EPISODE · May 18, 2026 · 27 MIN
Ancient Egypt Had Kings. The Torah Replaced Them With You. | 10@9 | 2026.05.18
from Mining The Riches Of The Parsha · host Rabbi Michael Whitman
Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman’s new book "Echoes of Egypt" opens with a remarkable claim about the Torah’s vision of society. In the ancient world - especially in Egypt - power flowed in one direction. Kings stood at the top, and everyone else existed beneath them. Access to dignity, to justice, even to the divine, was controlled by a small elite. Then the Torah appeared - and quietly overturned the entire structure. At Sinai, God does not speak to a king, or to a select few. God speaks to everyone. The Torah strips power away from human rulers and places it, in a profound sense, into the hands of each individual. Every person is called to live with dignity, responsibility, and holiness - like royalty. This is what we celebrate on Shavuot. Not only that God exists, but that God spoke and speaks to every one of us. According to Dr. Berman, this vision may be even more revolutionary than monotheism itself. It is a blueprint for a society unlike anything the ancient world had ever seen - and one we are still trying to live up to. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.
What this episode covers
Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman’s new book "Echoes of Egypt" opens with a remarkable claim about the Torah’s vision of society. In the ancient world - especially in Egypt - power flowed in one direction. Kings stood at the top, and everyone else existed beneath them. Access to dignity, to justice, even to the divine, was controlled by a small elite. Then the Torah appeared - and quietly overturned the entire structure. At Sinai, God does not speak to a king, or to a select few. God speaks to everyone. The Torah strips power away from human rulers and places it, in a profound sense, into the hands of each individual. Every person is called to live with dignity, responsibility, and holiness - like royalty. This is what we celebrate on Shavuot. Not only that God exists, but that God spoke and speaks to every one of us. According to Dr. Berman, this vision may be even more revolutionary than monotheism itself. It is a blueprint for a society unlike anything the ancient world had ever seen - and one we are still trying to live up to. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.
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Ancient Egypt Had Kings. The Torah Replaced Them With You. | 10@9 | 2026.05.18
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