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, October 13, 2021
This year, we celebrate the Jubilee anniversary of women being officially recognized as Reform Jewish clergy (Rabbi Sally Priesand was ordained by the Hebrew Union College in 1971). My kavannot this week will highlight some of the unique and inspirational female voices from our tradition. Only a month ago, and thankfully unlike the previous year, we were able to gather on our campus in person for our High Holy Day services. I cannot say enough how personally meaningful and prayerful it was to be able to gather and sing safely together in person (knowing also that so many were praying with us from home). There is nothing else I could call it but a Divine Presence that existed here on this magnificent mountaintop when we gathered together to celebrate, to listen, and to worship on the most sacred days of the year. Indeed, it can be easier to feel deeply [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, October 12, 2021
This year, we celebrate the Jubilee anniversary of women being officially recognized as Jewish clergy (Rabbi Sally Priesand was ordained by the Hebrew Union College in 1971). My kavannot this week will highlight some of the unique and inspirational female voices from our tradition. All music is transcendent. Music goes beyond the ordinary limits of verbal or physical communication and can transport us through time and space in deep prayer or mindfulness. For me, there are certain songs that ring distinctly of a specific memory, and when I hear that song again, I am miraculously transported to that exact moment in the past. Music is an access point that allows us to connect with and even revisit memories and stories that might otherwise be forgotten in time. Eleven years ago, when I lived in Israel, I fell in love with the poetry and lyrics of Rachel Bluwstein (often referred to [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, October 11, 2021
This year, we celebrate the Jubilee anniversary of women being officially recognized as Jewish clergy (Rabbi Sally Priesand was ordained by the Hebrew Union College in 1971). My kavannot this week will highlight some of the unique and inspirational female voices from our tradition. I love coming up to our campus and hearing the multitude of languages buzzing—Hebrew, Farsi, or French spoken in our parking lot and on our playground, Aramaic chanted in our prayer services, English uttered in our many gatherings, and even Judeo-Spanish and Yiddish sung on special occasions. For hundreds of years, Yiddish was a language used by the majority of Jews living in central and eastern Europe. Originally a German dialect with words borrowed from Hebrew and several other modern languages, it is still used amongst mainly Orthodox communities in the United States, Israel, and throughout the world. There is a rhythm, a beauty, a mystery [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, October 8, 2021
אֵ֚לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת נֹ֔חַ נֹ֗חַ אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹֽחַ׃ “This is the line of Noah: Noah was a righteous man (tzaddik); he was blameless in his age; Noah walked with God.” — Genesis 6:9 Many commentators point out that this week’s Torah portion begins by noting that Noah was “blameless in his age.” They say that were he to have lived during the time of Abraham, for example, he wouldn’t have been considered such a tzaddik. Others argue that given how poorly those of his generation behaved, Noah’s righteousness was all the more remarkable. It takes true moral fortitude to do the right thing when those around you aren’t. Rabbi Miles Krassen, quoting Rabbi Aharon of Zhitomer, a 19th century Hasidic master, points out the repetition of Noah’s name in the verse above: “This is the line of Noah: Noah was a righteous man…” Why does the Torah include this apparent redundancy? [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, October 7, 2021
“There was throughout the earth but one language with the same words.” — Genesis 11:1 These words begin the brief tale of the Tower of Babel, the preeminent construction project undertaken by the residents of Shinar to build a name for themselves, lest they be, “scattered across the face of the earth.” Appalled by the rapid progress made by the denizens of Shinar, God intervenes to frustrate their scheme. Introducing different dialects into the population quickly leads to a work stoppage, and ultimately, the citizens scatter across the earth. But why does God intervene? According to the midrash of Rabbi Eliezer, the people became so enamored with their project that they began to neglect one another. If a builder fell to their death, no one paid notice, but if a brick dropped, the people wept. By privileging the tower at the expense of one another, the citizens of Shinar had [...]