Midrash Rabbah

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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.

Rachel: Marriage of Jacob

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 70:20

You remember the story. Jacob, madly in love with Rachel, agrees to work for her father, Laban, for seven long years to earn her hand in marriage. But Laban, that sly trickster, sw...

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Leah in Battle and Binyamin

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 71:1

The verse in question is Genesis 29:31: “The Lord saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, and Rachel was barren.” Seems straightforward. But Rabbi Binyamin links this to...

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Leah and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 71:2

Jewish tradition offers comfort and hope in those moments. It reminds us that even in the depths of despair, we are noticed, and our fortunes can change. The verse in Psalms (145:1...

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Leah's Journey

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 71:3

Our journey begins with Leah, one of the matriarchs of the Jewish people. Genesis 29:32 tells us, "Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben; she said: Because ...

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Birth of Leah and Levi

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 71:4

They're often far more than just labels; they're prophecies, reflections of emotions, and even glimpses into the future. Let's take a look at the story of Leah and the birth of her...

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The Golden Calf of Levi

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 71:5

The ancient rabbis certainly did. to a fascinating passage from Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis, and see what they had to say about...

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Leah: Rachel and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 71:6

The Torah tells us, "Rachel saw that she did not bear children for Jacob; Rachel envied her sister and she said to Jacob: Give me children, and if not, I am dead" (Genesis 30:1). B...

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Trial of Jacob and Rachel

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 71:7

The Torah, in its profound wisdom, doesn't shy away from showing us even our greatest heroes making these kinds of mistakes. Take Jacob and Rachel, for example. We find them in a m...

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Jacob: Birth of Rachel

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 71:8

We often focus on the big battles and pronouncements, but sometimes the most profound moments are the ones whispered in private, the decisions made in the depths of the heart. Take...

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