Rabbi bonnie koppell biography sample
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American View
The unassuming brick exterior of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, located in the Dupont Circle area of the nation’s capital, belies the wealth of information funnen inside. Its carefully curated core exhibition leads visitors through the history of American conflicts by focusing on the vital military role Jews have played from colonial days to the present.
It’s impossible to provide the exact number of Jews in the armed forces past or present—one of the most frequently asked visitor questions, according to Pam Elbe, the museum’s head of acquisitions. “The government doesn’t require service members to provide their religious affiliation,” she said. “There are currently about 8,000 self-identified Jews in the military although there could be more who haven’t declared. What we do know is Jews have served from day one.”
Written on the vägg at the opening to the core exhibition, titled simply “Jews in the American Military,” is a quote fro
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By Chris Haring
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell explains her support for medical aid in dying and the right to die through personal, professional, and religious experiences
According to Rabbi Bonnie Koppell, “one of the most humble privileges is to be at the bedside of folks at the end of life,” offering prayers and solace to patients and their loved ones.
Perhaps this profound understanding led the rabbi to share her support for medical aid in dying (MAID) in a recent article for Arizona’s Jewish News. Through her experiences as a religious leader, she delves into the intersection of compassion, dignity, and personal choice in end-of-life care.
While acknowledging that Jewish law has historically strictly prohibited preemptively ending someone’s life, Rabbi Koppell notes the changing landscape. In the ancient world, survival to old age was rare, as famine, infection, war, and childhood illnesses claimed lives. But today, she says, advances in medical technology have significantly
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Shalom Center Combines Learning, Support, Spirituality
For Jews on a journey to wholeness and a deep intellectual connection to the Divine, the path to Temple Chai in Phoenix may help illuminate the way. The Temple’s Deutsch Family Shalom Center, created in 1996, is a resource center that promotes education, support groups and spiritual development by fusing Jewish wisdom, tradition and compassion.
At this spiritual oasis in Phoenix, participants grow, learn, grieve and heal while expanding their horizons regarding the many facets of spirituality and Jewish enlightenment. Rabbis, authors and educators lead programs that not only stimulate the intellect and imagination, but also enhance peace of mind, body and soul, as well. Examples of the intriguing fusion of educational and spiritual modalities include Torah study, Jewish wisdom, psalms, poetry, support networks, meditation, relaxation techniques, yoga and liturgy.
A particularly bright star in the center’s educatio