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, November 21, 2025
I’m writing this message from Jerusalem, where I am concluding a unique interfaith journey of discovery and understanding co-led with my partners and friends, Amanda Berman, CEO and Founder of Zioness, and Bishop Michael Fisher of Greater Zion Church Family. Earlier this week, our group visited Capernaum – in Hebrew, כפר נחום – a small town on the shores of the Galilee. According to Christian tradition, this was the home of Jesus for many years, a place where he taught and prayed. We gathered in the remains of a synagogue that dates back to his time. There, surrounded by a shared sacred history, we lifted our voices and sang the opening words of Psalm 118: Hodu l'Adonai ki tov! Ki l’olam chasdo! הוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה כִּי־טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ Give thanks to GOD, who is good—whose steadfast love is eternal! From that spot, we walked just a few steps [...]
Wise Words – Monday, November 17, 2025
As we prepare to usher in the Jewish month of Kislev this Thursday night, we can see the days growing shorter. We can feel the air growing colder. And yet, our Jewish calendar calls upon us not to retreat into the light and warmth of our homes, but to step into the cold darkness and share what light and warmth we have to offer. According to our Torah, creation begins illumination. God’s first gift to the universe is the opportunity for clarity – the ability to uncover meaning and direction in the midst of uncertainty. In the very same chapter, God charges humanity with the same task – to provide meaning and direction for a world mired in doubt and ambiguity. We find this lesson repeated in the tale of the Maccabees that we celebrate in the month of Kislev. Beset by war, oppression, and fear, they chose to offer [...]
Shabbat Shalom – Friday, November 14, 2025
Greetings from Israel, where I’m leading a unique interfaith journey of discovery and understanding. This past Wednesday, I spent an inspiring hour with Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, the first Ethiopian-born Jew to become a rabbi in Israel. In addition to serving as the spiritual leader of a congregation in Kiryat Ono that was founded by Holocaust survivors, Rabbi Shalom teaches at Ono Academic College in the International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry. Our time with Rabbi Shalom was truly transformational for our group—an extraordinary gathering of leaders from Los Angeles, Compton, Long Beach, and Dallas. Together with my friends Amanda Berman and Bishop Michael Fisher, I am leading a journey of discovery and understanding—a trip we’ve been working on for nearly a year, now finally brought to life. There are 22 of us: four from the Jewish community, including two Black Jews, and 18 members of the [...]
Wise Words – Monday, November 10, 2025
In this week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, our matriarch, Sarah, dies. וַיִּהְיוּ֙ חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֛ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֖י חַיֵּ֥י שָׂרָֽה׃ Sarah’s lifetime—the span of Sarah’s life—came to one hundred and twenty-seven years. As Abraham nears the end of his life, he seeks to ensure the future of his son, Isaac, by finding him a wife. Abraham sends his trusted servant, Eliezer, back to his homeland to find a woman of kindness and integrity. Someone who will carry forward the covenant of faith and compassion that began with Abraham and Sarah. At the well, Rebecca appears. Her generosity shines through when she offers not only water to Eliezer, but also to his camels. It was a small act that reveals her great heart. Moved by her spirit, Eliezer brings her back to the land of Canaan, where she will meet Isaac for the first time. The Torah describes [...]
Shabbat Shalom – Friday, November 7, 2025
This week saw the election in New York City of an unapologetic anti-Zionist, a man who has repeatedly demonized Israel. Leading up to the election, some of my rabbinic colleagues spoke out from the bimah, publicly repudiating Zohran Mamdani. Even some who usually criticize speaking about politics from the pulpit applauded those rabbis for their courage and clarity. I was among the first signatories of a rabbinic letter supporting two of my New York–based colleagues, Rabbis Elliot Cosgrove and Amiel Hirsch, who spoke out about their concerns. While I am not a New York voter, I believe there are moments when rabbis must address urgent political issues—and this is such a time. I want to focus on one takeaway from Rabbi Cosgrove’s excellent sermon, which I commend to you. He argues that it’s not enough to talk to and try to convince one another. We need to interact with those outside of [...]