Bo - January 18, 2024

This evening we discuss the first Mitzvah given to the entire Jewish People, how to mark time, which is the first step in transforming a slave into a free person. The next step is to choose wisely how to spend our precious limited time, taught by the gift Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetsky gave his son, and by Rabbi Norman Lamm on why leisure is part of our ultimate concern. Plus an unforgettable story from Rabbi Shlomo Riskin about Rabbi Yaakov Yosef after his stroke. We analyze how every aspect of Torah is intertwined, and give an example from the source, in Jewish Law, for the legal principle of agency. Lastly, we present a deeply disturbing investigation into the two different roles of the plagues (the first seven vs. the last three) based on the writing of Rabbi Moshe Lichtenstein, and expand on his position that we must see the human suffering of even our enemies, with examples from our brave IDF soldiers maintaining their humanity even as they face mortal danger and the bottomless barbarity of Hamas. 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.