Mining The Riches Of The Parsha

About Mining The Riches Of The Parsha

On this podcast we think carefully, admit what we don’t know, and learn from wherever truth shows up. Here we explore how Torah works for living seriously, joyfully, and truthfully in real life. I am Michael Whitman, rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, a Modern Orthodox synagogue community, and adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. Contact me (michael@adath.ca) to receive a daily email, Study with Rabbi Whitman Today, with current and past insights for that day — video and audio, all in one easy-to-access place, sent directly to your inbox. Contact me (michael@adath.ca) for any questions, suggestions, or feedback.

Publisher

Rabbi Michael Whitman

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

17 Apr 2023

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

872 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Why Does God Tell Us No? | 10@9 | 2026.10.15

   Why does God tell us what we cannot do? Why does Judaism place so many limits on our choices? Wouldn't we be better off with more freedom, not less? Rabbi Nachum of Chernobyl discovers a remarkable pattern in the Torah's account of creation: first comes evening, then morning. First comes what is missing, then its fulfillment. Even in the Garden of Eden, God first tells Adam what he may not have, and only afterward gives him the extraordinary gift of companionship. What might this teach us about the purpose of limits, and the importance of learning to wait? Walter Mischel's famous Marshmallow Test adds a fascinating psychological dimension to the question. Perhaps the purpose of God's restrictions is not to diminish our freedom, but to help us master our desires and live more meaningful lives. As Dr. Afshine Emrani puts it: "I used to think freedom meant doing whatever I wanted. Now I think real freedom is when what I want no longer controls me." 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 (michael@adath.ca) 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.

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   When Unity Becomes Dangerous | 10@9 | 2026.10.14

   We all want unity. We want to belong to families, communities, and societies where people share our values and work together. So why does the Torah tell us that the extraordinary unity and cooperation of the builders of the Tower of Babel ended in disaster? Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch offers a disturbing insight. Their unity demanded uniformity. Everyone had to speak the same language and think the same way, leaving no room for genuine differences. What appeared to be an ideal society was actually a dangerous form of tribalism. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. describes the downward path that can follow - from a failure to communicate and understand one another, to fear, hatred, and ultimately violence. There is nothing wrong with loving our families, strengthening our communities, and feeling a special bond with those who share our values. But the real test of our unity is how we see and treat those who are different from us. Can we respect them, listen to them, and recognize their dignity, even when we disagree? Or does our loyalty to our own group lead us to look down on others? The Tower of Babel offers an urgent warning for our deeply divided world. 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 (michael@adath.ca) 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.

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   Why Bowling Together Might Save Our Society | 10@9 | 2026.10.13

   What if one way to repair our increasingly lonely, divided, and distrustful society is surprisingly simple - doing more things together? More than 25 years ago, Robert Putnam's groundbreaking Bowling Alone documented the decline of clubs, associations, and community participation. His research showed how these connections build social capital - the relationships, trust, and mutual responsibility that make life better for individuals and society. But the Torah presents a fascinating challenge. The builders of the Tower of Babel were extraordinarily united, working together on an enormous common project. Yet according to Abarbanel, under Nimrod's leadership, their society was characterized by tyranny, oppression, and a profound lack of human dignity. God dismantled their society to make possible a different kind of society. Their story teaches us that unity alone is not enough. What matters is whether our connections foster trust, respect, and genuine concern for others. Putnam's research and Abarbanel's interpretation together offer a powerful lesson for our own time. Building a better society doesn't necessarily require grand gestures. Joining a Mah-Jong group or walking group, attending synagogue services and staying to socialize, volunteering, or simply becoming involved in a community can help build the relationships on which a healthy society depends. These ordinary choices can enrich our own lives while helping repair the social fabric for everyone. 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 (michael@adath.ca) 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.

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

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