Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 119 of 325

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.

Marriage of Esau

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:1

to a fascinating passage from Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis. It tackles a seemingly simple verse: "Esau was forty years old, and ...

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Esau and the Patriarchs of Yehuda

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:2

We often think of fate, of serendipity, maybe even algorithms these days. But Jewish tradition offers a far more profound and frankly, audacious, answer. : the idea that someone, s...

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Esau's Legacy and Rabba

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:3

We find ourselves in the time of Rabbi Ḥiyya Rabba, a prominent sage. Someone brings him a zargun, a starling. The question? Is it kosher? Is it okay to eat according to Jewish law...

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Isaac's Transgression and Rebecca

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:4

But the Midrash, specifically Bereshit Rabbah 65, really digs into why that bitterness is directed at Isaac first. Why Isaac first? That's the question the rabbis grapple with. And...

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Isaiah: Isaac and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:5

The Torah tells us, "It was when Isaac was old, and his eyes dimmed from seeing, he summoned Esau his elder son, and said to him: My son, and he said to him: Here I am" (Genesis 27...

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Kingdom of Isaac and Esau

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:7

The Torah, and the wisdom of our Sages, are deeply concerned with justice, with making sure the scales are balanced. And the story of Isaac and his sons, Jacob and Esau, is a power...

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Jacob: Abraham and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:9

But what if these weren’t just random occurrences? What if they were, in a way, requested? Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa opens a fascinating door into this idea, stating, "Much, Lord my G...

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Isaac in Heaven and Esau

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:10

The ancient rabbis grappled with these questions constantly, poring over scripture for answers. One particularly poignant example comes from Bereshit Rabbah 65, as it tries to unde...

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Birth of Esau and Edom

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:11

Our story comes from Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis. Specifically, we're diving into chapter 65, which grapples with the character...

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