Midrash Rabbah

3,279 texts · Page 49 of 69

The great Midrash Rabbah, a collection of aggadic midrashim on the Torah and the Five Megillot. These rabbinic commentaries explore the deeper meanings of Scripture through parable, allegory, and legend.

Kehat at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 36:4

According to Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, there are four specific things that God longs for from His creation. The passage begins ...

CreationNoah & FloodMosesKing David

Aaron and His Sons Chosen to Lead Israel in Service

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 37:1

We find a powerful idea tucked within Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It centers around the verse: "And you, draw Aaron your brother ...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

How Aaron Reacted When Moses Smashed the Tablets

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 37:2

We find one of those moments in the story of the Golden Calf, and how Aaron, brother of Moses, reacted to it. The scene: Moses is descending from Mount Sinai, clutching the tablets...

MosesTempleRepentanceHoly Land

Rabbis — Aaron in the Days of Moses

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 37:3

It's all about second chances, about grace, and about how sometimes, the people who stumble are the very ones chosen for greatness. The verse we're focusing on is "and you, draw…ne...

MosesKing DavidTempleHoly Land

Moses and David of From

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 37:4

In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exchange. God tells Moses, "And you, draw near to you." Now, Moses isn't exa...

MosesKing DavidJobTorah

Aaron at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:1

Shemot Rabbah, that incredible collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)im (interpretive stories) on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating insight into just this ...

CreationNoah & FloodMosesKing David

Adam's Sin at the Tree of Knowledge and Atonement

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:2

And our tradition grapples with it head-on. Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating take on this very issue, drawing us ...

Adam & EveDeathAtonementHumor

Why a Bull Atones for the Sin of the Golden Calf

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:3

Take the story of atonement after the sin of the Golden Calf. It all starts with an offering. But what kind of offering? The verse in Exodus tells us to "Take one young bull." But ...

AngelsMosesKing DavidJob

Take Words Not Sacrifices and Return to God

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:4

The ancient rabbis wrestled with this, too, and their insights, preserved in Shemot Rabbah, are surprisingly relevant today. The verse from Hosea (14:3) says, "Take words with you ...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsJoseph

The Secret Power Hidden in Prayer and Repentance

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:5

The ancient rabbis, plumbing the depths of the Torah, had a different take, and it’s one that resonates even today. We find a fascinating discussion in Shemot Rabbah, a collection ...

CreationAdam & EveMosesSolomon

Abraham and the Word That Created Everything

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:6

In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exploration of this very idea. The verse "This is the matter [hadavar]" (Exo...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsJoseph

Why Aaron Was Called Holy Among All the Priests

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:7

It’s a fascinating subject, and one that the ancient Rabbis pondered deeply. In fact, Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpreta...

MosesKing DavidTempleProphecy

What Gave Aaron the Right to Enter the Holy of Holies

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:8

What allowed him, a human, to step into the most sacred space? Shemot Rabbah, a treasure trove of biblical interpretations, explores this very question. "This is the matter," it sa...

CreationAngelsNoah & FloodJoseph

Abraham and the Patriarchs of Jacob

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:9

We often think of it as just a structure, but according to Jewish tradition, every single element, every color, every placement, held profound meaning. Take the Hoshen, the breastp...

PatriarchsJosephMosesEgypt

Moses and Solomon of Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 39:1

But in Jewish tradition, a census wasn't just a matter of logistics. It was a delicate, even potentially dangerous, undertaking. Shemot Rabbah, a rich collection of midrash (rabbin...

MosesSolomonEstherTorah

Betzalel's Transgression and the Tabernacle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 40:1

This week, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Exodus. It all starts with God choosing Betzalel to b...

CreationAdam & EveMosesJob

How Betzalel Got His Name and His Divine Wisdom

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 40:2

It centers around Betzalel, the incredibly skilled artisan chosen to build the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that accompanied the Israelites in the desert. The To...

CreationAdam & EveMosesTemple

Betzalel at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 40:3

In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating passage that hints at just that. It starts with the verse, "See, I have call...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsJoseph

Mordechai's Many Names and What Each One Meant

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 40:4

It sounds strange, but Jewish tradition explores the idea that certain special figures in our history were known by multiple names, each reflecting a different facet of their chara...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsJoseph

The Tablets Given to Moses as He Finished Speaking

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:1

The ancient rabbis certainly did. This week, we're diving into a passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, specifically Shemot Rab...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Avin — Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:2

It's more than just handing something over. It's like tossing a pebble into a pond, the ripples go far beyond what you can see. Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretati...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMoses

Where Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding Come From

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:3

The Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, delves into this very idea. It centers around the verse in (Proverbs 2:6), "For the Lord grants w...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

God's Humility in Partnering With Mere Mortals

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:4

We often think of God as all-powerful, distant, maybe even a little intimidating. But what if I told you that Jewish tradition also emphasizes God's incredible humility? Shemot Rab...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

The Tablets Were Not Given Until the Exact Right Moment

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:5

We often picture him descending triumphantly, tablets in hand. But what if the timing was more delicate than we imagine? Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on ...

MosesTorahHoly Land

Why God Gave the Torah as a Gift After Moses Forgot

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:6

Rabbi Abahu tells us that for all forty days Moses spent up on the mountain, he was studying Torah… and forgetting it just as quickly. Can you imagine the frustration? "Master of t...

CreationPatriarchsMosesJob

The Miraculous Writing Engraved on the Tablets

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:7

Our tradition teaches that the Torah isn't just a book; it's a blueprint for creation, a manifestation of God's very being. And the luchot, the tablets upon which the Ten Commandme...

CreationHeavenAngelsJoseph

Go Down for Your People Have Acted Corruptly

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 42:1

The book of Exodus and the sages of the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) explore this very idea. In (Exodus 32:7), we read, "The Lord spoke to Moses: Go descend; for your...

CreationHell/GehennaAngelsAdam & Eve

What Happened in Heaven During the Golden Calf

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 42:2

We all know the story: Moses ascends Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, and the Israelites, impatient and fearful, build a golden idol. But what happens behind the scenes, in the he...

CreationPatriarchsMosesEgypt

Israel Blamed Unfairly for the Sin of the Mixed Multitude

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 42:3

That feeling, that sense of unfair ostracism, resonates deeply within a fascinating interpretation of the Torah portion Ki Tissa in Shemot Rabbah (Exodus Rabbah). We often read the...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

God's Wrath After the Golden Calf Explained

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 42:4

Our story comes from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Exodus. It’s a powerful midrash, a deep dive into the nuances of the text, uncovering la...

AngelsMosesJobTorah

How Quickly Israel Turned Aside After Sinai

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 42:5

This passage grapples with the aftermath of the Golden Calf. Moses is up on Mount Sinai, receiving the Torah, while the Israelites down below are, well, not exactly holding the fai...

CreationHeavenJosephMoses

Moses the Advocate Defends the Indefensible

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 42:6

Our tradition wrestles with that very feeling in the story of the Golden Calf. Imagine the scene: Moses is up on Mount Sinai, receiving the Torah, the very blueprint for a just and...

JosephMosesKing DavidRepentance

How Fast Israel Strayed From God's Commandments

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 42:7

That, in a nutshell, is the tragedy of the Golden Calf. But how quickly did things really fall apart after the revelation at Sinai? The rabbis of the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive...

CreationPatriarchsMosesProphecy

Who Really Made the Golden Calf and Why It Happened

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 42:8

The Book of Exodus, Shemot in Hebrew, tells the story of the Israelites' journey from slavery to freedom, a story punctuated by moments of incredible faith and… well, moments of pr...

CreationHell/GehennaMosesKing David

What Stiff-Necked Really Meant After the Golden Calf

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 42:9

In (Exodus 32:9), after the sin of the Golden Calf, God says to Moses, "I have seen this people and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people." But what exactly does "stiff-necked" even...

MosesTorahPrayerHoly Land

Let Me Be - God's Fury After the Golden Calf

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 43:1

The book of Exodus tells us that after the giving of the Torah, the Israelites, impatient and afraid, built the Golden Calf. God, understandably, was furious. "Let Me be," He says ...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesKing David

How Repentance Saved Israel From Destruction

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 43:2

You remember the story. Moses is up on Mount Sinai receiving the Torah, and the Israelites, feeling abandoned, panic and create a golden idol to worship. Big mistake. Shemot Rabbah...

HeavenHell/GehennaMosesSolomon

Mara and the Lawgiver

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 43:3

Like, "Why does this even exist?" The ancient rabbis grappled with this too. And in Shemot Rabbah (a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Exodus), we find a fascinating e...

MosesKing DavidSolomonDaniel

Moses the Audacious Intercessor Before God

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 43:4

Today, we're diving into a fascinating, even audacious, story from Shemot Rabbah – a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It's a story about Moses, the ult...

MosesDanielProphecyWisdom

Moses Argues With God to Spare Israel From Destruction

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 43:5

It seems even Moses, the great lawgiver himself, felt that way at one point. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ex...

MosesHoly LandEgyptSinai

The Golden Calf of Yehuda

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 43:6

That’s kind of the situation Moses found himself in after the incident of the Golden Calf. The people had strayed, big time, and God was understandably furious. But Moses, ever the...

Hell/GehennaMosesTorahHoly Land

How Moses Defended Israel From God's Wrath

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 43:7

It’s a moment of intense frustration, but also a testament to Moses's unwavering advocacy for his people. How does he possibly defend the indefensible? to the story as illuminated ...

JosephMosesWisdomHoly Land

Moses Invokes the Patriarchs to Save the People

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 43:8

The Israelites, fresh from their miraculous exodus from Egypt, had already broken their covenant with God. And God, understandably, was furious. But Moses, ever the advocate, stepp...

JosephMosesKing DavidJob

Moses Defends Israel After the Golden Calf

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 43:9

This particular section, Shemot Rabbah 43, gives us a glimpse into the intense drama that unfolded between Moses and God after the Israelites' colossal blunder. The verse in questi...

JosephMosesRepentanceHoly Land

Egypt — Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 44:1

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating perspective on this, likening the people of Israel to a vine. Rabbi Tanhuma bar ...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Remembering the Righteous Dead Can Heal the Living

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 44:2

In fact, they found an answer – a surprising one – in the power of remembering the righteous dead. Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, de...

PatriarchsMosesKing DavidSolomon

The Golden Calf of Abraham

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 44:3

One perspective comes to us from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. In Shemot Rabbah 44, we find a powerful idea connected to the story ...

PatriarchsMosesSolomonHoly Land

Righteousness of Abraham

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 44:4

And in our tradition, we often turn to stories to explore these complex emotions and find a path forward. Today, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a colle...

PatriarchsMosesHoly Land
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