Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 295 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.

Four Worlds and Yosei

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 6:4

That's the weight hanging over the story we're about to unpack, a tale drawn from Vayikra Rabbah (Leviticus Rabbah), a fascinating collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Boo...

MysticismRepentance

Depths of the Underworld and Moses

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 6:5

The Torah tells us of an agreement, a covenant, between God and the Israelites. But the details, as explored in Vayikra Rabbah, are far more intricate and, frankly, a little . Rabb...

HeavenHell/GehennaAngelsNoah & Flood

Rise of Joseph and Isaiah

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 6:6

The ancient rabbis grappled with these questions, poring over scripture to understand the nature of prophecy itself. to their fascinating discussion, found in Vayikra Rabbah 6, a m...

JosephMosesKing DavidTorah

Aaron's Offering and Calf

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 7:1

Today, we're diving into a passage from Vayikra Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Leviticus, that explores just that. It revolves around the verse: "C...

CreationHeavenJosephMoses

David Before the King and Temple

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 7:2

What if I told you that the most precious offering you could bring to God isn't a sacrifice of an animal, or even a perfectly crafted prayer, but something far more intimate and pe...

King DavidSolomonTorahTemple

Job and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 7:3

But did you know that our tradition offers a fascinating perspective on even these internal struggles? The Vayikra Rabbah, a classic midrashic text, dives into the idea that even o...

CreationJosephJobTorah

Noah and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 7:4

The rabbis of the Midrash tackled this very question, and their answer might surprise you. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana and Rabbi Hanan, both citing Rabbi Azarya of Kefar Hittaia, offer a...

CreationNoah & FloodMosesKing David

Glory of the Temple and the Altar

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 7:5

It centers on the verse: "And the fire of the altar shall be kept burning in it" (Leviticus 6:2). Now, Rabbi Pinchas makes a subtle but profound observation. He points out that the...

MosesTempleEgypt

Dawn of the World and Sodom

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 7:6

Our tradition certainly does. In Vayikra Rabbah, specifically chapter 7, we find a powerful thread connecting arrogance and divine retribution, often in the form of fire. It's a po...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodMoses