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, February 3, 2025
This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shirah. The Torah portion, B’Shalach, features Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea, which celebrates the ultimate triumph over Egypt, as the Israelites walk through the Sea of Reeds on dry land toward freedom. I’ve often heard storytellers envision the powerful drama of the crossing;, inviting listeners to imagine themselves at the sea, passing between the waters, perhaps even looking for sea creatures suspended within the waves. Watching the waters hovering, listening to the waves roaring, smelling and tasting the salty air, and feeling the mushy mud between our toes helps transport us into the majesty of this transcendent moment. But what if, absent vision, we couldn’t see the waters hovering? What if, absent hearing, we couldn’t hear the waves roaring? What if, absent speech, we stood by and watched as Israel rejoiced together in song, without us? Even miracles cannot erase the hardship of disability. As [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, January 31, 2025
Yesterday, three more Israeli hostages came home: Agam Berger (20), Gadi Moshe Mozes (80), and Arbel Yehoud (29). Additionally, Hamas terrorists released five Thai nationals who had also been held in captivity since October 7, 2023. These releases were an uplifting close to an emotional week. On Monday, we commemorated 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. The juxtaposition of these events forces us to imagine how different the fate of the six million might have been had Israel existed at that time. The stories of Gadi, Arbel, and Agam are inspiring and important. As members of their extended family, we have an obligation not only to be their advocates but also to bear witness to the trials they endured. Gadi Moshe Mozes was born in Hadera and moved to Kibbutz Nir Oz sixty years ago. His partner, Efrat Katz, was killed on October 7. Gadi loves gardening and helped [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, January 30, 2025
Today begins the Hebrew month of Shevat, a month in which we celebrate Tu b’Shevat and the new year of the trees. Entering Shevat this year may feel more challenging than in other years; the landscape and nature that surrounds us has changed significantly in recent weeks. And yet, trees still stand. The amazing thing about trees is their natural adaptations to withstand fire - their thick bark serves as a heat shield, protecting their inner layers, while the moisture inside trees makes them less flammable. There is hope for a tree; If it is cut down it will renew itself; Its shoots will not cease. If its roots are old in the earth, And its stump dies in the ground, At the scent of water it will bud And produce branches like a sapling. - Job 14:7-9 כִּי יֵשׁ לָעֵץ תִּקְוָה אִם־יִכָּרֵת וְעוֹד יַחֲלִיף וְיֹנַקְתּוֹ לֹא תֶחְדָּל׃ אִם־יַזְקִין [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, January 29, 2025
This week, Parashat Bo recounts the last three plagues brought upon Egypt: locusts, darkness, and death of the firstborn. Familiar to many from the Passover seder, this moment in our text opens with God saying to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, I have hardened his heart.” I often find myself wondering about Moses in these moments: what is going through his mind? Here he is being told by his God, the God of the Hebrews, to go to his adoptive brother, the most powerful man in Egypt, and make a major demand. If I were in Moses’ position, would I have the courage to go to Pharaoh? Would you?In the first two verses, God speaks only to Moses. However, in the third verse, Moses and Aaron go to Pharaoh together. Multiple times in the Exodus narrative, God speaks exclusively to Moses before Moses and Aaron proceed in unison. If one of my siblings came to [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, January 28, 2025
When looking at this week's Parsha, Parshat Bo, it is hard not to see comparisons between what happened in Egypt regarding the ten plagues and what has happened in Israel and Gaza since October 7. The hostages can be compared to the Israelite slaves, and the Palistinians to the Egyptians. In Gaza, like Egypt in the Exodus story, there were innocent civilians who were killed in order to free the hostages. Hamas chose to start a war and to use their civilians as human shields just as Pharaoh allowed his people to suffer through the ten plagues. The big difference, however, is that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that Pharaoh didn’t always have a choice when it came to refusing to free the Israelites. Every year, when we read this portion, and again when we read the story on Passover, I always feel conflicted about the final plague. I have [...]