Judaism; worked as a spiritual counselor at Beit T’Shuvah, a Jewish addiction treatment facility; and served several congregations and educational institutions in the U.S. and Canada. Rabbi Knopf is a regular contributor to Haaretz’s “Rabbi’s Roundtable” blog, Jewish Values Online, and other publications; produces a weekly video message; and is cultivating a national reputation for scholarship in theology and Jewish law. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Rabbi Knopf enjoys movies, traveling, and pizza.
Latest posts by Rabbi Michael Knopf (see all)
- Despair is Not an Option - March 19, 2020
- The Identities of the Prophets - March 5, 2020
- The Prophets: An Interfaith Exploration (Part One) - February 20, 2020
