Disclaimer: More than once today I referred to a series of Parshiot mistakenly. I meant to refer to VaYeishev, MIketz, VaYigash, and VaYechi. Please forgive me.
This morning we pay tribute to Ahmed al-Ahmed who is a Moslem, who risked his life to intervene against one of the shooters on Bondi Beach, saving the lives of countless Jews celebrating Chanukah. It is incredibly important to never make generalizations based on a person's name, appearance, or religion.
Then we discuss an example (Yosef with his dreams) of a lesson we learn from not studying each Torah Portion as its own short story, but rather as a chapter in the Book of Bereishit. In this way, a critical theme emerges from this Book, how in the arc of a person's life, they may start out flawed, and develop over time and in reaction to experiences and challenges, into a Tzaddik, a righteous and good person. Thanks to Rabbi Shlomo Riskin and Abe Mezrich for inspiring this insight.
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://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/
Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO
Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions or 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.