Rabbi Knopf's Blog

Dear friends,

Less than a month from now (on January 25-26), Temple Beth-El is hosting Rabbi Sharon Brous as our our Scholar-in-Residence. Rabbi Brous, the founding rabbi of IKAR (www.ikar-la.org), has developed a wildly successful recipe for capturing the hearts and imagination of younger Jews (as well as Jews of all generations), inspiring renewed Jewish passions. Her thriving and rapidly growing community is built on reimagining Judaism for the 21st century, thinking expansively about what it means to be Jewish today, and harnessing the Jewish tradition as a force for a more just and peaceful society. 

For nearly a decade now, Rabbi Brous has been my rabbi — my teacher, my mentor, and my friend. She has played an enormous part in shaping me into the rabbi - and the person - I am today. 

When I was in rabbinical school, IKAR was my spiritual home, Rabbi Brous my spiritual leader. As her congregant and student, and now as her colleague, Rabbi Brous has taught me and countless others how to breathe new life into our ancient tradition and how to harness our heritage so that Judaism can live up to its call to be a powerful force for social change. 

I want to personally invite you to experience Rabbi Brous’ powerful and poignant teaching first-hand. I know she will inspire you as he has inspired me. 

Over the course of an unforgettable Shabbat, Rabbi Brous will share with us insights from her experience fashioning bold, soulful, purposeful, inclusive vision of Jewish community, and teach us how we, too, can revitalize our congregation and ensure Judaism remains meaningful and relevant for our children and grandchildren.

If you don’t know about Rabbi Brous, I encourage you to look at her website, www.ikar-la.org, and learn more. You can read her bio and articles, listen to her sermons, and learn about the spiritual community — and movement — she built. I really hope you will be able to join us for any and all parts of our Scholar in Residence weekend. I believe it will be a transformative experience for everyone who attends, and for the whole community (all are welcome, regardless of synagogue affiliation or religious background).

Also, if you are so moved, I’d also like to invite you to consider making a gift to support this important program. I am hopeful you might be moved to help out at whatever level is comfortable for you. Whatever you are able to give, your generous gift toward this program will have a lasting effect for years to come. You can make a donation online by clicking here.

For more information about our weekend with Rabbi Brous, please click on the link  below. You are also welcome to be in touch with me, and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

L’shalom,
Rabbi Knopf