Rabbi Bonnie Koppell

06/07/2026

Join Rabbi Koppell on an exciting trip to Berlin and Prague. See all the details in the link below
https://secure.ayelet.com/KoppellBerlin2026.aspx

05/22/2026

So many gorgeous observations from Annie Dillard's classic work, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.

136. “. . . (had nothing to do with) the invisible power that taught him how to breathe from within and control his heartbeats, and that had permitted him to understand why men are afraid of death.”- Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude, p. 35 This quote is a flashing moment of insight into th...

05/11/2026

Sharing some more quotes, including a particular favorite from ibn Gabirol on seeking wisdom, which requires, first and foremost silence, then listening, remembering, practicing, and, finally, teaching others.

126. “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” (Deuteronomy 16:20) Of all the values in Judaism- kindness, generosity, compassion. Justice is preeminent. Without a foundation of justice, society cannot endure. I love the way Ahad HaAm expresses it- so powerful- “it was their all. . . .(it) is beaut...

04/05/2026

I've taken a break for a few months from reviewing my lifetime collection of quotes, but visited again today to find some gems.

116. “But a man’s own safety is a god that sometimes makes very grim demands.”- George Eliot, Romola, p. 512 George Eliot is right.  Many things about which we think- “I could/would never do that,” suddenly become feasible when we feel threatened.  Or, when there is a threat to someone w...

03/12/2026

https://azrabbi.com/ki-tissa-faith-and-gods-13-attributes/

What if my faith is challenged?

Our Mussar class recently studied the very challenging, well, challenging to me, at least, middah of Emunah- faith.  Thank goodness our tradition focuses much more on action than on belief.  We have broad latitude about how we see God, how we connect with God, how we question God.  The emphasis i...

03/12/2026

https://azrabbi.com/tetzaveh-priestly-attire-and-ours/

How the priestly attire impacts the thinking of the priest and the community.

Have you ever been in a marching band?  Played on a sports team?  Served in the Army?  Very different activities, yet they have one thing in common.  Each one mandates a specific uniform.  And if you’ve ever dressed in a uniform, perhaps you’ve felt, as I certainly have, that wearing that u...

02/24/2026

Join Rabbi Bonnie Koppell for an inspiring discussion as she shares insights from The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly by Margareta Magnusson.

02/10/2026