Midrash Rabbah

2,921 texts · Page 63 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.

David the Warrior and Abba

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 13:6

We often take it for granted, but Jewish tradition actually elevates it to something incredibly profound. The ancient rabbis pondered this a lot, and in Bereshit Rabbah, a collecti...

CreationKing DavidProphecySoul

Elijah and Noah

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 13:8

We take it for granted, but the ancient rabbis saw something profound in that simple act of nature, something deeply connected to humanity's purpose. Bereshit Rabbah, that incredib...

Noah & FloodElijahJobTorah

Rabbi Eliezer and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 13:9

We see rivers flowing into the sea, day after day, year after year. Shouldn't the oceans be overflowing? It’s a question that puzzled even ancient rabbis, and it leads us to a fasc...

CreationNoah & FloodSolomonJob

Faith of Rabbi Eliezer

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 13:10

The ancient rabbis grappled with this question, turning to scripture and observation to understand the mysteries of the natural world. In Bereshit Rabbah, a classic collection of r...

CreationHeavenJob

David the Warrior and Shimon

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 13:11

But even the great rabbis of old disagreed about the answer! In fact, Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish – two towering figures of Jewish tradition – had a fascinating debat...

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Beyond the Firmament

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 13:12

The ancients certainly did. Take clouds, for example. We see them drift across the sky, maybe bringing rain, maybe just shading the sun. But did you know that the rabbis saw in clo...

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House of David

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 13:13

It's more than just a question for farmers and meteorologists. Our sages explored this very idea, diving deep into the practical and even the mystical implications of rainfall. The...

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Pillars of Existence and Berekhya

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 13:14

The ancient rabbis certainly did. They saw a deep connection between what happens on Earth and what happens within us. Take, for example, the verse in Genesis 2:6: "…and watered al...

CreationRepentance

Mystery of Suffering and Yehuda

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 13:15

And it turns out, the answer isn't so simple. Our sages debated this very point, delving into the nuances of the first rain of the season versus the last. Rabbi Yosei, quoting Rabb...

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