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 – Friday, February 2, 2024
On Sunday I’m flying to Israel, my third trip since October 7. This time I’m leading a solidarity mission with members of our Wise family. We have three primary goals: 1) bearing witness to the atrocities, the stories of those who lost their lives, those who survived, and those who are still in captivity; 2) providing support through our presence, our labor, and our tzedakah; and 3) learning as much as we can about the current situation including possible ways forward that would include the return of the remaining hostages and the removal of the Hamas terrorist regime.A few friends have asked me why I keep traveling to a war-zone. Generally one would endeavor to flee from a place of hostility and danger instead of the other way around. But that’s not true when we’re family. What wouldn’t you do for a family member? Most of us, I’m sure, would fly [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, February 1, 2024
With the October attack on Israel and subsequent public antisemitism, especially at universities, it is important to ask: What are the reasons for the hatred of Jews and Israel? This week Rabbi David Woznica shares his thoughts. The Jews are the Conscience of the World For many reading this, to be a moral conscience in the world is a source of pride. But to the greatest antisemite in history, Adolf Hitler (Yimach shemo*), it was evil. “Conscience” he said, “is a Jewish invention; it is a blemish, like circumcision.” “The Jews have inflicted two wounds on the world: Circumcision for the body and conscience for the soul. I come to free mankind from their shackles.” A people who continually hold themselves, their society and the world to moral standards are likely destined to have great admirers as well as violent detractors. If you look at the nations and individuals who hold the [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, January 31, 2024
With the October attack on Israel and subsequent public antisemitism, especially at universities, it is important to ask: What are the reasons for the hatred of Jews and Israel? This week, Rabbi David Woznica shares thoughts.A God that JudgesRosh Hashana is also known as Yom HaDin, Day of Judgement. It is also the day in which Jews commemorate the world’s creation. That a focus of one of the holiest days in the Jewish year includes God’s judgment reflects the centrality of a judging God in Judaism.Most of us do not like to be judged or put on trial. And yet, a God who judges our actions, to whom we are accountable for the way we treat others, speaks volumes about the centrality of morality in Judaism. Would we prefer a God who did not judge our actions? It would suggest our actions were not important to God.Judaism brought the concept of a judging God [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, January 30, 2024
With the October attack on Israel and subsequent public antisemitism, especially at universities, it is important to ask: What are the reasons for the hatred of Jews and Israel? This week, Rabbi David Woznica shares thoughts. The Chosen People The belief that Jews were chosen to be in a covenant with God gave Jews a unique purpose, to be a “A light unto the nations.” Jews fulfill that task by living by the mitzvot and ideals of the Torah and, as such, being an exemplar to humanity. It does not confer any superiority on Jews. Rather, it explains Jews have a mission – indeed, a responsibility. In fact, Jewish theology allows for any people to have such a relationship with God. Antisemites have often misunderstood the idea of the Chosen People to be one that smacks of supremacy, resulting in hatred of Jews. Among the tasks of the Jew is to affirm the [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, January 29, 2024
With the October attack on Israel and subsequent public antisemitism, especially at universities, it is important to ask: What are the reasons for the hatred of Jews and Israel? This week, Rabbi David Woznica shares thoughts. Why the Scapegoat Explanation Does Not Explain Antisemitism One of the most common explanations for antisemitism, widely held by Jews and others, is that the Jews are the scapegoat. This theory posits the ills of a society need to be blamed on a group (deemed the “scapegoat”) and the Jews are a convenient target. And yet, further consideration of this theory suggests it isn’t an explanation for antisemitism. While many groups and nations are (or have been) hated, there is no hatred as enduring and deep as antisemitism. Have Jews been used as scapegoats? Most certainly. Yet, this does not explain antisemitism as it does not answer the question: Why are Jews so often chosen to be the scapegoats? [...]