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 – Wednesday, January 19, 2022
The First of the Ten Commandments I am Adonai Your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. — Exodus 20:2 It is noteworthy that this verse, which we read in this week’s Torah portion, does not command or forbid any specific activity. What is of particular interest is the Ten Commandments begin with a reminder that God took us out of slavery, and therefore, Jews owe their freedom and existence to God and, as we will soon learn, God wants something in return. What does God want? God wants us to live by the ideals that are articulated in the rest of Ten Commandments and in the balance of the Torah. Such is the mission of our people. It is noteworthy that God asks for nothing for God. Rather, what God does demand is that people should treat each other justly and [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Ten Commandments and One Suggestion No words have shaped Western Civilization more than the Ten Commandments. This week those words are chanted from the Torah in synagogues around the world. The Ten Commandments are the only time in our history that God spoke to an entire people. When they are chanted in synagogue, it is the custom to stand in reverence. I will be sharing more thoughts about some of the Ten Commandments in the coming days. However, since God gave the gift of Torah and these commandments to the Jewish people to bring to humanity, I suggest we begin with a short exercise. Write down as many of the Ten Commandments you know. If there are members of your family or friends with whom you would like to collaborate, all the better. After you’ve come up with your list, compare them to those written in a very “Good Book”, [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, January 17, 2022
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day So monumental was the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that the only Federal Holiday named after an individual bears his name (though President’s Day is officially Washington’s birthday). Reverend Dr. King, a Baptist minister who was the leader of the civil rights movement in the United States and became nationally known as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, always advocated non-violence in the quest for racial equality. Yet, rather than read about him, it seems more appropriate to read his words. The following is a sampling from his speeches: Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, January 14, 2022
Teach Like God For ten summers I studied at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem (SHI). I gathered with rabbis from around North America representing the diversity of the Jewish People: Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox leaders including members of the LGBTQ+ community. Our teachers – among them the institute’s founder, Rabbi David Hartman of blessed memory - challenged us and inspired us to think creatively and critically about our tradition and its texts. One of the Institute’s most inspiring and unique programs is the Muslim Leadership Initiative which brings together members of the North American Muslim and Jewish communities for study and dialogue about the complex religious, political, and socioeconomic issues facing people in Israel and Palestine. Given my experience at the Hartman Institute, my relationships with its leadership, and my great esteem for the values the Institute carries, I was both surprised and horrified to read about a controversy [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, January 13, 2022
Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year falls in the shadow of the death of Sidney Poitier. Reading the many essays written about this great American actor reveals the complex nature of race in American history. Poitier’s career was clearly both a victory of American equality and a revelation of its enduring challenges. He often chose parts that reflected that complexity. He was the Black man who surprised the family of his white wife during a time when interracial marriages were rare in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” He starred in “A Raisin in the Sun,” the film adaptation of the Lorraine Hansberry play that depicted the challenges facing an upwardly mobile Black family as they dealt with housing discrimination, racism, and the desire of many Black people to assimilate into white society. His remarkable success was due as much to his own talent as it was to the support [...]