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 – Tuesday, June 8, 2021
The other day a friend of mine who lives on the East Coast reached out to me about a disturbing email exchange she had with the head of her child’s private school. She had written to the headmaster expressing her disappointment and concern that the school had not once sent out an email decrying the terrifying uptick in antisemitism over the past year, particularly over the past few weeks during the heightened tensions in the Middle East. She noted that the school, with her full support, had previously sent out messages regarding acts of racism and anti-AAPI violence. He replied that he didn’t feel comfortable “taking sides” in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Imagine a similar situation—war breaks out between India and Pakistan. At the same time, there are incidents of bigotry and hatred (possibly sparked by the violence thousands of miles away) directed at the local community of Indian-Americans. A local [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, June 7, 2021
John Oliver fails Natan Sharansky's “3D Test” It’s painful when someone we are a fan of disappoints us in some way. Of course we know that most relationships will include such moments but, even if it is somewhat expected, it can still sting. Last week the comedian John Oliver devoted a segment of his HBO show to the Israel-Palestine conflict. He acknowledged at the start that conversations about the Middle East are fraught. As he put it, “If I may quote the riskiest thing you can say on a first date: ‘Let’s talk about Israel!’” The Israel-Palestine conflict is indeed extremely complicated, which is why so much of what has been said and posted online over the last few weeks is riddled with inaccuracies. Oliver admits that it is confusing and difficult and acknowledges that he cannot hope to recap such a rich and complex history in a ten-minute segment. [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, June 4, 2021
וְשָׁמְר֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת לַעֲשׂ֧וֹת אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּ֛ת לְדֹרֹתָ֖ם בְּרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם׃ בֵּינִ֗י וּבֵין֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל א֥וֹת הִ֖וא לְעֹלָ֑ם כִּי־שֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֗ים עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י שָׁבַ֖ת וַיִּנָּפַֽשׁ׃ The People of Israel will keep Shabbat, observing Shabbat throughout the ages as a covenant for all time. It will be a sign forever between Me and the People of Israel, for in six days God made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day, God rested and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:16-17) The Sabbath is our sacred “time out,” a reminder from our tradition to stop as God did from creation, distraction, and busy-ness. I love to think of Shabbat not as a time of hindrance or limitation, but rather, a time of great abundance, a space to acknowledge all that God has given us and to give ourselves more—more love, more care, more nourishment, more family time, more prayer, more reading, more connection, more [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, June 3, 2021
In 2011-2012, I spent my first year of cantorial school living in Jerusalem, which was undoubtedly the most magical and memorable year of my life (with the exception being this past special year with my daughter, Ruby). I studied and spoke Hebrew every day, enjoyed living on the rhythm of the Jewish calendar, davened (prayed) at many different synagogues enjoying a variety of musical traditions, and absolutely fell in love with the land and the people (as well as my wonderful husband, Adam, who I met that year). It was a relatively peaceful year, Jerusalem existing in its own quiet and mystical rhythm, and I was lucky and blessed to be safe walking the streets of my favorite city for eleven sweet months. Jerusalem is my forever home and a part of my heart is, as Yehuda HaLevi so perfectly put it, always in the East. While we are greatly uplifted by [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, June 2, 2021
When I was eleven months old, my parents heard me singing along in the backseat of the car to Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry Be Happy,” and I was humming and singing long before I could speak in full sentences. I was just five years old when I danced and sang as a “lost boy” in a local production of Peter Pan and I spent the majority of my childhood and adolescence singing from both the stage and bima. In my late teens and early adult years my calling to become a cantor became clear to me, but the anthems of musical theatre (most of which have been written by Jews) still include some of my favorite melodies from any era and can offer a different medium of connection to the Divine. Listening to and singing music has kept me focused and hopeful throughout my entire life, this year more than ever. Amidst [...]