“Why Should We Lose Out?” - The Cry That Changed Torah Forever | 10@9 | 2026.05.01

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.