This morning we explain why having a Jewish calendar is the first Mitzvah God commands us while we were still in Egypt. We explore the role of time in creating a mentality of freedom with a story about Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetsky's Bar Mitzvah gift to his son, and Rabbi Norman Lamm's approach to the importance of how we choose our leisure time. We close with an unforgettable story from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin about Rabbi Yaakov Yosef, the first Chief Rabbi of New York.

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://tinyurl.com/adathyoutube

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/

Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha:

Apple Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/miningtheriches1

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/miningtheriches3

Stitcher: https://tinyurl.com/miningtheriches4

Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions for 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.