Daily Kavanot
Writings of reflection by the Stephen Wise Temple clergy.
Each weekday morning, members of our mailing list receive the “Daily Kavanah,” which includes messages of thought, inspiration, and contemplation from our clergy, along with a schedule of events. Every Thursday, the “Daily Kavanah” turns into “Eyes on Wise,” our weekly newsletter featuring the latest news, photos, videos, stories, and tikkun olam opportunities from our community. Sign up and don’t miss out!
Daily Kavanah – Friday, May 17, 2024
This past Tuesday we celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day. Our joy was, of course, muted given the terrible war we find ourselves in and the fact that so many of our family are still held captive in Gaza after enduring more than 224 days of hell. There is an insertion to our liturgy on Yom Ha’Atzmaut which I find particularly resonant and inspiring at this moment. In one section of the Amidah, the central prayer of our service, there is a passage known as “Modim (Thanksgiving),” where we express our gratitude for the many gifts, including the gift of life itself, that God showers upon us day by day. On Yom Ha’Atzmaut, we add special words of gratitude for the gift of sovereignty. With all of its messiness, challenges, and obligations, our return to power has been an extraordinary blessing which we must never take for granted. One [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, May 16, 2024
The Happiest Countries in the World 2024: Israel is Near the TopDuring a Stephen Wise Temple trip to Israel, I had the opportunity to speak with one of our tour guides, David. He shared a unique perspective, having been born in America and made Aliyah about 25 years earlier. I was curious to know how Israel had changed since his move.He responded, “When I moved to Israel, like many American Jews, I did so for idealistic reasons. I felt a Jew should live in Israel. Today, you can make Aliyah for another reason. Israel is a great place to live. It’s a great place to raise a family.”His feelings mirror those of a large percentage of Israelis. Israelis are among the happiest people in the world.The World Happiness Report is an annual publication that compiles data from more than 140 countries. It is published by Gallup, the United Nations, and [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, May 15, 2024
“In Israel, in order to be a realist you must believe in miracles.” — David Ben Gurion On Saturday April 13, as citizens of Israel were enjoying their day of rest, Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles in its first direct attack on Israeli territory. For Israelis and Jews and lovers of Israel around the world, it was a day of great trepidation and anxiety. Thankfully, Israeli forces and the Iron Dome were able to intercept most of the 300 missiles and drones and there were no casualties (although a young girl was severely injured). Indeed, as Ben Gurion so wisely said, to believe in Israel is to believe in miracles—the miracles of protection, safety, and survival. Perhaps just as miraculously as the missile interception was the joyful spirit exhibited by Israelis the following day. Israeli newspapers and social media posts showed people in Tel Aviv rollerblading, taking [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Each Yom HaZikaron, I find myself drawn to the Yehuda Amichai poem, written about Yom HaZikaron itself. Entitled Who Will Remember Those Who Remembers, he wrote: What is the correct way to stand at a memorial ceremony? Erect or stooped, pulled taut as a tent or in the slumped posture of mourning, head bowed like the guilty or held high in a collective protest against death, eyes gaping frozen like the eyes of the dead or shut tight, to see stars inside? And what is the best time for remembering? At noon when shadows are hidden beneath our feet, or at twilight when shadows lengthen like longings that have no beginning, no end, like God? Israelis are, unfortunately, far too good at memorial ceremonies. From the songs to the flags to the sirens, the sense of loss permeates the country in a way that I do not think we Americans [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, May 13, 2024
Every year, on the evening of Yom HaZikaron, the Giv’olim elementary school in Ramat Gan—near northern Tel Aviv—hosts a Memorial Day ceremony for Yom HaZikaron. Parents and students alike from the local community flock to campus and sit patiently in white plastic chairs, waiting for the school principal to announce the commencement of the ceremony which features student-led poetry, dances, and music. The ceremony honors every student from the school who lost their life in defense of Israel or in acts of terror. In between performances, students or adults read biographies of each fallen alumnus, as their photo appears on a projection on the side of the school building. Until this year, the last addition to the list was Ido Naim, an alumnus who died in a military training exercise in 2000. This year, as in countless schools across Israel, new names will be added to the list, as [...]