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 – Monday, July 15, 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.From the tops of the cliffs, I spy them.From the hills I observe them.They are a people that dwells apart,And the nations make no designs for them.Numbers 23:9In many ways, Balaam’s first blessing articulates an eternal desire of the Jewish people – to remain distinct in our Jewish character and values while simultaneously escaping the scheming, scapegoating, and savagery that has followed that distinctiveness for millennia.Throughout history, countless Jews have sought to avoid the malicious designs of other nations by abandoning their Jewish distinctiveness and fully integrating into other nations. Similarly, many among our people have tried throughout the millennia to fully separate ourselves from the world, hoping that in our isolation we could [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, July 12, 2024
One of my friends and I frequently disagree about a fundamental aspect of human nature. He thinks that people are drawn to wickedness; that given the choice, most people would do the wrong thing most of the time. I tend to view people more favorably or, as he might put it, more naively. Our debate is as old as time. In our Jewish tradition, the exemplars of this dispute are Hillel and Shammai, the greatest sages of their generation. They lived in the first century B.C.E. in the land of Israel. The Talmud records a variety of halakhic (Jewish legal) disputes between them. For some two and half years, Shammai and Hillel argued about a matter that gets at the very heart of the human condition: given our propensity towards violence and evil as well as the deplorable nature of so many of our desires and actions, is it ultimately a good [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, July 11, 2024
The Torah is a complicated book. Its origins are obscure, its contradictions are many, its stories range from heartwarming to confounding; some of its principles transcend generations while others are clearly of a different place and time. This week’s Torah portion provides an excellent opportunity for an exploration of the complex nature of our Torah text. The portion is called Chukat and you can find it here. “Miriam died there and was buried there.” (Num 20:1). That’s all we get about the end of Miriam the prophetesses’ life. Contrast this with descriptions of Moses’ death where he is praised and extolled about as Israel’s greatest leader: “Moses the servant of יהוה died… in the land of Moab at the command of יהוה and [God] buried him.” (Deut 34:5-6). Moses’ brother, Aaron, is also honored; his death is foretold by God and Moses gently prepares him for his end: Moses stripped Aaron of his [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, July 10, 2024
The Torah is a complicated book. Its origins are obscure, its contradictions are many, its stories range from heartwarming to confounding; some of its principles transcend generations while others are clearly of a different place and time. This week’s Torah portion provides an excellent opportunity for an exploration of the complex nature of our Torah text. The portion is called Chukat and you can find it here. If you’ve ever traveled to Petra, Jordan, you’ve no doubt been struck by the red color of the natural stone formations (see pictures here). In the Bible, it is part of a region called Edom. Edom is related to the words adom, adam, adamah (red, human, earth). In this week’s Torah portion, the Edomites refuse to give the wandering Israelites safe harbor (you can read the portion here). The Torah holds that Jacob’s brother, the red haired Esau, is the progenitor of the Edomites. Given the fraught relationship portrayed between [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, July 9, 2024
The Torah is a complicated book. Its origins are obscure, its contradictions are many, its stories range from heartwarming to confounding; some of its principles transcend generations while others are clearly of a different place and time. This week’s Torah portion provides an excellent opportunity for an exploration of the complex nature of our Torah text. The portion is called Chukat and you can find it here. Rebellion and dissent were constant features of the Israelite wandering. You might think that their shared experiences – slavery and liberation, their encounter with the Divine at Mt. Sinai, and the wise leadership of Moses – would combine to create powerful unity. But the Torah’s account is filled with rebellions, complaints, dissent, and even the desire to return to slavery. This week’s Torah portion carries the classic Israelite complaint: “Why did you make us leave Egypt to bring us to this wretched place?!” The people are [...]