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 – Wednesday, April 26, 2023
This week, different members of our clergy will share thoughts about Israel. Today Rabbi Sari Laufer writes on Yom HaAtzmaut. Confession: I have never been in Israel for Yom HaAtzmaut. My Year in Israel, the first year of rabbinical school, coincided with the worst year of the Second Intifada. And in March 2022, after the deadly bombing of Moment Cafe in Jerusalem (coincidentally directly below my apartment; I was in Istanbul at the time), the difficult decision was made to end our program early and allow students to return to the United States before the end of the academic year. And so, while I celebrated Passover that year in Jerusalem, I was not there by the time Yom HaAtzmaut rolled around, and none of my many subsequent trips have coincided with Yom HaAtzmaut. So, let’s just say it is on my Zionist bucket list. I won’t be in Israel [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, April 25, 2023
This week, different members of our clergy will share thoughts about Israel. Today Rabbi Josh Knobel writes on Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut. As Yom HaZikaron, Israeli Memorial Day, ebbs and gives way to Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's 75th Independence Day, one cannot avoid the juxtaposition of grief and celebration. I’ve heard some question the wisdom of placing these two days side by side, suggesting that the two may take away from one another by evoking opposing emotions. Having watched firsthand as American 12-year-olds endured the rapid transition from anguish to exhilaration for the very first time as part of our Wise School Israel delegation, I can attest that it can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride, especially for the uninitiated. And yet, much of Jewish ritual is about balancing contrary ideas—grief with gratitude, joy with sadness, anger with appreciation. In our recent Passover seders, we interrupted our celebration [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, April 24, 2023
This week, different members of our clergy will share thoughts about Israel. Today Rabbi David Woznica writes on Erev Yom HaZikaron: Israel’s Memorial Day. Eighteen Hundred and Seventy-Eight Years The Second Temple, which served as the center of Jewish life in Jerusalem, was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 c.e. It would be 1,878 years before the modern State of Israel declared its independence in 1948. During those years, Jews hoped, prayed, and gave their lives for the dream of Israel. Yom HaZikaron, which begins tonight, is dedicated to the memory of Israel's fallen soldiers of war who lost their lives to establish the State of Israel, soldiers who died while defending the country, and victims of terrorism. My wife and I took our two sons to Israel for the first time when they were ages 11 and 7. Naturally, we went to the Western Wall (Kotel). There [...]
Daily Kavanah – Shabbat Message from Rabbi David Woznica – Friday, April 21, 2023
Your Seat in Synagogue When my family attends services at Stephen Wise Temple, we invariably sit in the section on the right, third row, on the aisle in the sanctuary. We are not alone. Many who regularly attend services also sit in their "usual" seats. On High Holy Days, congregants often look for specific seats year after year. If they are not available, they tend to look for seats nearby. Those seats feel like home. The concept is called "makom kavua," a person's designated place to pray. It is not a new notion. The Talmud (Berakot 6a) attributes it to Abraham, suggesting that when Abraham stood before God, he was careful to do so in the same place. Familiarity often brings comfort. We settle in quickly. As a youngster, when I went to services with my parents at Adat Ari El, my father was vigilant, especially on the High Holy Days, [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, April 20, 2023
This week Rabbi Woznica reflects on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Memory Earlier this week, on Yom HaShoah, we paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. There are six commandments of remembrance in the Torah. We are commanded to “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8); to remember the Exodus from Egypt (Deuteronomy 16:3), the revelation at Sinai (Deut. 4:9-10); to remember what the arch enemy of Israel, “Amalek did to you on your journey after you left Egypt …” (Deut: 25:17-19); to remember the Golden Calf and rebelling in the desert (Deut 9:7); and to remember God’s punishment of Miriam for speaking badly of Moses (Deut. 24:9). Why is memory so vital? Memory helps us to learn from history. Without memory, there is no wisdom, as we cannot learn from the past. Memory connects us to our ancestors and reminds us [...]