Shemot - January 4, 2023

This evening we discuss the insight of Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin on the brief, stark introduction of Moshe's parents, and how to move forward when you feel shame over your parent or child. We explore the long back and forth of God trying to convince, and ultimately commanding Moshe lead the Jewish People our of Egypt, finding a similarity between God's patient responses to Moshe's objections, with Hillel's unwillingness to lose his temper. The famous commentator Bechor Shor (12th c. Tosafist) pinpoints the moment God becomes angry with Moshe, and why. Finally, we examine the bizarre narrative of Tziporah performing Brit Milah and her son, to save her husband, Moshe, from death! We explain this with a teaching of Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein stemming from the laws of Chanukah, and expressed in his daily life - family comes first. 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 (rabbi@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.