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, March 21, 2022
As I write this, I’m still recovering from the time change due to daylight saving. It’s remarkable how our internal clocks are set and reset, and how external adjustments—whether the simple act of adjusting our clocks or flying across time zones—upsets the synchronization of our bodies with the world around us. We similarly must adjust to the changing seasons, whether it’s shorter days and colder nights that drive us inside, or the glorious days of summer that lift our spirits and remind us of the gift of our California sunshine. Among Judaism’s earliest innovations was to manage the passage of time in ways that would create a uniquely Jewish (or in the Bible’s case, Israelite) experience of the days, weeks, months, and seasons. Other religions, of course, mark time in their own ways with their own holidays and daily rituals, but of the world’s western religions, Judaism was the first [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, March 18, 2022
This past Wednesday and Thursday, we celebrated Purim and remembered a time when our community was threatened by a genocidal demagogue. In that terrifying moment, we were very much on our own. There were no other nations standing by our side. There was no NATO, no European Union, and no U.N. to turn to for help. Thankfully, Esther was able to convince the king to allow our ancestors to defend themselves, and thus we narrowly avoided what would have been a catastrophe. To read this story now, as we witness the horrifying images and stories emanating from Ukraine, is simply chilling. We are witnessing—in real time—war crimes being committed by the Russian leadership and military that are leading to the displacement of millions of innocents, not to mention the destruction of property and— most tragically of all—the loss of life. The Ukrainian people, under the inspiring leadership of President Volodymyr [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, March 17, 2022
Toward the end of the Book of Esther (Esther 9:22), our story recounts: וְהַחֹ֗דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָהֶ֤ם מִיָּגוֹן֙ לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמֵאֵ֖בֶל לְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם יְמֵי֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמִשְׁל֤וֹחַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ וּמַתָּנ֖וֹת לָֽאֶבְיוֹנִֽים׃ The month which was turned for them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. From this, we are taught three out of the four mitzvot we are obligated to perform as part of our Purim celebrations. This week, leading up to Purim itself, we’ll explore each one of these four expectations, and what it might teach us about Purim and about ourselves. Who is the hero of the Purim story? I have found that this is a question to ask of all ages, from our youngest learners to those encountering the story [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Toward the end of the Book of Esther (Esther 9:22), our story recounts: וְהַחֹ֗דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָהֶ֤ם מִיָּגוֹן֙ לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמֵאֵ֖בֶל לְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם יְמֵי֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמִשְׁל֤וֹחַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ וּמַתָּנ֖וֹת לָֽאֶבְיוֹנִֽים׃ The month which was turned for them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. From this, we are taught three out of the four mitzvot we are obligated to perform as part of our Purim celebrations. This week, leading up to Purim itself, we’ll explore each one of these four expectations, and what it might teach us about Purim and about ourselves. לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם יְמֵי֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה They should make them days of feasting and gladness … In both rabbinic literature and college campus Purim celebrations, much is made of the command for [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Toward the end of the Book of Esther (Esther 9:22), our story recounts: וְהַחֹ֗דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר֩ נֶהְפַּ֨ךְ לָהֶ֤ם מִיָּגוֹן֙ לְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמֵאֵ֖בֶל לְי֣וֹם ט֑וֹב לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אוֹתָ֗ם יְמֵי֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה וְשִׂמְחָ֔ה וּמִשְׁל֤וֹחַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ וּמַתָּנ֖וֹת לָֽאֶבְיוֹנִֽים׃ The month which was turned for them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. From this, we are taught three out of the four mitzvot we are obligated to perform as part of our Purim celebrations. This week, leading up to Purim itself, we’ll explore each one of these four expectations, and what it might teach us about Purim and about ourselves. וּמִשְׁל֤וֹחַ מָנוֹת֙ אִ֣ישׁ לְרֵעֵ֔הוּ Sending Portions to One Another I have always thought that one of the themes of the Book of Esther, or at least of Esther’s life, is [...]