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, August 29, 2023
Starting in mid-August, I can tell when my colleagues across the country are starting to write their High Holy Day sermons. Usually, I see some Facebook posts asking things like: “What do you want to hear on the High Holy Days?” or, “What is something you love about being Jewish?” Recently, a colleague posted in a rabbinic group. Rather than a general question, it was clear that they had honed in on a theme; they posted a question about finding tensions—or perhaps opposites—in the High Holy Day liturgy. If you have ever studied Talmud with me (and you can, every Wednesday at 12 p.m.), you know that I love these "tensions." Our texts are full of them: permitted/forbidden; clean/unclean; pure/impure. If you want to dive into the High Holy Day images, you have sin/forgiveness, justice/mercy (more on that in a few weeks)—even Avinu/Malkeinu. All of these ideas are set [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, August 28, 2023
With our K-6 students back on campus, one of my very favorite Wise School traditions has returned yet again. Based on a custom of hearing the shofar during the month of Elul, the month leading up to Rosh Hashanah, we begin our days here on campus with the blast of the shofar each morning. There is something about seeing the entire student body, along with teachers, administrators, clergy—along with the occasional parent—gathered together in the morning sun that really does, as the shofar is meant to do, stir the soul. As with many Jewish traditions, there are many explanations as to why we sound the shofar during Elul. The Torah describes Rosh Hashanah itself as yom teruah, or a day of blasting, but the Torah never mentions the month of Elul specifically. Additionally, most other times that the Torah refers to the shofar or the blasts it makes, it is in [...]
Daily Kavanah – Shabbat Message From Rabbi Yoshi – Friday, August 25, 2023
Yesterday in Bnei Brak, a majority Haredi city just 15 minutes east of Tel Aviv, thousands of Israelis gathered to march in a women’s rights rally organized jointly by several groups protesting the judicial overhaul. In particular, the groups are responding to multiple cases of harassment of women who were deemed not to conform to the modesty requirements of some ultra-Orthodox Israelis. According to The Times of Israel, several “women were documented over the summer being denied service or segregated aboard public buses.” This is in violation of rulings of the Israeli Supreme Court in recent years in cases brought by our own Reform Movement’s Israel Religious Action Center. We all have a stake in issues like these. I’m proud to be part of a synagogue community that is committed to egalitarianism and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Certainly, private institutions and other synagogue communities should be allowed to practice Judaism in [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, August 24, 2023
The Hebrew month of Elul has just begun, traditionally devoted to preparing ourselves for the High Holy Days. With that in mind, this week, Rabbi Woznica offers suggestions about forgiveness. Forgiveness is Not the Goal: Atonement is the Goal—Here’s the Important Difference There is a misconception that Yom Kippur is about seeking God’s forgiveness. It is not, however, the day of forgiveness; it is the Day of Atonement. As one rabbi quipped, "If I spill my grape juice on your carpet, I can say sorry and be forgiven, but the stain remains. Atonement only comes when I get the carpet cleaners to come clean your carpet." To continue this analogy, the goal of atonement is to remove the stain fully, and bring the carpet back to its original state. So it is, as well, with our relationships. Yes, if an apology is helpful to the relationship, we should apologize. [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, August 23, 2023
The Hebrew month of Elul has just begun, traditionally devoted to preparing ourselves for the High Holy Days. With that in mind, this week, Rabbi Woznica offers suggestions about forgiveness. Granting Forgiveness When Hurt is Great and Trust is Shattered The Lubavitcher Rebbe wrote a piece on this topic, explaining there are three levels of forgiveness. The first is not wishing the person any harm; we even pray for their wellbeing. At this basic level of forgiveness, we might still be upset and feel hurt or even angry. Yet, we resist the temptation to hope for the person's downfall, and eschew the urge for revenge or retribution. The second level is to no longer harbor resentment or ill will, and to let go of our anger. We accept we may not have the same relationship with the person who has wronged us as we had in the past, but [...]