Wise Words
Writings of reflection by the Stephen Wise Temple clergy.
Each Monday morning, members of our mailing list receive the weekly email “This Week at Wise,” and on Fridays, a “Shabbat Shalom” email from Rabbi Yoshi which include messages of thought, inspiration, and contemplation from our clergy, along with a schedule of events. Sign up and don’t miss out!
Shabbat Shalom – Friday, February 13, 2026
This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shekalim—the special Sabbath that comes just before the beginning of the month of Adar, always a few weeks before Purim. In our portion, we read about the half-shekel tax: an annual contribution that adult Israelites were required to give to support the communal life of the people. It originally applied only to adult men, but the spiritual principle transcends that historical context. The half-shekel teaches us that sacred community is built when everyone contributes. Not just men. Not just a few. Not just the wealthy. Not just the leaders. Everyone. And I would suggest we take this even further—not only Jews, but anyone connected to Jewish life, the “Jew-adjacent”: partners, loved ones, fellow travelers, supporters. Anyone who strengthens the fabric of our community. What makes this mitzvah so powerful is that it must be observed yearly. It’s not a one-time commitment. What an important reminder. [...]
Wise Words – Monday, February 9, 2026
This week in February brings with it a swirl of hearts, flowers, and the unmistakable cultural moment of Valentine’s Day. While it is not a holiday in our Jewish calendar, American Jews have long balanced deep devotion to our tradition with meaningful participation in the broader culture around us. At times, those worlds meet in beautiful and personal ways. Corporal Stanley Val Goldin, Army Air Corps (now the Air Force), 1944 My own grandfather was born on February 14 and was given the name Stanley Val Goldin by parents who were themselves the children of Orthodox immigrants who arrived in Brooklyn in the late 19th century. Naming him with a nod to Valentine’s Day reflected their pride in becoming American, while their home remained deeply rooted in Jewish life and practice. My Grandpa Stanley Val carried both his Jewish and American identities with grace. He was a [...]
Shabbat Shalom – Friday, February 6, 2026
This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Yitro, brings us to the threshold of Sinai. Our Israelite ancestors have escaped enslavement, but they are only beginning to understand what freedom really means. As the story continues, we learn that liberation alone is not the ultimate purpose of the Exodus. True freedom, the Torah teaches, comes with obligations—responsibilities to one another, to those beyond our immediate circle, and to God. Freedom without responsibility is hollow; freedom anchored in obligation is holy. Before the Ten Commandments are given, the Torah pauses to teach us something essential about leadership. Yitro, Moses’s father-in-law, sees that every decision flows directly through Moses. He understands—likely from his own experience as a priest of Midian, a leader from outside the Israelite camp—that this path leads to burnout and threatens the entire community’s ability to move forward. Yitro offers his counsel: Moses must delegate leadership to others. Moses listens—and in [...]
Wise Words – Monday, February 2, 2026
While I still continue to be enthralled by the sequoias and their lessons, I spent last week amongst the pepper trees. Last spring, I was selected to be a part of a Clergy Leadership Cohort through the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, and with thanks to the Wise community for the time and space, I spent last week at our second mindfulness retreat—this time at Brandeis-Bardin Campus. According to their website, “the iconic peppertrees, planted during the 1950s, are now a signature feature of the campus, providing shade and beauty. These trees symbolize the campus's enduring commitment to environmental stewardship and natural beauty.” It turns out that pepper trees were a popular California decorative tree—an evergreen that requires very little water and can provide shade in harsh conditions. I also learned that California pepper trees are considered fire-resistant; their foliage is less flammable than many other trees, and even if burned, they often [...]
Shabbat Shalom – Friday, January 30, 2026
Last Shabbat, Rabbi Oded Mazor shared a powerful teaching with us about the plague of darkness that has stayed with me. The Torah doesn't just describe Egypt being plunged into darkness; it tells us something deeper — that in the darkness, people could not see one another. The verse reads: לֹא רָאוּ אִישׁ אֶת אָחִיו (lo ra’u eesh et acheev)— literally, one brother could not see the other. That, Rabbi Oded taught, is the deepest darkness of all. Last Sunday evening, we joined our dear friends at Greater Zion Church Family in Compton for a service of solidarity. I had the opportunity to share my reflections about our recent trip to Israel with my partners in organizing the experience, Bishop Michael Fisher of Greater Zion and Amanda Berman of Zioness. One of the central themes that emerged that evening came from Psalm 133, which opens with a verse many of us know well: הִנֵּה מַה טּוֹב וּמַה נָּעִים [...]