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, November 18, 2022
When I was about 8 years old, my parents gave me a pair of roller skates for Hanukkah. I already knew how to ice skate, so I took to it quickly. I was able to maintain my balance, make nice turns, and even go pretty fast without falling. I discovered rather quickly—and painfully—that my one real roller-skating weakness was stopping. It wasn't the same technique as ice skating. This discovery was accompanied by a badly skinned knee. I remember limping back home in tears. My father who, it should be noted, is a doctor, examined the knee and said, "There, there, it doesn't look too bad. No need for tears." I'm sure he was trying to be helpful, to reassure me that no significant damage was caused by my fall, but I remember thinking, "Not too bad?!?! How can you possibly know how much this hurts?!?!" I thought of [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, November 17, 2022
Starting this Wednesday, I have the honor of continuing in Rabbi Yoshi's footsteps and leading our weekly Talmud Study. I'd love for you all to join me! In case you can't, or don't, I'll be sharing some favorite Talmud texts on learning—maybe they'll inspire you to jump in, with me or any of our other wonderful learning opportunities. Those of you who joined me yesterday for our Talmud study got to learn a favorite text of mine—one which is funny at times, but also deeply challenging in terms of the vision and conversation about leadership and the transition of power. And, as always, our conversation too was funny and (hopefully) challenging. That is, to me (and to the ancient rabbis) the goal of Torah study, and the real goal of doing it together. We turn once more to the Talmud, this time to Tractate Ta’anit, and we learn: Rabbi Ḥama, [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Starting this Wednesday, I have the honor of continuing in Rabbi Yoshi's footsteps and leading our weekly Talmud Study. I'd love for you all to join me! In case you can't, or don't, I'll be sharing some favorite Talmud texts on learning—maybe they'll inspire you to jump in, with me or any of our other wonderful learning opportunities. Today's Torah comes to you from a Kate Spade sample sale, circa 2001. Intent on a certain bag, I saw someone else eyeing it too. We both strode purposefully towards it, and it is possible that there was … an argument. These years later, I could not at all tell you who ended up with the bag, nor do I much care, but I was thinking about that incident recently, and not only because I am excited about today's WPA Holiday Boutique! I was thinking about the ways in which our common interests [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Starting this Wednesday, I have the honor of continuing in Rabbi Yoshi's footsteps and leading our weekly Talmud Study. I'd love for you all to join me! In case you can't, or don't, I'll be sharing some favorite Talmud texts on learning—maybe they'll inspire you to jump in, with me or any of our other wonderful learning opportunities. At the end of the Book of Deuteronomy, as Moses is sharing his last words with the people of Israel, he says: הַסְכֵּ֤ת ׀ וּשְׁמַע֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ נִהְיֵ֣יתָֽ לְעָ֔ם לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ Silence! Hear, O Israel! Today you have become the people of your God יהוה: While the injunction to listen (Shema) is deeply familiar to us, the command and particularly the word used here—to "Silence"—is less so, and of course, our ancient rabbis wanted to understand why silence is commanded, and even more so, why that word is used. Always up for a [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, November 14, 2022
Starting this Wednesday, I have the honor of continuing in Rabbi Yoshi's footsteps and leading our weekly Talmud Study. I'd love for you all to join me! In case you can't, or don't, I'll be sharing some favorite Talmud texts on learning—maybe they'll inspire you to jump in, with me or any of our other wonderful learning opportunities. Many of us are familiar with the concept of a minyan—the 10 people required in order to publicly offer certain prayers. Known as the dvarim she'b'kedusha—words of (or in) holiness—these prayers are largely those that feature some sort of call and response, where the leader needs the community to say "Amen," or offer some other words of affirmation. Jewish tradition allows for—and sometimes encourages—us to pray alone, but in those cases, these particular prayers are not said, because they require community. In many ways, the same is true of Jewish learning. While I would [...]