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, July 11, 2023
Recently, a longtime Wise member shared with me an incredible article about the beloved Jewish folk song, "Hava Nagila." The essence of the article was that this tune we so often sing and play in moments of Jewish communal celebration is also popularly remixed and enjoyed in nightclubs, baseball stadiums, restaurants, and any number of secular venues. "Hava Nagila," a Jewish anthem dating back over one hundred years, is internationally renowned and beloved! "Hava Nagila," which literally translates to "let us rejoice," was written in 1918 by Jewish music scholar and composer, Abraham Zvi Idelsohn. Idelsohn wrote "Hava Nagila'' as a Zionist anthem to celebrate the Balfour Declaration, and it quickly became popular in the Holy Land and throughout the Diaspora. What makes the melody work so well to the Jewish ear is twofold in my opinion: One, it is a simple niggun, easy to remember, fun to sing; and two, [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, July 10, 2023
After our annual celebration of American independence, I've always looked forward to Bastille Day, or fête nationale française (France's national day of celebration), which falls on this Friday, July 14. Growing up with my mother working as a French teacher, we often spoke French in the home, listened to French music, watched French movies, and enjoyed many trips as a family and with my mom's students to France. I am definitely a francophile, fascinated by French cuisine, culture, and identity. Traveling abroad as a young person was truly an eye-opening experience. There was so much new food to sample and so many sights to take in. Of course, we visited many churches and French national landmarks, but in every single city we traveled to, my family and I searched for synagogues. Sometimes I saw Jewish houses of worship that were large and decorated and glorious, like the Grand Synagogue of Paris with [...]
Daily Kavanah – Shabbat Message From Rabbi Yoshi – Friday, July 7, 2023
If you’ve traveled by air in the last few decades, you’ve probably experienced a feeling similar to the one I had last week as I watched my carry-on bag go through the X-ray machine: Did I remember to remove that water bottle I had in the car? Are all of the creams and gels in my toiletry kit under 3.4 ounces? I didn’t happen to bring a pocket knife or nail clipper with me, did I? On this particular trip, I had something especially precious in my bag: a small (and, yes, kosher) Torah scroll which I had brought to Mexico with me for a bat mitzvah ceremony. Everything went smoothly on my journey there. The TSA agent did ask me to open the bag, looked at the scroll, realized what it was, and sent me on my way. Things didn’t go as smoothly on the return trip. The agent [...]
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, July 6, 2023
This week’s kavanot are directed to our younger generation of Jews (under 50). For those a bit older, they are likely to induce a smile. Giving Your Jewish Child a Hebrew Name: And Coming to Know Them One of the many joys of my rabbinate has been officiating at the baby namings of Jewish children. Traditionally, a girl is given a Hebrew name at the first Torah reading after her birth and a boy at his circumcision. Our congregation often has a public “baby naming” at Friday night services. Frequently, the child is named after a loved one (Ashkenazim typically name for a deceased person, Sephardim often for people who are living). When speaking with the parents before the ceremony, I ask them why they chose to name their child after that person. After hearing about the loved one, I ask if there are any particular traits the person had [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, July 5, 2023
This week’s kavanot are directed to our younger generation of Jews (under 50). For those a bit older, they are likely to induce a smile. “When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am older, I admire kind people.”* Our society appropriately honors those with talent (Academy Awards, Tony Awards, sporting awards, etc.). Institutions of higher learning appropriately bestow special honors for the valedictorian of a graduating class and other academic achievers. Talent, hard work, and intelligence should be recognized. These abilities, however, do not necessarily go hand-in-hand with kindness and character. The Torah offers an insight in this regard when it comes to selecting a spouse. Abraham sends his servant, Eliezer, to find a wife for his son Isaac. Eliezer, wanting to find an appropriate bride, prays to God to send him a sign so he will choose correctly. When Eliezer asks Rebecca for a sip [...]