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 30, 2024
Earlier this month, I had the honor of spending ten days learning at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. As we move through the three weeks leading up to Tisha B’Av, this week will feature reflections on some of what I studied there through the lens of Tisha B’Av and October 7. Imagine that it is 1943 and you are living in Brighton, Massachusetts. It is Yom Kippur at your Orthodox synagogue, and your rabbi is a Munich-born Jew, known for his fiery rhetoric. What do you imagine he might say at that moment? Or, in Detroit in October 1918 – as World War I is still raging and you are sitting in your Reform synagogue and your rabbi gets up to speak. What might he say? And, of course, the unspoken question in a room full of rabbis – on October 8, 2023 or High Holy Days 2024… what [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, July 29, 2024
Earlier this month, I had the honor of spending ten days learning at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. As we move through the three weeks leading up to Tisha B’Av, this week will feature reflections on some of what I studied there through the lens of Tisha B’Av and October 7. On the Jewish calendar, today is the 23rd of Tammuz – placing us 6 days into the count from the 17th of Tammuz to the 9th of Av, two significant days in Jewish historical tradition. Be it because of summer vacation schedules or an ideological rejection of rebuilding the Temple, these days have often been lost to the liberal Jewish world – and yet this year they loom – powerful and intense. According to tradition, the 17th of Tammuz marks the day that the Romans breached the walls of Jerusalem; Tisha B’Av, of course, marks the destruction [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, July 26, 2024
I’m not sure he was quite ready to let go; to give up his role as leader. On the one hand it is, objectively, an unspeakably difficult job; one filled with stress and aggravation beyond what most of us could even imagine. Half of the time, half of the people you serve are angry at you. Some of the time, they all are. And then there are those whom you don’t serve, the ones you don’t lead — your enemies, haters, those who seek your literal ruin: the destruction of both you and your nation. On the other hand, despite the headaches and heartaches, what a privilege, what an absolute privilege it is to lead. The task of leading clearly energized him, brought him purpose and meaning. Maybe it even helped him with the stutter he’d had since childhood. However, it also aged him and, bit by bit, people [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, July 25, 2024
The Jewish Wedding Summer is a popular season for weddings. Rabbi Woznica considers adding a custom he recently witnessed. A Beautiful and Meaningful Custom Allow me to set the scene: During the wedding processional, the groom stood under the chuppah with his family. They were followed by the bride, flanked by her parents. Then, as they walked down the aisle toward the chuppah, they paused. The groom walked back toward his bride. She embraced her parents, as did the groom. Her parents walked toward the chuppah. The bride and groom remained behind. What happened next was, for me, a first. As the bride and groom approached the chuppah, their respective fathers took a few steps in front of it. They each held a Chumash, the Torah in book form. Standing on each side of the runway, holding their respective Chumashim (books) high, they raised them across the aisle until the books touched. [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, July 24, 2024
The Jewish Wedding Summer is a busy season for weddings. Rabbi Woznica shares thoughts on an ancient ritual that can prepare the couple. A Trip to the Mikvah – Really? When meeting with a couple to be married, I enjoy sharing the many traditions which lead up to, and occur during, the Jewish wedding; encouraging them to incorporate those which they believe will be meaningful. Some couples are pleasantly surprised when I suggest they consider a trip to the mikvah. The mikvah is a Jewish ritual bath. There are various reasons as to why women and men immerse in the mikvah (separately, of course). Many traditional Jews use the mikvah regularly before Shabbat and Yom Kippur, as do women who observe the laws of family purity. Immersion in a mikvah is also part of the process of conversion to Judaism. I invite the bride and groom to consider immersion in the mikvah before their wedding. While many in our community may [...]