Titles Matter - But Needing Them Is Something Else | 10@9 | 2026.05.26

A long and repetitive section of this week’s Parsha can feel unnecessary at first. But beneath the repetition is a careful exploration of leadership - when it works, when it doesn’t, and how it is repaired. A subtle inconsistency in the text leads Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried to a striking suggestion: Nachshon, one of the central leaders, is mentioned without his title. Not because it was overlooked - but because it wasn’t needed. His actions spoke for themselves. But that doesn’t mean titles don’t matter. In many settings - especially institutional and halachic ones - titles create clarity. They define roles. They make authority visible so that people and systems can function properly. I use my title when I am in the role of Dayan on the Bet Din for Geirut (Judge on the Court for Conversion to Judaism), as that formal setting requires a bit of distance. And yet there is a deeper question: do we need the title in order to feel respected? I don't. Over the years, I’ve noticed my own relationship with titles change. When I needed them, and when I didn’t - and what that says about confidence, responsibility, and leadership. My inclination is to never use my title, and certainly never with someone who is vulnerable or anxious. In this video, I explore the difference between authority that depends on a title and authority that stands on its own - and what the Torah might be teaching about both. 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:    / @rabbimichaelwhitman   Instagram:   / adathmichael   Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG... 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.