Daily Kavanah – Thursday, March 19, 2020
The proverb, “Every cloud has a silver lining,” is taken from a poem written by John Milton in 1634. In it, the great English poet and author of Paradise Lost, writes: “Was I deceived, or [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, March 18, 2020
There is so much, all around, that brings us hope. We are reminded in the face of this crisis that we are not alone, that friends and loved ones are there for us. We find [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Today is the birthday of our beloved community’s namesake—Rabbi Stephen Samuel Wise. He was born on March 17, 1874, in Budapest. He was a man of great faith, filled with hope in the future even [...]
Search for Meaning with author Marra Gad (“The Color of Love”)
In her recent memoir The Color of Love, author Marra Gad reflects on her upbringing as a mixed-race Jewish girl in Chicago, frankly addressing the hurt and stigmas cast upon her while also depicting the [...]
The Torah of Contagion
Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback It was one of those parenting moments you just have to savor. My wife had a work commitment and my daughters said, “Hey Abba, let’s go out [...]
Search for Meaning with Obama White House Speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz
Following up on her Stephen Wise Temple Center for Jewish Life appearance last fall, former Obama White House Speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz connected with Rabbi Yoshi in the latest episode of his podcast Search for Meaning. [...]
Join Me to Stand with Friends Against Antisemitism
I am writing to you at the dawn of this new decade with a message of inspiration and community. There are two events coming this month that are important to us as Jewish Americans, as lovers [...]
Streaming the D רeam: Reflections from a Virtual Wise Fan
by Julian Brenman Exuberant, intentional, and authentic are all attributes of the compassionate community at Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles, from which I have benefitted immeasurably...without ever having set foot on the [...]
Choosing Hope
By Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback I was seven years old when “Star Wars: A New Hope,” was released in May of 1977. Last week, over forty years later, I witnessed the final episode of the Star [...]
Eil Nora Alilah — At the Closing of the Gates
Wise Music Team Releases New Song Just In Time for Yom Kippur To help us all prepare for Yom Kippur, the Wise music team is proud to present a brand new setting of a quintessential [...]