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, November 1, 2023
As many of you have probably read, or heard about, the war in Israel has spilled over--at least rhetorically-onto American college campuses. This week, we asked some of our Wise college students to reflect on their experience over the past few weeks and beyond. These words were shared at a USC Hillel/Trojans for Israel Vigil on October 10, 2023. The terrorist attack over the last couple of days has put a dagger to the heart of every Jewish family on this campus, in this country, and across the globe. As Jews, we are inextricably connected to Israel and the people of Israel. Our prayers turn us towards Israel. Our rituals yearn for return to Jerusalem. Our history is grounded in Israel. We are a people at the edge of the West with hearts in the East. And this weekend, the suffering of our Israeli friends and family has shattered [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, October 31, 2023
As many of you have probably read, heard about, or experienced firsthand, the war in Israel has spilled over — at least rhetorically — onto American college campuses. This week, we asked some of our Wise college students to reflect on their experience(s) over the past few weeks and beyond. On October 7th 2023, I think I finally realized what it really meant to be Jewish. I came home to my apartment in NYC to find two of my roommates, sitting in silence on the couch. I heard what had happened in Israel, but due to school and work I hadn’t had any time to process it. I put my stuff down, and joined them. We sat in silence for a good while, sometimes looking at each other, trying to come up with words that might be consoling, but nothing came. Finally after about 20 minutes, one of my roommates [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, October 30, 2023
As many of you have probably read, heard about, or experienced firsthand, the war in Israel has spilled over — at least rhetorically — onto American college campuses. This week, we asked some of our Wise college students to reflect on their experience(s) over the past few weeks and beyond. (A version of this piece appeared in The Jewish Journal; reprinted with permission of the author) Spending three invigorating days at the Israel on Campus Coalition’s (ICC) National Leadership Summit earlier this month, I couldn’t help but think back to last year when I was scrolling Instagram, as I often do in my free time, and came across Kanye West’s antisemitic rant. There is no way this is happening to us, I thought, as tears welled in my eyes, not here, not now, not just 78 years after our liberation from Nazi Germany. With every antisemitic post that tainted my Instagram [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, October 27, 2023
It’s hard to keep them all straight in my head. I imagine every Jew holds this somewhere in their consciousness. Some of the dates and events happened long before we were born, but we still recall them each year on Tisha B’av or Yom HaShoah. Expulsion. Inquisition. Pogrom. Farhud. Shoah. And then there’s today, there’s now. It’s a gruesome list. Terrorist attacks. Suicide bombings. Military operations and wars. There’s also the personal list, the things we witnessed firsthand or read about as they unfolded over the course of our own lifetimes. Here’s mine (partial and, sadly, in formation): March, 2002 – I was sitting outside with friends in the courtyard of the Inbal hotel when we heard an explosion. We would later learn that the Cafe Moment, a place I had visited many times as a graduate student, had just been blown up by a suicide bomber. Little did [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, October 26, 2023
In the Jewish tradition there’s a beautiful and deeply meaningful custom of studying Torah in honor or memory of an individual. At our weekly Shabbat morning Torah study, and many of our adult learning classes we invite students to dedicate their learning reflecting that practice. As the war in Gaza enters its third week, I dedicate the Torah that I’ll be sharing to the victims of the terrorist, attack in memory of those who were killed, in solidarity with those who were taken hostage, and in honor of those who are risking their lives to protect the citizens of Israel. For the entire Torah portion click here. Wandering is at the core of our foundational narrative. At first, Abram’s father Terach, leads his whole clan from Ur-Kasdim towards Canaan for reasons unknown. Strangely, the family makes it to Haran (thought to be in southern Turkey and still carrying that [...]