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 16, 2023
צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ "Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that your God יהוה is giving you." —Deuteronomy 16:20 Housing Justice Recent reports tell us there are more than 170,000 unhoused in California. That's an astronomical number! While some are transplants from out of state, far more were living and working here when multiple factors resulted in their inability to afford housing. While mental illness is certainly a factor—sadly, that is the most frequent and unpleasant encounter many have with our unhoused—the vast majority of those without a secure roof over their heads are either working at low-wage jobs or newly unemployed. Deuteronomy's imperative to pursue justice applies to the unhoused as well, and reminds us that our homes are sacred when it says that one may not enter a home to satisfy a debt (24:10-13). The [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, August 15, 2023
צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ "Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that your God יהוה is giving you." —Deuteronomy 16:20 Environmental Justice—Climate Tzedek Standing on the lawn at Wise, overlooking the San Fernando Valley, there are good days when the air sparkles and snow can be seen on Mount Baldy, and not-so-good days when a brown haze hangs over the homes of the millions who live and work there. There are far more brown days than clear days. In our state, tremendous progress has been made to clean the air. Though I wasn't living here in the 1960s, people talk about smog that burned their eyes and lungs. It's hard to imagine that today. The environmental policies opposed by many for the costs they'd force on consumers and manufacturers are clearly a blessing for us today. [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, August 14, 2023
צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ "Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that your God יהוה is giving you." —Deuteronomy 16:20 The passage above from this week's Torah portion hardly needs an introduction. The first three words in Hebrew and their associated translation—"Justice, justice shall you pursue"—adorn some wall in almost every Reform congregation in the country and you can likely find them on the walls of many other synagogues as well. What’s often overlooked are the subsequent phrases. In the classic style of Deuteronomy, a reason is given for obeying the laws: "so you might thrive and succeed in the land." (For the Torah scholars among you, look at the laws in Exodus that don’t give a reason.) The Hebrew for "thrive" in the translation is tich'yeh—תִּֽחְיֶה֙—which literally means "live." Pursue justice so you might live in the land is the [...]
Daily Kavanah – Shabbat Message From Rabbi Yoshi – Friday, August 11, 2023
You've heard of the non-apology apology, right? It's the, "I'm sorry if you were hurt by my actions." (A word of rabbinic advice—avoid this type of apology as you endeavor to make teshuva during our upcoming High Holy Days. Better to say, "My actions, my words, and my behavior caused you pain and I am sorry for what I did.") This week's Torah portion begins, seemingly, with a no-choice choice: Moses explains to the Israelites that God has put before them blessing (bracha) and curse (k'lala). They will receive blessings if they follow the commandments and curses if they deviate from them. It seems more like an intelligence test or possibly even an ethics exam than an actual chance to decide between two viable options. The right answer is clear: Do the work. Follow the mitzvot. More simply: Be a mensch. But, if we're honest with ourselves, we understand that [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, August 10, 2023
July and August have been extra hot here in Los Angeles. Every morning that we can, my daughter Ruby and I sit outside on our shaded patio and stare up at the sky. My favorite part about being outside is hearing the birds chirping sweetly, and Ruby's favorite part is smelling the grass. And when the heat starts to creep in and we have to go inside, we can hold onto these small reminders to be grateful throughout our day. There is a sweet Chassidic teaching from the great Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810) in which he reminds us to look at the sky every morning. From his window facing the marketplace, Rebbe Nachman saw a dear friend speeding by. "Have you looked up at the sky this morning?" the Rebbe asked. "No, my dear Rebbe, I haven't had the time." And the Rebbe replied: "Believe me, in 50 years everything [...]