Mining The Riches Of The Parsha

This morning I share my joy, anguish, fear, anger, relief, disappointment, and much more, with events unfolding in Israel now, by sharing an insight of Rabbi Avraham Kook on how we should view the road toward peace. 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 commu...

This morning we analyze the three answers God gives to Moshe's question about His name. Why are there three? Which one is reflected in Jewish Law, and in our prayers, according to Rabbi Avraham Pam? 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...

This evening we discuss why the names of Yaakov's sons are listed in our Torah portion, after just having been listed at the end of VaYigash. Through insights of Sfas Emes and Rabbi David Wolpe, we understand this message is for each of us, and introduces the theme of this Book, Exodus - the magnificence of human beings. We explore a critical aspect of leadership Moshe displays in what he says to...

This morning I pay tribute to my father, Morris Whitman, who passed away on Chanukah 13 years ago. His Hebrew name was Moshe. We explore why the original Moshe was not named Moshui, which means drawn from the water. The answer given by Siforno and Rabbi S.R. Hirsch very much describes my father's greatest trait, which we should all emulate, and for which my father remains my role model. Michael Wh...

This morning we explore a verse in our Torah portion (Shemot) that is the motto for our times. Based on Pardes Yosef, Amanda Gorman, and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, we see a clear pattern in Jewish history unfolding again now. 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...

This morning, thanks to Daniel Gordis, we share a very popular Israeli song being sung all over Israel now, which conveys a deep and important facet of today's Israeli society. Then we see this song being sung in an emotional, joyous moment for one little boy and for all of Israel.

This morning we continue our discussion on Conversion to Judaism from yesterday (https://youtu.be/qdBXDYxTfdE) and discuss the critical question of "Will my conversion be accepted?" We outline the scenarios where this might be a problem, and the two steps to avoid this happening. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill Univ...

This morning we discuss how to choose a conversion program. Since October 7, 2023, we have seen a dramatic rise in people wanting to convert to Judaism. Over the years, as the head of the RCA Conversion Program - Montreal Region, I find many people enter a program and then come to us when they learn that what they did does not lead them to the result they wanted. How do you choose a program that w...

This morning we explore the practice we and others have in the synagogue this Shabbat as we conclude the Torah portion VaYechi, and with that, the Book of Bereishit, the congregation exclaims Chazak, be strengthened, to celebrate the milestone of studying this book of the Torah together. We describe how this phrase has been movingly paraphrased since October 7: I came to strengthen and I leave str...

This evening we discuss the (for some uncomfortable) subject of preparing for death, as Yaakov does in this Torah portion, including a great song from Johnny Cash. We analyze the first usage of shepherd as a metaphor for God, and why it is appropriate and incorporated by David in Psalm 23. Then we explore the wording of the famous blessing Yaakov gives, HaMalach HaGoel, which many of us sing to ou...

This morning we discuss tomorrow's fast day, 10 Tevet, perhaps the least known, and unique in at least two ways. We explore the insight of Rabbi Eliezer Simchah Weisz, demonstrated by the powerful example of Roee Azizi and his organization, Hinenu. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is...

Recognizing this makes many of us uncomfortable, this morning we discuss how we approach death, and learn lessons from how our patriarch Yaakov does this in our Torah portion, VaYechi. This portion is for us a textbook on how to navigate this sometimes frightening, inevitable part of life. Avoiding this topic only makes it more difficult. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation i...

This morning we analyze the question and response of Yaakov and his children - based on the Rav, Rabbi Yosef Soloveitchik, and the earlier question and response of Yaakov and Yosef, based on Dr. Aviva Zornberg and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, to understand the importance of "Shema Yisroel" and the continual question and response that is the theme of Bereishit - the Book of Genesis, and repeated between ev...

This morning we explore two possibilities, either Yaakov found out what the brothers did to Yosef and how he ended up in Egypt, or he didn't. The second possibility, suggested by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Meilech Biderman, and others, carries an exquisite, difficult, and critical life skill for every one of us. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and a...

This morning we discuss three times the VaYigash (and they approached) appears in connection with prayer. Rabbi Saul Berman derives three themes/modes of prayer from these three disparate narratives, and we should be aware of all three as we take three steps forward to begin prayer. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill U...

This evening we share one last lesson from Chanukah - patience. We explore a contemporary and applicable answer to why Yosef never tried to contact his father, Yaakov, from Rabbi Yoel Bin Nun and Patti Davis. And we provide a new answer to why we refer to Yosef as HaTzaddik (the righteous) from the teaching, and the character of Rabbi Yehuda Amital. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Con...

This morning we continue our discussion from yesterday that the essence of Chanukah is to reject assimilation. Today we underscore how early this must start, from a discovery at the British Museum, and we identify the real hero of Chanukah, according to Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, whose message addresses us directly today. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, an...

This morning we define Chanukah as the holiday to reject assimilation. Using Avraham's formulation of Ger V'Toshav (I am an immigrant/citizen, according to the Rav, Rabbi Yosef Soloveitchik), we identify three elements to this vital process to put into practice in our time. Today, #1, and tomorrow, #2 and #3. ichael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adj...

This morning we provide a fair, balanced tribute to President Jimmy Carter. I share my disagreements with some of his language about, and approach to Israel (though he was not anti-Israel and he was certainly not an antisemite). We examine two areas of his greatness, the Camp David Accords leading to (fragile) peace with Egypt, and his decades of hands-on help to make the world better after his pr...

This morning we discuss the original Mitzvah of lighting the Menorah, of which Chanukah is the rededication after a lapse of several years. We investigate Ramban's claim that the High Priest Aharon's greatest legacy was not in his lighting the Menorah, but in his descendants bringing about a holiday, Chanukah, where everyone would light a Menorah and not just in the Temple, but in their home own....

This morning we discuss why, among all the Jewish holidays, Chanukah is the most focused on our home, not synagogue. Based on an insight from Rabbvi Michael Rosenzweig, we explore how the Chanukah conflict, which took place on the battlefield and in the Beit HaMikdash, was essentially a conflict over what would be the values of the Jewish home. Chanukah teaches us that the Jewish home, properly co...

This morning we discuss the famous Chanukah song, Maoz Tzur. We explore the importance of singing it while we contemplate the Chanukah lights. And we examine its themes and lessons, especially as they relate to us this year, 5785/2024. We also include a wonderful story from Rabbi Meilech Biderman about lighting Chanukah candles on a hectic Friday afternoon. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of A...

This evening we discuss why Yosef spent an extra two years in prison - was it a punishment or a blessing? We investigate the source in our Parsha for ten needed to form a Minyan. And we explore the father of Matityahu - how his life is central to how we light the Menorah and to how we should live as Jews. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunc...

This morning we review the rather dry and boring Chanukah historical chronology, from which we learn a magnificent lesson we can apply to our lives every day. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next...

This morning in advance of celebrating the miracles of Chanukah starting tonight, we explore another category of miracles in which we can all participate, described by Ramban in our Torah portion, Mikeitz, with two great stories to demonstrate; one from Sivan Rahav Meir, and the other from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an a...