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.

Seeing Beyond the Veil and Micah

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 16:2

But our tradition, in its rich tapestry of stories, isn't afraid to explore the complexities of the relationship between the Divine and humanity. to one such fascinating exploratio...

PatriarchsProphecyHoly LandJudgment

Giving of the Torah

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 16:3

We often imagine this powerful, awe-inspiring moment, the giving of the Torah. But what if it was almost… too much? What if the sheer intensity of God's voice nearly overwhelmed th...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

Ezekiel and the Lawgiver of Sabbath

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 16:4

Rabbi Aḥa and Rabbi Tanḥum bar Rabbi Ḥiyya, quoting Rabbi Yoḥanan, offer a beautiful and practical answer, drawing on the words of the prophet Ezekiel: "Sanctify my Sabbaths" (Ezek...

MosesMessiahProphecyMiracles

Adam Names the Animals

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 16:5

Here, Rabbi Yudan, in the name of Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina, and Rabbi Berekhya, in the name of Rabbi Abbahu, offer a powerful insight, focusing on the verse from Leviticus (20:2...

Adam & EveMosesHoly LandEgypt

Upper Worlds and Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 16:6

We often think of the Song of Songs, Shir HaShirim, as just that: a beautiful, sensual poem about love between a man and a woman. But what if it’s also about something much, much b...

HeavenSolomonPrayerHoly Land

Moses the Lawgiver and Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:1

Ever felt that sting of doubt, that little voice whispering, "Where is He now?" It's a question that's echoed through the ages, a challenge thrown at the heart of faith itself. And...

JosephMosesSolomonHoly Land

Dawn of the World and Abahu

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:1

But Rabbi Yosei bar Rabbi Ḥanina, in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, noticed something…off. He points out that the verse seems disjointed. Shouldn’t it just say "My beloved went down to feed...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveSolomon

Rabbi Akiva Beyond the Firmament

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:2

It starts with a group of scholars – some say it was Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba and his students, others claim it was Rabbi Akiva, and still others suggest Rabbi Yehoshua. No matter who ...

Heaven

Yitro in Zion

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:3

Jewish tradition often uses metaphors to help us understand our place in the world, our relationship with God, and the destinies of nations. Take this story, as told by Rabbi Shmue...

Holy Land