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 – Wedensday, November 22, 2023
For weeks, we have been living in an ongoing shiva. Over the past month and a half, our hearts have been broken open every single day. We mourn the 1,400 souls lost on October 7 as we simultaneously pray for the safe return of our hostages, for the safety of Israeli soldiers, for our beloved homeland to someday forget war and know peace. We grieve and we worry, but we also hold onto our resilience, our hope. We are not alone in holding these great nuanced feelings. In our psalms, our poetic ancestors explored themes of despair and hope side by side, expressing thanksgiving and praise while simultaneously crying out to God in anguish. We are struggling, but our tradition tells us we have been here before and we will live to see the dawning of another hopeful day. There are 150 chapters of poetry gifted to us in [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Although difficult to watch, one of my favorite movies is “Munich,” the 2005 film directed by Steven Spielberg and co-written by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth that explores the nearly impossible path to vengeance and healing following the 1972 massacre of Israelis at the Munich Olympics. One of the most memorable moments is from an early scene, when the leading man, Avner, is reminded by his wife that, while he can fight, he can never fully save Israel from outside hatred, and that doesn’t mean he loves Israel any less. “You think Israel is your Mother,” she says to him, and he cannot argue with his beloved over this deeply felt truth. This theme of Israel as the maternal figure, the safe space, the original home, is deeply felt by our People and explored not just in film but in great Jewish music and text, as well. The famous [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, November 20, 2023
One of the blessings of being a parent in our schools is the miraculous energy at dropoff. Every morning, I walk Ruby to the little blanket her teachers lay out on the dewy grass. Her sweet (maybe sticky) fingers intertwined in mine only pull apart when she sees her friends and bounds toward them. They are all hugs and giggles, bursting to share what they had for dinner, which books they read, the best games they played, and then they start to plot out what the day ahead will be like. It is absolutely soul-filling to witness such joy, to see my daughter and all of our children so happy, safe, and thriving on our campus. I thank God every day as I walk away knowing that she is cared for by great teachers, administration, security guards, clergy, and friends. And still, as if that weren’t already an embarrassment of [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, November 17, 2023
Last Shabbat, we hosted Ben M. Freeman, author of “Reclaiming Our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride.” A focus of his talk to the Wise Parents Association was the precipitous rise in antisemitism in recent years. During the discussion, a father in our community shared the chilling story of when he recently went shopping with his children. Concerned that a stranger might harm them, he told his children, “If someone asks if you’re Jewish, tell them ‘no.’” He told us that it was so painful to utter those words, given how proud he is to be a Jew. Tragically, we find ourselves in a moment where we are deeply concerned about our well-being and safety as Jews both here in America and Israel. October 7 has changed how we feel about our world and how we see ourselves. I have been a public Jew for most of my life. [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, November 16, 2023
Yesterday, we learned a bit about the letter samech. Today, I want to share the meaning of the word kislev. In Hebrew, Kislev is a compound word: kis means “pocket” and lev means “heart.” When they are put together, you get a little bit of poetry: “pocket of the heart.” As this month begins, I invite you to consider what your “heart pocket” is holding and what it has the potential to hold. Sheryl Shapiro reflects on this idea in her poem, "The Blessing of Kislev."Simple treasuresnuzzled into felted foldswarm in the ample pocketembroideredin deepening spiralsstitching stitchingluminous threads the tiny songbirdin my heartalightshumming hummingsafe freeAs we look ahead to the celebration of Hanukkah, the natural cycle of our days will decrease in light while our homes will increase in the light of Hanukkah candles. In preparation for the amplification of light, we must open space to let the light in. Perhaps that is what the “heart pocket” is for.The light [...]