The Man Who Wished for Gold and Starved Among It

Exempla of the Rabbis, No. 435

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

435. Foolish Wish.

Benfey, Pantschat. I,

495 ff-

Grimm, D. Mythologie, XXXVII.

Grimm, K. & H. M. Ill, p. 310.

Kirchhof, Wendunmuth I, 180.

Kuhnert, Midas.

Midas, Ovid, Metam. II,

P. 85—193-

Themes

Wisdom Adam Eve Poverty Solomon Kings

Continue Reading

Alphabet of Ben SiraHow the Rabbit Shaves Her HeadNebuchadnezzar's first question to Ben Sira is bizarre. "How does the rabbit shave her head?" The answer Ben Sira gives connects this strange question to one of Legends of the JewsSolomon's UnderstandingSolomon's wisdom appears here through riddles that look playful until they start opening the structure of the world. The first one goes like this: "Seven there Exempla of the Rabbis (Gaster, 1924)Hillel Called Bathing a Mitzvah - The Body Belongs to GodRabbi Judah HaNasi and his household were known for their dignified appearance, but the principle of "shining through cleanliness" extended throughout the rabbi Exempla of the Rabbis (Gaster, 1924)Solomon & ChessSolomon and chess, a pairing that connects the king's legendary wisdom with the world's most intellectual game. While chess in its modern form postdates Solomon Kohelet RabbahKings — Wisdom of SolomonThe Book of Kings tells us that Solomon "spoke three thousand proverbs" (I (Kings 5:1)2). But wait a minute... when we actually read through the Bible, how many Kohelet RabbahHow a Fool Reveals Himself Just by WalkingIt's like they're walking around with a spotlight shining on everyone else but themselves. Well, Kohelet Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on Ecclesiastes, has so