Mining The Riches Of The Parsha

This morning we discuss the fascinating connection between Bilaam's donkey (miraculously) speaking and our daily prayer, based on Seforno. We explore why prayer is problematic for many of us, and suggest an unlikely hero and role model to emulate. 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...

This morning we discuss the importance of creating your Digital Directive, alongside your estate will (and Halachic will), and your advance medical directive. To do this you must authorize a person you trust, like your executor, and give that person access to all your passwords, devices, apps, bills you pay online, etc. All of this planning will hopefully remove or reduce the chance of arguments a...

This morning we derive a practical lesson in navigating life from a mysterious Mitzvah, Parah Adumah. Based on the Rav, Rabbi Yosef Soloveitchik, we learn two ways of helping us through the darkest moments of 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 commun...

This evening we analyze the Parah Adumah as an antidote to belittling any Mitzvah, according to the Rav, Rabbi Yosef Soloveitchik. We explore a novel understanding of Tuma'ah, imprecisely translated as ritual impurity, but is actually the basis of our understanding of what life is and how we connect with God, according to Rabbi S. R. Hirsch. And we compare the "mistake" of Moshe hitting the rock w...

This morning we discuss the cryptic and mysterious narrative of the Jewish People being fatally bitten by snakes, and God's "therapy" is to have them look at a bronze snake placed atop a tall pole. How can this possibly help? We provide one approach from Rashi, and a dramatic story from Rabbi Meilech Biderman which brings this lesson home to each of us. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH...

This morning we discuss just one element of the destruction caused by Iranian missiles recently, the damage to the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel. Thank God no one was killed there, but many areas of research that benefit humanity were destroyed, including research leading to cures for cancer, treatments for autism, and much more. I share a poem by Hanna Yerushalmi titled "Kaddish for Scien...

This morning we discuss the history of the Prayer for the Government, which has been included in Shabbat morning synagogue services by many if not most shuls for centuries (with various texts being used). We find a long history of saying these prayers for governments highly antagonistic to Jews: King Ferdinand of Spain, Czar Nicholas II, Joseph Stalin, and many more unsavory leaders. Then we prese...

This morning we discuss why Moshe waited till the next morning to prove Korach's rebellion was against God's command. Based on an insight from Rabbi Boruch Perton, we explore the single most important strategy to avoid Machlokes and disharmony, in any area of life. I demonstrate this with a personal story of one of my lowest moments. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Ham...

This morning we discuss two contiguous narratives concerning Moshe where something very important is missing. And we share a great story from Rabbi Meilech Biderman to demonstrate the point. 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...

This morning we connect two seemingly disparate passages, the terrible narrative of the Meraglim (spies) in our Torah portion, Shelach, and a Mitzvah in Devarim (Deuteronomy) which is actually its antidote, based on an essay by Abe Mezrich. 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...

This morning we discuss the aftermath of the Sin of the Spies, when a group started out for Israel on their own. Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe explains what was so wrong with that, and we demonstrate this with a dramatic story from Sivan Rahav Meir that occurred last week in Israel. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University F...

This morning, first I share my mother's insight after Shabbat on events from Jerusalem. Then we discuss how two people or groups can see the same thing and arrive at opposite conclusions (related to the Meraglim, the spies), demonstrated with a wonderful story about the Kozntizer Maggid. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McG...

This morning Israel is at war with the Iranian Government (not the Iranian people). We discuss an incredible commentary to this week's Torah portion, B'Ha'alotechah, written decades ago by Rabbi Benzion Firer, which directly and presciently addresses today's events. Thanks to my friend and colleague Rabbi Mordechai Torczyner, for brining this to my attention. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of...

This evening we explore the difference between humbleness and meekness, based on a classic lecture by Rabbi Norman Lamm delivered in 1990. Moshe knew himself and his greatness, but did not display any arrogance to others. That is the quality we must try to emulate. We present part of a famous lecture by the Rav, Rabbi Yosef Soloveitchik, to explain how Miriam, who had saved Moshe's life as a baby,...

This morning we discuss the 2024 commencement address of Roger Federer at Dartmouth College. Federer was one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Rustin Dodd, in an article for "The Athletic" explores what makes this speech so impactful and focuses on Federer's three plus one lessons from tennis, which, of course, apply to every one of us in our own lives. Michael Whitman is the senior rabb...

This morning we analyze the change in Moshe we see starting in our Torah portion, B'Ha'alotechah. According to Rabbi Menachem Liebtag, we are not seeing a criticism of Moshe, but the fact that Moshe's abilities and style of leadership is no longer what the people. Every teacher / rabbi / parent / child etc. must be suited to their student / community / child / parent etc. And the needs change. Mic...

This morning we discuss the unique Torah scroll symbols in this week's Torah portion, B'Ha'alotechah, of the two backward "nuns" which appear like parentheses or brackets around 2 famous verses. Based on an article by Sholom Eisenstat, we explore the various shapes, placement, and meanings of these unique symbols. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and...

In light of the thousands of people in Israel, and many others here and around the world suffering from PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome) this morning we try to clarify what this serious illness is, and what it feels like to those who suffer from it. We share two very different descriptions, one from Malat Ben Chaim and one from Ran Apelberg. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congre...

This morning we discuss the Chatzotzrot (silver trumpets) Moshe was commanded to make and use to signal the encamped Jewish People to gather or prepare to travel, and later, to warm of war, and to gather for celebrations. But unlike all other holy objects in the sanctuary, these were not passed down from leader to leader. Each successive leader had to make their own, new trumpets. We provide a com...

This morning we analyze the first line of the famous blessing, Birchat Kohanim (priestly blessing, also the parents blessing). If we ask God to bless us, why do we then need to ask God to protect us? We provide an answer from Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski, Dr. David Pelcovitz, and Rebbetzin Chana Perl Kotler about the dangers of plenty and why we need to be protected from these dangers. Michael Whitma...

This evening we explore why conversion to Judaism requires commitment to every Mitzvah, even those not practically relevant, and what it means for our service to God. We examine the need to create guardrails for ourselves and never assume we could not be tempted to do something terrible. And we discuss why all 12 princes of each tribe brought the same gifts to inaugurate the sanctuary. Michael Whi...

This morning we discuss the text of Birchat Kohanim, the famous Priestly Blessing, and analyze why the text of this blessing is in our Torah portion, Nasso, while the commandment to bless without the text, is in the Torah portion of Shmini, which we read several weeks ago. We provide an answer which forms a practical strategy any time we are about to enter into a fraught situation. Michael Whitman...

This morning we analyze why this week's Torah portion, BaMidbor, is always read on this Shabbat before Shavuot - in what way is it a necessary introduction to receiving the Torah at Sinai for us this year? We explore the answer given by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, that every one of us is needed to stand under the metaphoric Chuppah with God on Shavuot to enter into the divine marriage relationship with...

This evening we discuss the famous problem of the missing and uncertain date of the Holiday of Shavuot with three new approaches from Maharal, Tzlach, and Rabbi JJ Schacter which all point to the effort we must make to prepare ourselves to celebrate Shavuot starting this Sunday night. We also explore what we can learn from groups of Jews such as Ethiopian Jews to enrich, inspire, and improve the r...

On Shavuot, this coming Monday and Tuesday, we celebrate God's revelation at Mt. Sinai. This Monday, we read in synagogue the narrative and content of the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments). This morning we discuss what this critical, famous passage is, and what it is not - what makes these ten special. And we explore the insight of Rabbi S. R. Hirsch on the significance of how the words were engr...