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, August 21, 2024
Immigration and Jewish Tradition – It’s Not Always What You Think! Just as we discovered in the brief survey of Jewish sources reflecting environmental values, traditional Jewish attitudes towards immigrants are complex. Our history is one of wandering; from the stories of crossing the Red Sea to our own ancestors crossing the Atlantic Ocean, we are certainly global nomads. Our history alone speaks to many about the need for Jews to embrace and support the immigrant. However, ancient Jewish tradition is surprisingly ambivalent in its treatment of non-Israelites (and non-Jews) who might be resident in the Holy Land. First, consider some texts that are famously, embracing of foreigners. Exodus 12:49 declares: “There shall be one law for the native and stranger who lives among you.” Deuteronomy 1:16 also declares that judges should: “Hear out your fellow and decide justly between any person and a fellow Israelite or a stranger.” Clearly these principles seek to establish a [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Judaism and The Environment – It’s Complicated!Though we often hear people asserting that this or that principle is reflective of “Jewish Values” it’s important to recognize that our tradition is multivocal. Interpretations are truly in the eyes and mind of the beholders. In so many ways, this points to the beauty of Judaism. Its depth and range of thought evokes debate and dialogue that challenges the intellect. Let’s take a look at some of the issues of our day and explore how Jewish sources might challenge us to think and rethink about our own perspectives.It is well known that various principles in the Torah prescribe a particular concern for the environment. We are charged to protect the fruit bearing trees when laying siege to a city. (Deuteronomy 20:19-20) And yet, it should be clear that Judaism has no prohibitions on clear-cutting forests for wood to build homes or even destroying [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, August 19, 2024
Tu B’Av – The Jewish Holiday of LoveRabbi Avi Weiss of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale makes a shocking assertion for a traditional rabbi. As one who believes that the Torah was written by God, he cannot easily dismiss troubling passages. So, he suggests that particular laws which appear to contradict other higher principles of Torah compel us to re-evaluate the offending law “from the prism of broader divine ethical imperatives.” Among the most profound and comprehensive principals, according to Weiss, is the concept of b’tzelem Elohim – the image of God. His reading of b’tzelem Elohim is that because all humans are created in the image of God, any Torah law that would seem to diminish the stature of another human being must be recognized as a vestige of earlier mores which reflect particular limitations of the more ancient Jewish community. Now that we have evolved beyond those limitations, we should apply these higher standards [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, August 16, 2024
This week’s Torah portion includes a verse that is undoubtedly the most well-known to all Jewish people throughout time and space. For more than three millennia, these were the first Hebrew words that most Jews would learn and, by tradition, the final words uttered before one’s death: Sh’ma Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad! Hear O Israel, the ETERNAL is your God, the ETERNAL is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4) The Sh’ma is the closest thing Judaism has to a statement of faith. Every Jew, every descendent of Israel/Jacob, is to bear witness to the fact that there is but one God. It also points to the interconnected nature of being itself. One force brought the universe into existence. Jews call that force Adonai and when we say the words of Sh’ma Yisrael, we acknowledge that profound truth. The verses that follow form the first paragraph of the V’ahavta prayer; instructing Jews to love that one God with everything we’ve got. But, [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, August 15, 2024
לֹא עָלֶיךָ הַמְּלָאכָה לִגְמֹר, וְלֹא אַתָּה בֶן חוֹרִין לִבָּטֵל מִמֶּנָּה It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it (Pirkei Avot 2:16). As an eager and precocious seventh grade Hebrew school student, I had a special opportunity to study Pirkei Avot with my beloved childhood rabbi, Raphael Asher. Rabbi Asher has a magical way of teaching that makes any text accessible for learners of every age. He introduced to us Pirkei Avot, the ethics of our ancestors, allowing us twelve and thirteen year olds to, for the first time, engage in rich and meaningful conversations around our ethical responsibilities as Jews. And rather than making this sound entirely overwhelming, he framed the conversation around the above text, reminding us that we indeed have a great obligation to learn the wisdom of our tradition and to make the world a better place, but we [...]