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 – Monday, May 16, 2022
A Message From Wise Clergy Ruth Whitfield (88) went to the Tops Market in Buffalo, N.Y. to purchase her meals for the coming week. Aaron Salter (55), a retired police officer, worked as a security guard at the same store. Celestine Chaney (65) went to the market with her sister to buy strawberries for her family’s favorite strawberry shortcake. These are three of the 11 victims murdered on Saturday as they went about their daily lives, engaging in activities that should have no more risk than sitting in one’s living room. However, the actions of a hate-filled racist snuffed out their lives, and—once again—our country is devastated by an act of senseless violence. Let us call this what it is: an act of racism and terror. A gunman—inspired apparently by the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory that is virulently racist and antisemitic—traveled from his mostly white, rural community and chose a [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, May 13, 2022
Since last Friday, I’ve attended two burials, a memorial service, and a shiva minyan. Some might see this as an occupational hazard, an inseparable part of my chosen profession. It’s much more universal than that, though. It’s an existential hazard for all of us. We—along with every other living being in this universe—are finite. Death will come to us all. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (known as the “Rov”—1903-1993) taught that our tradition imagines the world as a cosmic battle between life and death. Writing about Soloveitchik’s insight, Rabbi Yitz Greenberg teaches: “God creates life and loves it. Death is the enemy, the antithesis of God. The Temple, representing perfection and the pure presence of God, is totally devoted to life. Therefore, no form of death can enter the Temple. Human beings who come in contact with the dead can enter into the Temple only after they are purified, i.e., they are born again to life.” [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, May 12, 2022
We are currently marking the counting of the Omer, the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot when we focus deeply and intentionally on how we connect to Torah on a daily basis. Although in biblical times there were no major Jewish holidays celebrated between these two festivals, we now celebrate our Israeli "High Holy Days," marking Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Ha’atzmaut (as we did these past two weeks, together as a community). And of course, this season of the Omer is typically a busy one for many of us: a time for end-of-the-year programs, celebrations, galas, and graduations. With so much going on in our day-to-day lives, there is no better time for us to re-focus our attention on the rituals of Shabbat. As a parent, I know how difficult—but also how meaningful—it is to take a few minutes at the end of each week to check in, offer one another [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, May 11, 2022
צוּף־דְּ֭בַשׁ אִמְרֵי־נֹ֑עַם מָת֥וֹק לַ֝נֶּ֗פֶשׁ וּמַרְפֵּ֥א לָעָֽצֶם׃ Encouraging words are like a honey, Sweet to the soul and a cure for the body —Proverbs 16:24 These days, my life is managed by a busy and adorable 2-year-old whose routines and moods are the ebb and flow of our household rhythm. A few weeks ago, I noticed her repeating after me when I was constantly apologizing for small things. She was such a beautiful mirror for me as I realized that she was perfectly mimicking apologizing for every little misstep, even down to putting the wrong marker on the wrong color. Of course, I want her to learn her colors correctly, but I don’t want her to pick up that she has to apologize for something so insignificant as mismatching a marker. So lately, I am consciously working on being more thoughtful about how I speak around and to her. I don’t [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Two weeks ago, Adam and I attended Center Theatre Group’s production of “Hadestown,” the 2019 Tony Award winner for best musical. We have listened to and enjoyed the cast recording many times, but there is something so unspeakably energizing about experiencing live music and theatre. I left the Ahmanson buzzing and inspired, and have continually heard the words and melody of the leading character, Orpheus, offering a toast to his friends: “To the world we dream about, and the one we live in now.” Orpheus is an idealist, an optimist, a romantic, and a stargazer. He sees the world as it is, and—perhaps more importantly—is able to paint a picture of how he hopes it can be, if allowed to fully realize its true potential. Although the show is based on the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, there is a deeply Jewish message embedded in his words. Our [...]