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Rabbi Peter S. Knobel
Rabbi Peter S. Knobel has been Beth Emet's spiritual leader since 1980, encouraging stimulating interaction between clergy and congregants with the goal of infusing deeper Jewish meaning into the lives of individual members and the community as a whole. As of July, 2010 Rabbi Knobel assumed the position of Rabbi Emeritus. A graduate of Hamilton College, he was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in 1969, and earned a masters in philosophy and a Ph.D. from Yale University. He came to Beth Emet from Temple Emanu-El in Groton, Connecticut.
In addition to his congregational responsibilities, Rabbi Knobel serves in leadership roles in the Reform movement on a national level as well as being actively involved in the Chicago-area community. He is the immediate past president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) and served as the CCAR of Siddur Editorial Committee. He is a past Chair of the Liturgy and Reform Practice Committee and was a member of ad hoc committees on human sexuality, homosexuality and the rabbinate, and patrilineal descent. He also is a member of the ARZA National Board, and chairs its Institute for Reform Zionism, and is a member of the board of trustees of both the Union for Reform Judaism and the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. Rabbi Knobel is past president of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Chicago Association of Reform Rabbis and is active in the Evanston Downtown Clergy Association and a member of the Board of the Council for a Parliament of the World Religions. He is a member of the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative on Peace in the Middle East.
Rabbi Knobel has taught extensively at a number of colleges including HUC-JIR, Yale University, Connecticut College and Spertus Institute, on subjects ranging from Biblical Aramaic to Jewish mysticism to Israel in Christian thought and Jewish Bioethics. He also has authored and edited numerous articles and publications in the areas of Jewish Bioethics, Liturgy and Zionist Thought and is the editor of Gates of the Seasons: A Guide for the Jewish New Year.
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Recent Sermons
Yizkor: A Personal and Precious Moment - Yom Kippur Sermon; October 8, 2011
I am a Reform Zionist - Yom Kippur Sermon; October 7, 2011
Rosh Hashanah Morning - September 29, 2011
With Truth and Kindness Sins are Forgiven - Rosh Hashanah Sermon; September 28, 2011
What I Will and What I Won't Talk About in New Zealand - September 9, 2011
Balak - July 8, 2011
Sermon from the 2008 CCAR Convention
With Truth and Kindness Sins are Forgiven - Rosh Hashanah Sermon; 2007/5768
A Nation Cannot Be Redeemed Until It Recognizes the Flaws in its Soul and Tries to Mend Them - Kol Nidre Sermon; 2007/5768
Recent Articles
Conversion: Who is the Gate Keeper - RJ.org; June 27, 2011
A Sacred Commitment - Haaretz Daily Newspaper; May 20, 2011
Parashat Chukat - Chicago Jewish News; July 4, 2008
Check out our website for previous sermons and papers as well!
