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, July 23, 2024
The Jewish WeddingSummer is a busy season for weddings. Rabbi Woznica shares thoughts on how one central aspect of a Jewish wedding ties us to Israel. The Seventh Blessing and IsraelYesterday (found here), I reflected on the question of rejoicing at this very difficult time for Israel and the Jewish people worldwide. Today, I’d like to focus on one aspect of the ceremony.At a Jewish wedding ceremony, it is traditional to recite what are known as the sheva brachot (seven blessings). I especially look forward to chanting them and always encourage a collective, rousing, “amen” after each one.I typically pause before the seventh blessing to read it aloud in English. Part of that blessing reads: “… O God, may there always be heard in the cities of Israel and the streets of Jerusalem: the sounds of joy and of happiness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the shouts [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, July 22, 2024
The Jewish Wedding Summer is a busy season for weddings. Rabbi Woznica shares thoughts on the challenge of celebrating during difficult days. Should We Rejoice at a Time Like This? Summer is the season of weddings, and clergy are particularly busy. Officiating a wedding allows us to meet couples at one of the best times in their lives. It is among the most elevating, satisfying, and happiest aspects of my work. Except… these are very difficult times for our people. How can one rejoice in a wedding knowing that Israel is at war and our hostages enslaved? Indeed, should we rejoice under these circumstances? We had a family wedding planned on October 14, 2023. Given the events of October 7th, we contemplated cancelling the plans and changing the date. A colleague, Rabbi Lisa Malik, influenced us. She noted that Jewish weddings typically conclude with the groom smashing a glass. While many explanations [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, July 19, 2024
An enemy seeks our destruction. Before engaging us in battle, he sends a priest to curse us. However, the priest has integrity and thus tells the one who seeks our destruction that he can only say words which God puts in his mouth. And so when the priest finally sees us, he offers words of blessing; a blessing so beautiful that for thousands of years we quote it in our own worship: “Mah tovu ohalecha Ya’akov! Mishkinotecha Yisrael! How good are your tents O Jacob! Your dwelling places O Israel!” (Numbers 24:5) The commentators wonder what it was that this priest, named Balaam, saw in us that was so beautiful. He was sent by the powerful king of Moab to curse us. Instead he offered words of praise. Why? In a time when we hear so many voices – often amplified by social media – describing what they perceive to [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, July 18, 2024
In this week’s parashah, the Moabite king Balak hires the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites. However, once the prophet reaches the Israelites, he issues several blessings. This week, we’ll examine the enduring meaning of these blessings. They crouch in wait like a lion Like a lioness, who dares to rouse them? Blessed are they who bless you And cursed are they who curse you! Numbers 24:9 Balaam’s fourth and final blessing begins with a prophecy which suggests that Israel’s victory shall arrive in a far-off future. Balaam then lists each of the various enemies within the levant that Israel will one day subdue, or outlast, before he concludes with an intriguing question: “Who shall endure, save those named by God?” From an historical perspective, Balaam’s blessing rings true – each nation mentioned in this blessing is no more, save Israel. The Jewish people have watched nations and empires [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, July 17, 2024
In this week’s parashah, the Moabite king, Balak, hires the prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites. However, once the prophet reaches the Israelites, he issues several blessings. This week, we’ll examine the enduring meaning of those blessings.How fair are your tents, Jacob,Your dwellings, Israel!Like palms they stretch forth,Like gardens upon the river bank,Like aloes planted by Adonai,Like cedars upon the water,Their boughs drip with moistureTheir roots sit in abundant water…- Numbers 24:5-7Balaam’s third blessing describes the Israelite desert encampment as a lush oasis and begins with a verse of praise for their dwellings. This first verse has since been incorporated into the daily liturgy as the Mah Tovu prayer, which is to be recited when worshippers first enter the prayer space in the morning. Thus, we have come to understand this verse as an indication of our connection to the spiritual realm.However, as the next verse reveals, the initial implication of the [...]