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, December 30, 2022
This week, The Washington Post and The Times of Israel reported on a letter signed by more than 300 U.S. rabbis and cantors from the Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements concerning the new Israeli government which was sworn in on Thursday. The open letter expresses its disapproval in particular of the inclusion of two political parties: the Religious Zionist Party and the Otzma Yehudit party. During the campaign leading up to the most recent national election—the fifth in the last four years—these two parties campaigned on regressive platforms. The parties' policy proposals call for: a change in the Law of Return to exclude those who converted to Judaism under the supervision of Conservative, Reform, or Reconstructionist clergy; erosion of rights for LGBTQ+ persons and women; diminishment of the power of the judiciary and Supreme Court; annexation of the West Bank without allowing its Palestinian residents the right to vote; [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, December 29, 2022
In the "Eco Bible" I introduced yesterday, each discussion of the weekly parsha (Torah portion) culminates with action items. Rabbis Neril and Dee guide us through relevant verses of Torah, they provide insights from Jewish scholars across the generations, and then they present concrete steps that each of us can take to reduce our environmental footprint and take real efforts towards more sustainable living. The first chapter of the book explores the many layers of the creation story that is found in the book of Genesis. A cross-generational dialogue ensues where medieval and ancient scholars provide their insights, and the modern authors respond with theirs. When Rav David Kimchi (13th century, France) interprets Genesis 1:22—where God instructs the fish and birds to be fertile and multiply—Kimchi adds that it is their role to increase in numbers and give rise to many future generations. The authors of the "Eco Bible" respond by noting that [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, December 28, 2022
I was recently reminded of a classic, ancient rabbinic parable. A passenger on a crowded small ship suddenly takes out a drill and starts drilling through the bottom of the boat. A fellow passenger exclaims: "What are you doing!? You're going to swamp us all!" At which point the passenger with the drill responds: "Why is it your problem, I'm only drilling under my own seat!" Why is it that the obvious shortsightedness of that would-be hole driller fails to translate into our own understanding of our lives on earth? That is the question posed by the latest book I’m reading. It’s called the "Eco Bible" and seeks to reflect the wisdom of the Torah and Jewish commentaries as they impact our behaviors toward sustaining our earthly environment. Clearly, these authors believe that far too many of us are drilling holes in the boat. Their contention is that science [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, December 27, 2022
From my vantage point as a teen growing up in New Jersey in the 1970s, California was barely on my radar. Of course, the familiar and iconic images reigned large, but apart from a few family vacations, the true nature of the Golden State evaded my awareness. When one of my high school friends made the decision to attend UCLA, it was as if she had traveled to a distant planet. Her stories of sun-drenched beach parties and boat rides on the Pacific were the stuff of movies. After spending two years here for rabbinical school, Becky and I were smitten and embraced job offers that brought us to LA-LA land! We haven't looked back. Among the many factors that make this state appealing (beyond the sunshine, lifestyle, and sheer natural beauty) is the commitment to being on the cutting edge of change. While it must be said that [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, December 26, 2022
Though Hanukkah is in our rearview mirror, its message of hope—that the few can triumph over the many— is an important principle to inspire our hopes for the year ahead. The arrival of 2023 conveys a stark truth: Though we mark the passage of time in yearly segments, simply turning the page on the calendar doesn't change the state of our lives or the world. The challenges of 2022, after all, do not disappear at the stroke of midnight on December 31. The good news, however, is that our human resilience, resourcefulness, and strength also come with us! That is how the inspiration that flows to us from the glow of the Hanukkah lights endures. One of my favorite Hanukkah songs is "Mi Yimaleil G’vurot Yisrael" (מי ימלל גבורות ישראל). You can find the entire song here. The first verse translated literally is: Who can recount the heroes of Israel, who [...]