Rabbi Marc Philippe received smicha from Yeshiva Toras Israel in Jerusalem, also known as Diaspora Yeshiva. He has been a citizen of the world since childhood, having grown up on four continents. Beyond his role as Temple Emanu-El’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Philippe is a cantor, musician, composer, and conductor. Studying at Paris’ prestigious Ecole Normale de Musique, he earned a Masters degree and later received a second degree at the Conservatoire Maurice Ravel. During the same period, he was a student at the Institutions Talmudiques Yeshiva Yad Mordechai. Rabbi Philippe honed his cantorial skills as a conductor at the Consistoire Israelite de Paris. He then served the Choeur et Orchestre Philharmonique Européen, Orchestre Paris Pops and the Orchestre de I’lle de la Cite in various professional capacities.
Our parsha is bechokotai. In this parsha God promises that if the people of Israel will keep His commandments, they will enjoy prosperity and be secure on their land. But He also is warning from persecution and exile if the people abandon the covenant with God.
