This morning we discuss the background to today's Fast Day, Tzom Gedalia, commemorating the assassination of Gedalia, the Jewish governor installed by the Babylonians to oversee the remnant of Jews in Israel after the destruction of the First Temple. We tell the story of what happened, why this event merits an annual public Fast Day even today - recalling a tragically similar modern event with the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin, and derive a practical lesson from Gedalia's actions, expressed in a wonderful story from Rabbi Yisroel Reisman.

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.