This evening we discuss how to balance several verses from our Torah Portion (Acharei Mot-Kedoshim) to arrive at a comprehensive view of those Jews who are gay or lesbian. We condemn the vicious characterizations that so often and for so long have been based on a misreading and misunderstanding of the relevant Torah verse. I share my testimony before Parliament to support banning conversion therapy. And I trace the many helpful and healing lessons I learned as convention chairman of the RCA (Rabbinical Council of America) in 2016, "Caring for Congregants who are LGBT, and their Families." Every person is created in God's precious image, and every Jew is welcome and invited to participate and be respected in our synagogue.

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.