Shame, Accountability, and Pride - Israel’s Real Story | 10@9 | 2026.04.23

Several days ago, two Israeli soldiers serving in Southern Lebanon committed a deeply offensive act - desecrating a Christian statue. There is no excuse, no justification, and no minimizing what they did. What followed matters just as much: swift, unequivocal condemnation from Israel’s leadership, including the Prime Minister and the IDF. The soldiers were arrested, the statue was replaced by the IDF, and the IDF apologized in person to the local community. This is what accountability looks like. In this video, I also share highlights from yesterday’s inspiring Israel rally in downtown Montreal, along with an unexpected and meaningful conversation I had with a pro-Palestinian protester. Because loving Israel means telling the truth about its failures - and taking pride in how it responds to them. 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.