Rabbi Michael Knopf Installation Weekend

Friday, May 2 – Sunday, May 4, 2025

Welcome to our special website page containing all the information you need to know about Rabbi Knopf’s installation weekend. Please review the schedule of activities and register for those events that you and your family plan on attending. Kindly RSVP by Monday, April 26, so we can plan accordingly.

Cultivating Community and Repairing the World

Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God — Micah 6:8

Schedule of Events

Friday, May 2, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Kabbalat Shabbat Services with D’var Torah by Rabbi Josh Jeffreys
Special Oneg Gathering

Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Shabbat Morning Service with D’var Torah by Rabbi Abe Friedman
Rabbi Knopf’s Installation Ceremony
Luncheon & Interactive Learning Session with Rabbi Abe Friedman

Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Congregational Community Service Project to Benefit
the JFS Schoke Anachnu Program for Holocaust Survivors
Dessert Reception & Whiskey Tasting
Havdalah Service at 8:35 p.m.

Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
Morning Minyan
9:45 a.m. – Brunch & Learn – Adult Learning Session with Rabbi Michelle Dardashti
“Counting Our Days, Counting Each Other”
Rabbi Dardashti is the Senior Rabbi at Kane Street Synagogue in Brooklyn and formerly TBE’s director of community engagement from 2011-2013. She is also an old friend of Rabbi Knopf and thrilled to be returning to TBE to be part of the magic of his Installation Weekend. Rabbi Dardashti will offer a teaching about the Omer that helps us make sense of both the daily ritual and the varying ways we can each connect to Judaism.

Special Guest Rabbis
Rabbi Michelle Dardashti, Senior Rabbi, Kane Street Synagogue, Brooklyn, NY
Rabbi Abe Friedman, Senior Rabbi, Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel, Philadelphia, PA
Rabbi Josh Jeffreys, Jewish Chaplain and Director Religious Life, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA

Temple Beth El Clergy
Rabbi Gerry Ginsburg, Associate Rabbi
Cantor Katie Kaplan

Sign Up for the Weekend

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Rabbi Michael Knopf Trivia Game

Trivia question #6: Rabbi Knopf is planning a family trip to Montreal, Canada this summer. Which iconic stop will he be making along the way?

• The Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory, Waterbury, VT
• The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, Burlington, VT
• The Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, MA
• Santa’s Village Theme Park, Jefferson, NH
• A Maple Syrup Museum, Brattleboro, VT

The answer is: Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. If you got it right, great job.

Trivia question #5: Who’s on a mission to ignite prophetic voices and stir up social justice action, all while juggling a doctoral degree (defending this spring!) and having authored two powerful books, Thirty Days of Liberation and No Time for Neutrality?

• A superhero in disguise
• A future Doctor of Divinity with a passion for justice
• The author your bookshelves have been waiting for
• Rabbi Michael Knopf
• All of the above

The answer is: All of the above.

Trivia question #4: Which city has Rabbi Knopf NOT lived in?

• NYC
• Jerusalem
• LA
• Philadelphia
• Chicago

The answer is: Chicago!

Trivia question #3: What is the name of the rabbi’s podcast that explores the intersection of Judaism and Pop culture?

• Torah & Trends
• The Bagel Report
• PopTorah
• The Kosher Culture Club
• Chutzpah & Chill

The answer is: PopTorah! Rabbi Knopf shares the mic with his lifelong friend Rabbi Jesse Olitzky. To enjoy their perspectives, click here.

Trivia question #2: Rabbi Knopf had a short-lived high school music career. During that brief period, he was the lead singer of a punk band called Slam Chowder and also created (underappreciated) electronic music under the pseudonym “Thirty Pieces of Silver”. What was the name of his first (and only) album?

• Silver Strings
• Midnight Harmony
• Rust
• Prophets of Punk

The answer is: Rust! Thankfully, only one or two copies are out in the world! But wouldn’t we all love to get our hands on those copies?!

Trivia question #1: Which hobby does Rabbi Knopf enjoy in his free time?

• Skydiving
• Running half-marathons
• Playing the banjo
• Baking Challah
• All of the above

The answer is: Running half-marathons! Rabbi Knopf enjoys running pretty much every day and has completed three half-marathons, including one at Walt Disney World in Orlando with his mother!