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!
Daily Kavanah – Thursday, March 20, 2025
As we move from Purim towards Pesach, the rest of this week’s Daily Kavanot will focus on 3 of the special Shabbatot that link these holidays. Some have already passed on the calendar, and some are yet to come. In the opening of its tractate called Rosh HaShanah, the Mishnah lists the four “new years” marked on the ancient calendar; in addition to Rosh Hashanah, we have 1) the New Year for the tithes on the 1st of Elul, the New Year for the trees on the 1st (though later the 15th, Tu) of Shevat, and—most importantly for today—the New Year for the festivals—the 1st of Nisan. As confusing as it is, Nisan is the first month of the year; Tishrei, when we celebrate Rosh HaShanah, is the seventh. In fact, there used to be communities in which wishes for the new year were exchanged on Rosh Chodesh Nisan, the first day of [...]
Daily Kavanah – Wednesday, March 19, 2025
As we move from Purim towards Pesach, the rest of this week’s Daily Kavanot will focus on 3 of the special Shabbatot that link these holidays. Some have already passed on the calendar, and some are yet to come. While we declare each Shabbat morning that Torah will come from Zion, God’s word from Jerusalem, it is apparently possible that a key element of Biblical ritual purification will come from Texas—and be cared for by a retired Indiana farmer. In 2022, 5 red heifers arrived in Israel, and have since been cared for in the settlement of Shiloh. As is almost always the case when Israel proclaims the birth or existence of a red heifer (it happens more than one might think), several have already been disqualified—they do not possess all of the characteristics needed for their spiritual purpose. This Shabbat, the 3rd of the 4 (or five, depending [...]
Daily Kavanah – Tuesday, March 18, 2025
As we move from Purim towards Pesach, the rest of this week’s Daily Kavanot will focus on 3 of the special Shabbatot that link these holidays. Some have already passed on the calendar, and some are yet to come. Not even two weeks ago, I was in an Israeli synagogue for Shabbat Zachor, the Shabbat that immediately precedes Purim each year. Shabbat Zachor literally means the Shabbat of Remembrance, but is actually named for the maftir, the additional reading for the day. This maftir retells the story of the battle the ancient Israelites fought against Amalek when they left Egypt and were traveling toward Mount Sinai, and we are commanded to remember Amalek. Amalek is a nation, a nomadic tribe, who attacks the Israelites as they are wandering in the desert—allegedly soon after the exodus from Egypt. On the surface, nothing about this would be unusual enough to spark attention, much less [...]
Daily Kavanah – Monday, March 17, 2025
Founder’s Day Reflections Born on March 17, 1874 in Budapest, Hungary—Stephen Samuel Wise was basically born to be a rabbi; his family moved to America so that his father, Rabbi Aaron Wise, could become the rabbi of my former congregation, Rodeph Sholom in New York City. What was perhaps less foreseen was that he would become one of the most prominent rabbis in the United States in the first half of the 20th century. Rabbi Shirley Idelson, PhD, the author of his recent biography, credits Rabbi Wise—our namesake—with imbuing American Judaism, the Reform movement especially, with three core values: Tikkun olam (repairing the world, though Wise did not use this term). Zionism and support for the state of Israel. Klal Yisrael, a belief in the kinship and common destiny of the Jewish people ("all of Israel" in Hebrew). In addition to founding a synagogue in New York City, and also founding the [...]
Daily Kavanah – Friday, March 14, 2025
While Rabbi Yoshi takes a brief sabbatical, we are excited to bring you a special series of guest columnists sharing their insightful Shabbat messages offering new perspectives and reflections. This week, our guest columnist is Alexsondra Shore Fixmer, Vice President of Stephen Wise Temple, member of the Executive Board, and Wise School alumna and parent. In her commentary, Alex reflects upon the Purim carnival and her earliest memories of Stephen Wise Temple, as well as a meaningful lesson from Queen Esther and our Purim story. We hope you have enjoyed this unique opportunity to learn from a variety of thought leaders. Stay tuned for more inspiring messages to come! Shabbat Shalom! Every year, like many of you, I look forward to Stephen Wise Temple’s Purim carnival which, this year, is taking place on Sunday. The noise and laughter, the rides and games, the music and hamantaschen—these have remained a [...]