Judaism Begins by Listening | 10@9 | 2026.07.29

Revelation at Sinai began not with seeing, but with listening. The covenant between God and the Jewish people was formed through hearing God's voice, and the Shema is more than a declaration of faith - it is a command to listen. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks points out that the Book of Devarim uses the language of listening 92 times. Rabbi Zohar Atkins observes that the ear is the doorway to the body and the soul. Together they reveal a central truth: Judaism is fundamentally a religion of listening. Viktor Frankl tells the remarkable story of saving a life not through brilliant advice, but simply by listening. The deepest relationships - with God, with those we love, and even with strangers - begin the same way Judaism itself begins: by listening. 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.