Moral Conduct Changed Israel’s Enemies | 10@9 | 2026.01.21

This morning we investigate the morally dubious command for each Jewish person to "borrow" from their Egyptian friend (?) silver and gold. But they weren't returning it. We present the approach of Netziv (Rabbi Yehuda Tzvi Hersh Berlin) that this was to elicit the events at the splitting of the Red Sea. Then we quote Rabbi S.R. Hirsch, who writes this attests to the high moral quality the Egyptians now realized the Jewish People exhibited, and they then felt bad at mistreating them, and offered these gifts as a symbolic attempt to rectify their terrible actions. Every year at our Seder, this must be part of the story we tell, and commit ourselves to emulating this today and every day. 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.