Mining The Riches Of The Parsha

Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the Israeli rescue operation at Entebbe. Last week, newly released Israeli government documents and cabinet meeting minutes reveal a more complex picture of the deliberations that led to one of Israel's most celebrated military operations. Before anyone knew whether the mission would succeed or fail, another debate was taking place. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef examined the operation through the lens of classical Halachic sources and issued what remains the only major Halachic ruling written during the crisis itself, before the outcome was known. Entebbe became more than a military triumph. It marked a turning point in how Jewish law addressed the responsibilities of a sovereign Jewish state - protecting its citizens, weighing national risk, and applying timeless Torah principles to the realities of modern statehood. Fifty years later, the questions raised by Entebbe continue to shape Israel and the development of Halachah itself. 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.

America turns 250 this week. I love my country, and I worry about it. Like many Americans, I see division, anger, and a growing loss of trust. But I refuse to believe those problems tell the whole story. I love America enough to judge it by its highest ideals, not its lowest moments. This July 4, I reflect on the promise America was built upon - the revolutionary idea that "We the People" could govern ourselves while striving toward liberty and justice. That promise has never been perfectly fulfilled, but it has never stopped calling America to become better. Drawing on the words of President Barack Obama, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the 19th-century minister Theodore Parker, I explore why hope is not the denial of our failures. Parker's famous image of the moral arc of the universe bending toward justice was born during one of America's darkest periods, reminding us that our greatest ideals matter most when reality falls furthest short of them. Hope is the courage to keep believing in those ideals - and to keep striving to live up 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.

This evening we remember and pay tribute to Aviva Ravel, a regular and beloved part of our group Thursday nights and every morning at our 10@9, who passed away last week. We discuss an insight from Rabbi Meilech Biderman on last week's Torah portion, Balak, gaining a profound lesson from the rebuke of Bilaam's donkey, which all too often could be directed to many of us. We examine when we should and should not identify someone who has acted improperly, learning that even the great Rabbi Akiva once got this wrong. And we investigate how Moshe intuited the motivation behind the question asked by the daughters of Tzelofchad, "raising" their question before God by assuming the highest motive and not the most malicious, another practice especially relevant to us now as we begin the Three Weeks when we should be especially careful to see the best in each other and not the opposite. 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.

Tehillim, the Book of Psalms, is more than a sacred text. It is the language Jews have used for centuries to express fear, hope, gratitude, grief, and faith. No book of Tanach is carried more deeply into the emotional moments of life. Perhaps no chapter is more beloved than Psalm 23. In it, King David describes God as a shepherd - a powerful image first used by Yaakov near the end of his life. Yet the shepherd never promises that the road will be free of danger. In fact, David speaks openly of walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Many people lose faith because life does not unfold the way they hoped or prayed it would. Psalm 23 offers a different promise: not that we will be spared every hardship, but that we will never face those hardships alone. Understanding that difference may be the key to understanding what faith truly is. 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.

Everyone remembers the staff that blossomed. After Korach's rebellion, God instructs Moshe to take twelve staffs - one from each tribal leader - and place them in the Mishkan. By morning, only Aharon's staff has blossomed, confirming that the tribe of Levi has been chosen for spiritual leadership. But what happened to the other eleven staffs? Their owners took them home. Those staffs bore the names of leaders who desired holiness, sought closeness to God, and were willing to stand before Him and be measured. They did not receive the role they hoped for. Their staffs did not blossom. Yet those staffs were not discarded. They were taken home and cherished because they testified to something real and important: the aspiration itself. We often evaluate ourselves only by what we achieve. The Torah suggests a deeper measure. We are shaped not only by what we become, but also by what we genuinely strive to become. Most dreams do not blossom exactly as we hope. Most goals are not fully attained. But the effort, the longing, and the willingness to reach for something holy are themselves part of who we are. The staffs that didn't blossom still mattered. So do the aspirations that shape our lives. 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.

Who greeted you every morning when you arrived at school as a child? For me, and for thousands of students who attended Memphis Hebrew Academy, that person was Mrs. Finkelstein. She smiled. She helped. She made people feel comfortable. Year after year, she was a warm and reassuring presence in the lives of generations of children. After her recent passing, I heard a story that surprised me. As a child, Mrs. Finkelstein was known by a very different nickname: "Grumpy." At some point she decided that was not the person she wanted to be. She chose to change herself - and she did. Most of us think of personality as something fixed. Mrs. Finkelstein's life suggests otherwise. Her story reminds us that while we cannot change everything about ourselves, we can change more than we think. And sometimes the person we become touches thousands of lives. 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.

Charedi society in Israel is not monolithic. It contains many voices, and it is changing in different directions at the same time. But recent acts of violence by Charedi extremists against those enforcing Israeli law have crossed a dangerous line. The issue is no longer simply disagreement about military service, public policy, or the role of Torah study in Israeli society. When protest becomes violence, something fundamental has changed. What troubled me even more was what I heard during my recent trip to Israel. Religious and secular, young and old, across the political spectrum, Israelis spoke with deep frustration and growing anger. Again and again, I heard people suggest that stronger force may be the only remaining answer. I left Israel deeply worried. Not because I think civil war is inevitable. But because I increasingly hear fellow Jews speaking about fellow Jews as enemies. And history teaches that once that happens, events can move faster than anyone expects. 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.

On a recent trip to Israel, I visited the family of a fallen soldier. His father spoke openly with me, a complete stranger, about his son, his loss, and his pride. Though his heart was broken, he expressed gratitude for having merited a son who gave his life protecting the people and State of Israel. What he said has stayed with me ever since. Later, I volunteered at Shuva Achim, a rest station for soldiers near the Gaza border. Together with others, I helped prepare lunch for more than one hundred soldiers and spent time speaking with them. These two experiences revealed something profound about Israeli society today: a resilience, sense of purpose, and generosity of spirit that will continue to inspire me long after returning to Montreal. 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.

Most people assume that loving their job depends on salary, success, recognition, or the work itself. I have come to believe that something else matters even more. Moshe receives a remarkable title from God: Avdi Moshe - "Moshe, My servant." Rabbi Yaakov Sikili explains that Moshe earned this distinction in Parshat Shmini. When a halachic dispute arose between Moshe and Aaron, Moshe realized Aaron was right and he was wrong. More than that, Moshe publicly acknowledged his mistake before the entire Jewish people. That willingness to admit error is deeply connected to another description of Moshe: that he was the most humble of all people. Humility is often admired in theory but rare in practice. It becomes especially rare when responsibility, authority, and public reputation are involved. As I reflect on the high points and low points of my own career, I am struck by a surprising conclusion. The periods that give me the greatest satisfaction are not necessarily those with the most success, recognition, or accomplishment. They are the times when I work closely with people who genuinely cared less about credit and more about doing what was right. Today I am fortunate to be part of such a group. This lesson is about Moshe's humility, the courage to admit mistakes, and why the character of the people around us may have more influence on our happiness at work than we realize. 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.

This evening we trace two approaches to living a moral and holy life, so that a person who chooses to become a Nazir - prohibiting for themself otherwise permitted pleasures - is both praised and criticized. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks helps us understand how both can be true, and which is best for us. Rabbi Moshe Alshech helps us understand the convoluted wording concerning Birchat Kohanin, the Priestly blessing - who is giving the blessing: the Kohein or God? The answer is the key to parenting and other forms of leadership. 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.

T.S. Eliot once wrote: “There is only the trying; the rest is not our business.” This moving story tells of a high school teacher who refused to give up on a struggling student. Week after week, he made calls that seemed to go unanswered and unnoticed. Eventually, he assumed the effort had failed. Years later, he discovered he was completely wrong. Sometimes we never see the impact of our kindness, persistence, teaching, parenting, friendship, or concern for another person. But that does not mean the effort was meaningless. Some of the most important things we ever do may appear to bear no fruit at all - until one day we learn otherwise. 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.

A long and repetitive section of this week’s Parsha can feel unnecessary at first. But beneath the repetition is a careful exploration of leadership - when it works, when it doesn’t, and how it is repaired. A subtle inconsistency in the text leads Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried to a striking suggestion: Nachshon, one of the central leaders, is mentioned without his title. Not because it was overlooked - but because it wasn’t needed. His actions spoke for themselves. But that doesn’t mean titles don’t matter. In many settings - especially institutional and halachic ones - titles create clarity. They define roles. They make authority visible so that people and systems can function properly. I use my title when I am in the role of Dayan on the Bet Din for Geirut (Judge on the Court for Conversion to Judaism), as that formal setting requires a bit of distance. And yet there is a deeper question: do we need the title in order to feel respected? I don't. Over the years, I’ve noticed my own relationship with titles change. When I needed them, and when I didn’t - and what that says about confidence, responsibility, and leadership. My inclination is to never use my title, and certainly never with someone who is vulnerable or anxious. In this recording, I explore the difference between authority that depends on a title and authority that stands on its own - and what the Torah might be teaching about both. 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.

We called my grandmother “Skip,” though her name was Rose Margolin. She was strong - but not in a way that drew attention. She expected a great deal of us, and even more from herself, and that shaped the atmosphere around her more than anything she ever said. On her Yartzeit, I remember her many quiet unrecognized acts of kindness, as well as her concern for our upbringing and proper comportment: sitting up straight, no bottles on the dinner table, don't compliment yourself. My grandfather was very different. More public, more outward. And yet together, they shared a clear sense of what kind of people they wanted to be in our lives - and they lived in a way that made that vision real. 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.

My Semicha (rabbinic ordination) gave me the ability to learn Torah at a high level - a gift I rely on every day. But when I began working as a rabbi, I discovered something I hadn’t expected: I didn’t actually know how to be a rabbi. Not how to lead a community. Not how to make real-world decisions. Not how to carry responsibility for other people’s lives. Those are not things I learned in our Beit Midrash. I had been trained to learn Torah. I had not been trained to lead people. Almost everything I know about that, I learned on the job - slowly, sometimes awkwardly, with lots of mistakes, over time. And more than anywhere else, I learned it through the annual conventions of the Rabbinical Council of America - by listening, observing, and realizing what the role truly demands. As we approach Shavuot, a time of receiving Torah, I find myself thinking not only about what we are taught, but how we learn to live it. 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.

Every community eventually faces moments of confusion and controversy. Recently, in Montreal, Kashrut has become one of those moments. And beneath the details, a deeper question emerges: who should we rely on when it comes to Kosher? Social media creates the illusion that everyone is an expert, and that every issue must be debated publicly. It may give us information - but not necessarily judgment, responsibility, or accountability. Frequently, it leads not to clarity, but to confusion and division. Jewish communities rely on recognized systems of Kashrut supervision - agencies built on expertise and normative Halachic standards. In Montreal that includes MK, KSR, Belz, and others such as COR, OU, OK, and Star-K. We may not understand every decision, and we may not agree with every policy, but without expert oversight, keeping Kosher becomes impossible. And what is at stake is not only what we eat. Keeping Kosher is one of the ways we live as Jews, and maintain a daily connection to something larger than ourselves. So especially in moments like this, the question is not: what did I read online? The question is: who do we rely on, and what kind of community do we want to be? Enjoy your Kosher cheesecake this Shavuot. 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.

Rabbi Yosef Soloveitchik, known simply as the Rav, was one of the greatest Torah teachers of the modern era. I had the privilege to hear him teach in person - and I was also there when his failing health began to take from him his most extraordinary gift: his precise, lyrical, and commanding voice. I still remember the moment he tried to speak - and could not. And yet, the Rav never stopped teaching. Through thousands of recordings, and through the vast body of his Torah now being published from handwritten notes, his voice continues to reach us - with clarity, depth, and urgency. What it meant to hear him is something I will never forget. What it means that we still hear him, in a different way, may be even more important. 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.

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.

Last week I had the privilege of hearing Rabbi Herschel Schachter, one of the foremost authorities in Jewish law. And yet, we call him a Talmid Chacham - not just a Torah scholar, but a student of a scholar. For anyone who wants to grow in Torah, that may be the starting point: never stop being a student. At last week’s Rabbinical Council of America convention, Rabbi Schachter returned to the Mishnah in Pirkei Avot: “Acquire for yourself a rabbi.” But how do you actually choose? He offered clear criteria: someone who answers thoughtfully, who listens carefully - not only to the question, but to the person asking it - who lives with reverence for God, and who treats others with humility and respect. And then, in real time, I watched those very qualities come alive - in Rabbi Schachter, and in Rabbi Mordechai Willig. Not taught. Not abstract. In real life. 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.

Today is Yom Yerushalayim - the day we celebrate the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967, and the enduring pull of a city that has never stopped calling to us. According to a well-known tradition, Jerusalem was built on the site of a quiet act of brotherly love. Long before it became a place people argue about, it was a place where people reached toward one another. Its very name carries that tension and aspiration. Yir’eh - awe. Shalom - peace. Jerusalem is where we are meant to see more deeply, and to become more whole. Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook taught that its stones are “stones of heart.” Rabbi Norman Lamm described it as the place where God awaits us. Not just a location, but a meeting point. Jerusalem isn’t just a city. It is an encounter - between people, between ideals, and between ourselves and God. 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.

We can pray in any language, using any words, at any time, from any place. Yet the fixed prayers many of us say every day contain a hidden danger: repetition can become routine. The weekday Amidah is nearly identical three times a day, with only slight changes depending on the season or the nature of the day. And at least for me, there are far too many times when I suddenly realize I said the wrong words almost automatically, without enough attention or presence. Rabbi Meilech Biderman analyzes a fascinating Talmudic passage about one of those small seasonal changes, and draws from it a deeply encouraging lesson: even a distracted or imperfect prayer may still carry enormous spiritual power. And if prayer said half-awake, distracted, or imperfectly can still reach heaven - imagine what is possible when we truly bring our minds, hearts, and souls into the words. 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.

This evening we search for how we will make it through hearing (the second half of) this week's Torah portion, BeChhukotai, and what saves us are the first three words. We then explore the final, climactic blessing God bestows on us, with three brief explanations from The Rav, Rabbi Yosef Soloveitchik, Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner, and Bailey Newman quoting Mr. Rogers. 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.

The common translation in this week’s Parsha, Behar, is to support our fellow in need. But Rashi understands the Torah differently: not merely to support someone after they fall, but to strengthen them before they fall. Sivan Rahav Meir explains that when we notice someone beginning to decline - that is precisely the moment we are called to help. In finances, relationships, raising children, and even caring for our own health, the Torah teaches a profound truth: the sooner we respond, the greater the chance of healing and recovery. Waiting for crisis is often waiting too long. 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.

I recently started watching "The Pitt," and I am deeply impressed. The acting, writing, and storylines are exceptional. What especially stayed with me is how human the show feels. Noah Wyle seems to have grown into the perfect role - experienced, compassionate, exhausted, imperfect, and believable. The series manages to be both entertaining and thoughtful, especially in its treatment of mental health, suffering, forgiveness, and end-of-life issues. I also discovered the Hawaiian practice of Ho'oponopono - and realized I have been practicing something very similar for more than 40 years without ever knowing its name. If you are watching The Pitt - or decide to start - I would genuinely love to hear what you think. 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.

10@9 Why the Torah Supports Free Markets - But Doesn’t Trust Them - 2026.05.04 by Rabbi Michael Whitman

Yirmiyahu and Zecharia both prophesized about the Geula, the final redemption. In some cases even their language is almost identical. We analyze a passage from each and note how Yirmiyahu's words were changed in the Brachah we make for Sheva Brachot at a Jewish wedding. We examine how Rabbi Akiva comforted his colleagues with the prosaic words of Zecharia. We explore the dialectic in every step of the Pesach Seder - even Marror expresses both slavery and freedom simultaneously. Zecharia speaks to us, today, in a way Yirmiyahu and every other prophet do not. Thank you, Zecharia. You have brought joy to our lives. Thank you. I was honoured to be a guest speaker at a TBDJ series on Tanach on this topic. 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.

Today is Lag B’Omer. We are taught that we celebrate because there was a pause in the deaths of Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000 students. But why would we celebrate that nothing terrible happened? Rabbi Yaakov Ruderman reveals a deeper meaning. Rabbi Akiva, already an old man, lost everything - his students, his life’s work, his entire legacy. In the face of unimaginable grief, he made a decision that changed Jewish history: he began again. With just five remaining students, he rebuilt what had been lost - and more. Lag B’Omer is not a celebration of what stopped. It is a celebration of what came next. It is the quiet, unbreakable Jewish refusal to give up. It is the voice that has carried us through loss after loss, generation after generation - a voice we have heard again so powerfully in our own time: We will dance again. 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.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks spent decades thinking deeply about economics. Across his writings and teachings, he articulated a Torah worldview that both affirms free markets - and places deep limits on them. In a thoughtful essay in Lehrhaus, Jared Rutner surveys this vision, much of which emerges from this week’s Torah portion, Behar. The Torah supports competition, private ownership, and wealth creation - yet surrounds them with moral and legal constraints that prevent abuse and protect the vulnerable. The result is a striking balance: freedom and restraint, prosperity and responsibility. Why does the Torah endorse markets - and at the same time refuse to fully trust them? And what does that mean for how we live today? 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.

Today I want to share a conversation I haven’t been able to shake. Shlomo Katz, a beloved musician in Israel, was told something many of us hear: yes, antisemitism outside Israel is frightening - but Israel itself is more dangerous. HIs response was not political. It was not statistical. It was something deeper - something spiritual, something almost impossible to fully grasp from the outside. In this week’s parsha, Behar, God says about the Land of Israel: “The land is Mine.” This is not just geography. It is presence. It is belonging. It is living within something sacred. It is being held within God’s embrace. Israel is the place where the Jewish story unfolds, where we live with God in a way that is impossible to experience anywhere else. 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.

Today is Pesach Sheni - the “second Passover,” an often overlooked moment in the Jewish calendar. Though it is no longer practiced today, its message is as urgent as ever. In the Torah, Pesach Sheni emerges in a way unlike any other mitzvah. A group of Jews, unable to bring the Korban Pesach, refuse to accept their loss. They cry out: “Why should we miss out?” In response, God does something extraordinary and unprecedented - God creates a new Mitzvah, a second chance that had never existed before. This yearning - this refusal to let a Mitzvah slip away - comes alive in a powerful and unforgettable story from the consecration of a cemetery in Amsterdam. Pesach Sheni challenges us: Do we truly long to do what is right? Or do we quietly accept missed opportunities? Sometimes, the difference between missing out and receiving a second chance… is how much we want it. 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.

This evening we discuss the general Mitzvah of helping those in need, expressed in our Parsha by "Peah" - leaving the corners of your field for the needy to harvest for themselves. A peculiar detail of this Mitzvah teaches us a magnificent lesson about when not helping is really helping. We discuss Pesach Sheni, the second-chance Pesach, which is tonight and tomorrow, 14 Iyar. The main point for us is not the second chance, but the spiritual refinement of grasping for any and every opportunity to perform a Mitzvah. 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.

There are many names we have used to describe ourselves throughout Jewish history - Children of Israel, People of Israel, Nation of Israel, and many more. Each name reflects not only who we were in a particular moment, but something eternal about who we are. Rabbi Moshe Taragin explores these different identities and explains why today, more than ever, “Am Yisroel” - the Nation of Israel - captures who we are and who we aspire to be. What does it mean to think of ourselves not just as individuals or a religion, but as a people with a shared story and destiny - especially today? Am Yisroel Chai! 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.

A teacher of very limited means suddenly realized, in the middle of teaching his class, that something his wife had just thrown away contained a huge sum of cash - money that wasn’t even his. Moments later, he confirmed the worst: it had already been taken by the garbage truck. The money was gone. And yet, he calmly returned to his classroom and continued teaching. When asked how he was able to go on after such devastating news, his answer reveals a powerful truth about why we are sent challenges - and how we can face them with strength and clarity. 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.

Ben Sasse, former U.S. Senator, is facing pancreatic cancer - and speaking with unusual clarity about what truly matters. In a thoughtful conversation with Ross Douthat, Sasse reflects on AI, repentance, honoring the Sabbath, prayer, and even gratitude in the face of illness. This video asks a simple but startling question: What if we learned how to live from those who know their time is limited? Perhaps the path to a fuller life begins with seeing it as finite - and choosing to live with greater presence, purpose, and gratitude. 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.

An apparently redundant word in this week’s Parsha, Emor, opens the door to a profound insight into how we teach children. Through a close reading of the text, we uncover a powerful approach for parents, grandparents, teachers, and anyone who serves as a role model - not just what to teach, but how to teach it in a way that builds, uplifts, and endures. This is a message about shaping not only what children know, but who they become. 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.

Here is an unexpected and deeply moving example of what it truly means to “love your neighbor as yourself” - emerging from Israel in a time of war. Israeli women have created a breast milk bank for the babies of mothers who have left their homes to help protect and defend the country - ensuring that even in their absence, their children are nourished and cared for in the most intimate way. This is the kind of creativity that often emerges in Israel during times of crisis - not only resilience, but a deep and practical commitment to caring for one another. It’s more than a beautiful story. It’s a living example of what love can look like when it becomes action - thoughtful, resourceful, and profoundly human. 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.

There are two purposes behind the beautiful, widespread practice of lighting Shabbat lights each Friday night: To create Shalom Bayit - a home filled with peace, warmth, and harmony - and to elevate the moment through blessing, intention, and heartfelt prayer. Rabbi Moshe Sherer, who devoted his life to serving the Jewish people, never forgot a moment from his childhood - when he quietly listened as his mother lit Shabbat candles, whispered her prayer, and shed a tear. These candles do not only light our homes - they illuminate our inner lives, our hopes, and our deepest relationships. This video explores the meaning behind a ritual so many of us know, and invites us to experience it with greater awareness, intention, and holiness. 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.

This evening we analyze the little-known Mitzvah of Kisui HaDam (please look it up) and derive a very relevant lesson for each of us not only to do Mitzvot, but how to do them. Then we analyze the justice of judging others favorably, with a great story from Rabbi Meilech Biderman about how often the most unlikely explanation is actually the truth. 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.

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.

Many ask: how can we celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, amid struggle, uncertainty, and fatigue? Rabbi Moshe Taragin offers a powerful perspective - travel back to 1948, and imagine how that generation would see us today. Despite everything, they would want us to feel deep pride in what has been built. Rabbi Chaim Sabato adds a poetic insight: we may be too close to the moment to fully see it, but we are living amidst the blinding light of a historic redemption and the restoration of Jewish sovereignty. We are all on the same journey - sometimes slower, sometimes painful - but always moving forward. Today, we celebrate not because everything is perfect, but because something extraordinary is unfolding. 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.

Today is Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers. Israel commemorates its fallen with an intensity that is difficult to fully grasp from the outside - a national experience of grief, gratitude, and memory that touches every life. Few works capture this more powerfully than “The Silver Platter” by Natan Alterman. Each time I read it, I am moved to tears of gratitude and awe for the young men and women who gave - and continue to give - their lives so that the State of Israel can not only endure, but flourish. Without their sacrifice, Israel would not exist. The transition from Yom HaZikaron immediately into Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, is not incidental. It is designed to allow us to experience and appreciate the loss and the joy, the dark and the light, the pain and the beauty which coexist for Israel at every moment. Today asks something of us: to feel both. To carry the weight of what has been lost, and at the same time, to recognize the miracle that continues because of it. 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.

Is there spiritual value in doing what God asks - even if we only do it partially? Does God measure us by a single standard, or does God see each person differently? In this video, Rabbi Yosef Rimon presents a perspective that may challenge your assumptions - and leave you feeling seen, not judged. An emotional story shared by Rabbi Herschel Schachter captures this idea in a way that may move you to tears of awe and gratitude. A powerful reflection on how much God cherishes not just our successes, but our struggles, our doubts, and even our setbacks. 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.

The Secret of Rashi’s Greatness: He Said "I Don’t Know" | 10@9 | 2026.04.19 by Rabbi Michael Whitman

A significant shift may be emerging from within the Religious Zionist movement in Israel. In recent months, respected Israeli Religious Zionist voices - many of them strong supporters of the settlement movement in Yehuda and Shomron - have begun speaking out against Jewish violence toward Arabs. This video briefly addresses the rise in such violence, but focuses on this new and potentially important internal response. Is this the beginning of a broader change? Are we approaching a tipping point on one of Israel’s most urgent moral challenges? For the sake of Israel, I hope so. 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.

This evening we find the connection between last week's Parsha and this week's through two stories about putting as much care into what comes out of our mouths as what we put into them. We examine the opportunity of being alone (not lonely), and see this as one of the magnificent goals of Shabbat, the purpose of pauses, and letting things sink in. 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.

My love for Israel is deep and fierce. My desire for Israel to be better flows directly from that love. This issue is not new. Many of us have been speaking about it for years. But in the past two months, something has changed - both in intensity and in kind. A significant and largely overlooked story is unfolding in Israel, in two parts, concerning violence by Jews against Arabs in Yehuda and Shomron. It has received less attention than it deserves, overshadowed by the war with Iran and ongoing attacks from Hezbollah. Today, I present two primary sources. The first is an interview with Elisha Yared, who identifies himself as a leader of the Hilltop Youth. He describes his worldview, his strategy of what he calls “initiated friction,” his desire to increase Arab emigration, and his tensions with Israel’s military and intelligence institutions. The second is a document recently delivered to Israeli security officials titled: “Summary of the Past Month in the Struggle Against the Arab Enemy in the Holy Land.” It details incidents including reported injuries to Arabs, arson against mosques, destruction of Arab property, uprooting of olive trees, and attacks on Arab villages. My goal is simple: to present these voices as clearly and fairly as possible - in their own words. Tomorrow: the response. 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.

David Lazarus is 50 years old, a husband and father of three, living with a progressive, terminal illness. For years, he believed visiting the sick was simply a good deed. Now, from the inside, he understands it very differently. In his essay, David shares what actually helps a person who is ill - and what, despite good intentions, can make things harder. His insights are simple, practical, and deeply human. If you’ve ever visited someone who is sick - or will - this will change how you show up. 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.

Today is Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day. We tell the story every year. We say: never again. And yet, the question lingers - has the world actually changed? Drawing on the haunting words of Elie Wiesel, we confront a painful possibility: that memory alone does not transform humanity. But if memory is not enough - what is? Through the story of Cathy Lawi, a trauma specialist in Israel, we explore two radically different responses to helplessness - shaped by histories from France and Iraq - and what they reveal about how people rebuild after devastation. And then, one final image: A 97-year-old survivor, Dov Landau, dancing at his great-grandson’s wedding. In one moment, he lifts his sleeve - revealing the number etched into his arm in Auschwitz. In the next, he continues to dance. What does it mean to remember - not just the past, but the responsibility it places on us now? This is not just about history. It’s about what we do with it - this year. 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.

Every morning, near the end of Shacharit, we say Shir Shel Yom—the Psalm of the Day, once sung by the Levites in the Beit HaMikdash. It feels like a closing note. Something we say and move past. But it’s not random—and it’s not just a memory of the Temple. Each day’s psalm was chosen with precision. Each one reflects a different dimension of the world—and a different way we are meant to live within it. What if your week isn’t just a cycle of days… but a structured opportunity to imitate God? In this video, we explore how Shir Shel Yom quietly shapes the spiritual architecture of your week—and how it can transform the way you step into each day. Once you see it, you won’t say it the same way again. 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.

I was asked a simple question: Why are there three Rothko prints behind me? That question opens into something much deeper. Mark Rothko was born Jewish, and many have tried to read his work through that lens—seeing in it echoes of the Holocaust, the Temple, or even Kabbalah. But I’m not convinced. In this video, I briefly trace Rothko’s life and then set those interpretations aside—not because they’re impossible, but because they may be missing something more essential. Instead, I turn to what Rothko actually said and wrote… to how he constructed his paintings… and to what decades of living with his work have taught me. This is a personal attempt to answer a different question: Not what Rothko meant—but what his paintings do. And why they continue to hold me. 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.

At first glance, Sh’foch Chamatcha—“Pour out Your wrath”—feels like a jarring note near the end of the Seder. Why introduce anger at the very moment we should be moving toward redemption and joy? But in its deeper context, this is not a call to vengeance—it is a declaration of vision. We open the door not in fear, but in hope. It is an invitation: a call to all peace-seeking people and nations to join us. As God says, “My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations.” Those who choose peace are welcome. Only those who cling to violence exclude themselves. And that clarity leads us to the true climax of the Seder: Hallel. After everything we’ve experienced—slavery and freedom, questions and struggles, memory and meaning—we arrive at a place where praise is no longer scripted. It is real. We are ready for it. We want it. The Seder is no longer something we are observing. It has become something we are living. And in the final words—so often sung with a beautiful melody—we are reminded: this is possible. The Seder can be understood. It can be felt. It can change us. That is my hope—for myself, and for you. When the Haggadot are closed, something vital remains open. 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.