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, January 31, 2024
With the October attack on Israel and subsequent public antisemitism, especially at universities, it is important to ask: What are the reasons for the hatred of Jews and Israel? This week, Rabbi David Woznica shares thoughts.A God that JudgesRosh Hashana is also known as Yom HaDin, Day of Judgement. It is also the day in which Jews commemorate the world’s creation. That a focus of one of the holiest days in the Jewish year includes God’s judgment reflects the centrality of a judging God in Judaism.Most of us do not like to be judged or put on trial. And yet, a God who judges our actions, to whom we are accountable for the way we treat others, speaks volumes about the centrality of morality in Judaism. Would we prefer a God who did not judge our actions? It would suggest our actions were not important to God.Judaism brought the concept of a judging God [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, January 30, 2024
With the October attack on Israel and subsequent public antisemitism, especially at universities, it is important to ask: What are the reasons for the hatred of Jews and Israel? This week, Rabbi David Woznica shares thoughts. The Chosen People The belief that Jews were chosen to be in a covenant with God gave Jews a unique purpose, to be a “A light unto the nations.” Jews fulfill that task by living by the mitzvot and ideals of the Torah and, as such, being an exemplar to humanity. It does not confer any superiority on Jews. Rather, it explains Jews have a mission – indeed, a responsibility. In fact, Jewish theology allows for any people to have such a relationship with God. Antisemites have often misunderstood the idea of the Chosen People to be one that smacks of supremacy, resulting in hatred of Jews. Among the tasks of the Jew is to affirm the [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, January 29, 2024
With the October attack on Israel and subsequent public antisemitism, especially at universities, it is important to ask: What are the reasons for the hatred of Jews and Israel? This week, Rabbi David Woznica shares thoughts. Why the Scapegoat Explanation Does Not Explain Antisemitism One of the most common explanations for antisemitism, widely held by Jews and others, is that the Jews are the scapegoat. This theory posits the ills of a society need to be blamed on a group (deemed the “scapegoat”) and the Jews are a convenient target. And yet, further consideration of this theory suggests it isn’t an explanation for antisemitism. While many groups and nations are (or have been) hated, there is no hatred as enduring and deep as antisemitism. Have Jews been used as scapegoats? Most certainly. Yet, this does not explain antisemitism as it does not answer the question: Why are Jews so often chosen to be the scapegoats? [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, January 26, 2024
This Friday night, on Homecoming Shabbat, we kick off our 60th anniversary celebration. Each day this week, a member of our our clergy shares some personal Stephen Wise Temple Moments. Tonight we begin the celebration of the 60th birthday of the Stephen Wise Temple and Schools community. Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin of blessed memory began the realization of his grand vision of a synagogue community with education at the focus in 1964. Rabbi Zeldin and his spouse, Florence, together with our founding families and then literally thousands upon thousands of others, made this magnificent community possible. Graduates of our schools have gone on to bring the Jewish values at the heart of our educational system into the world as teachers, rabbis, cantors, physicians, attorneys, creators, and entrepreneurs. The world is a better place for this. One lesson Rabbi Zeldin taught me, both by example and in conversations I was privileged to have with [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, January 25, 2024
It has been over 100 days since Oct 7 and the abduction of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Wise has created this beautiful prayer and song to express our solidarity with the hostages and their families and our fervent desire for a safe return. "The shade spread over us by these trees is so beautiful. We must crown this place with words of Torah." (Zohar 2:127a) Today marks the celebration of Tu b’Shvat, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shvat, which appears in the rabbinic literature as one of the four new years on the Jewish calendar, a special new year for trees. On this day in Israel, trees are always planted and the day is also marked by spreading ecological awareness and encouraging natural preservation. It is a day for us to look at God’s beautiful world, to express our gratitude, and to plant seeds of hope for future [...]