2,672 passages in Modern Compilations & Folklore
Individual passages from Legends of the Jews, shown in source order. Page 45 of 56.
What does he do? Does he stand back, waiting for someone to acknowledge him? Nope. He takes the initiative. "My brethren, whence be ye?" he asks. A simple question, but oh-so-power...
He finds a group of shepherds just standing there, killing time. "Why aren't you watering your sheep?" he asks, a little puzzled. "Are you day laborers? It's early to stop working....
The story of the Israelite soldiers after their victory over Midian, as told in Legends of the Jews, is something else entirely. These weren't your typical conquerors. They came ba...
The Torah doesn't shy away from these thorny issues, and one story in particular, the aftermath of the war with Midian, really makes you think. Readers often focus on the battles t...
Take the story of Moses, and a seemingly small slip-up that had surprisingly large consequences. Moses is familiar. The guy who led the Israelites out of Egypt, received the Torah ...
Fleeing his brother Esau's wrath, he journeys to Haran. He's alone, probably scared, and definitely uncertain about his future. But then, something extraordinary happens. He arrive...
See, the conflict wasn't just about armies clashing. As Legends of the Jews reminds us, it started with something seemingly innocuous: wine. But not just any wine. Remember the sto...
That’s almost what happened when Jacob first met Rachel. The story goes that when Jacob arrived in Haran, he encountered the beautiful Rachel at a well. Overjoyed to see his cousin...
The sages teach us that God bestowed three gifts upon the world: wisdom, strength, and wealth. But these gifts, potent as they are, come with a caveat. If they originate from God, ...
It all starts when Rachel, upon hearing that Jacob, her cousin, has arrived, races home to tell her father, Laban. Sadly, the Torah tells us that Rachel’s mother had already passed...
There's a fascinating little moment in the Torah that really highlights this human tendency, and it involves the tribes of Reuben and Gad. They come to Moses with a proposition. Th...
Laban, in the Bible, certainly felt that way about his nephew, Jacob. Laban wasn't exactly known for his generosity. When he heard about Jacob's arrival, penniless and seeking refu...
The rabbis of old certainly thought so. They saw names as holding the very essence of a thing, a little piece of its soul. Think about the Israelite tribes staking their claim to t...
Sometimes, the answers are stranger than it first appears. Let's Laban, as we know, wasn't exactly winning any "Uncle of the Year" awards. He wanted to keep Jacob around, benefitin...
It's an idea deeply rooted in our tradition, and it takes center stage in the story of the cities of refuge. We find ourselves with Moses, nearing the end of his life, and the two ...
After fleeing his brother Esau’s wrath, Jacob found himself in Haran, and his eyes landed on Rachel. It was love at first sight. According to Legends of the Jews, Jacob, upon seein...
Jacob certainly did when dealing with Laban. Can you blame him? Laban wasn’t exactly known for his straightforward dealings. We pick up the story of Jacob from Ginzberg's Legends o...
After leading the Israelites through the desert for forty long years, Moses was denied entry into the land flowing with milk and honey. Harsh. And here’s the really interesting par...
The familiar story is this: Moses, leader of the Israelites, led them through the desert for forty years, practically dragging them kicking and screaming toward the Promised Land. ...
That’s a glimpse into the struggle of Moses, as his life drew to a close. The story goes that God, having decreed that Moses would not cross the Jordan into the Promised Land, then...
The ancient rabbis certainly knew the type. "It profits not if a villain is cast into a sawmill," they said. Neither force nor gentle words can sway a true rascal. And according to...
The familiar version gives us Jacob worked for seven years to earn Rachel's hand, only to be tricked into marrying Leah first. But what about Leah and Rachel themselves? Were they ...
That, my friends, is a glimpse into the heart of Moses at the end of his life. He's standing there, so close to the Promised Land, after leading the Israelites through forty years ...
Legends of the Jews turns to Moses Pleads for Mercy to Overcome Divine Justice. He continues, reminding God of a fundamental truth: "Thou Thyself didst tell me when I asked Thee ho...
The why behind it all is so much more intricate, and dare I say, a little bit scandalous. Jacob arrives in Haran, falls head-over-heels for Rachel, and strikes a deal with her fath...
It’s a scene filled with both profound faith and heartbreaking resignation. Moses, having led the Israelites through unimaginable trials, stands on the precipice of the Promised La...
The story, as told in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, is a doozy. Laban, remember, is not exactly winning any awards for honesty. He's got a scheme brewing, and it involves a littl...
The familiar story is this: Moses, the great leader, the lawgiver, the man who spoke to God face-to-face. He led the Israelites through the desert for forty long years. But now, at...
Legends of the Jews turns to The Wedding Guests Blew Out the Candles So Jacob Got Leah. The familiar story centers on Jacob. He worked for his uncle Laban for seven years, all for ...
It's a poignant reminder that even the most righteous figures in our tradition weren’t perfect, and that their flaws shaped their destinies. The scene: Moses, nearing the end of hi...
Legends of the Jews turns to Moses Begs God to Remember the Burning Bush. The familiar story is this: Moses, the reluctant prophet, the stuttering leader, the man who faced down Ph...
The Bible tells us that Jacob was "greatly enraged." And can you blame him? He confronted Laban, his uncle and father-in-law, accusing him of treachery. "Why didst thou deal treach...
Moses, standing before God, pleading his case. "O Lord of the world!" he exclaims, according to Legends of the Jews. "To the first man didst Thou give a command that could easily b...
Legends of the Jews turns to Thou — Giving of the Torah. God’s answer? A firm, "I have resolved that thou shalt not go there." (Legends of the Jews). Moses, ever persistent, tried ...
It turns out, it's one reflected in the stories of our ancestors, even in the lives of biblical figures like Leah. The passage reminds us that, as it says, “The ways of God are not...
He had led the Israelites through unimaginable hardship, pleaded with God on their behalf countless times, and witnessed miracles beyond comprehension. Yet, when he faltered, the h...
They're often packed with meaning, little clues into the lives and destinies of the people who carry them. Take Reuben, for instance, the firstborn son of Leah. It's a name that wh...
He pleaded with God, a conversation recorded in Legends of the Jews and drawn from various Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) sources, begging for just a little longer to...
In the Torah, names aren't just labels; they're prophecies, echoes of the past, and whispers of the future. Take Leah, for instance, one of Jacob’s wives. Her story, as told in Leg...
The Torah tells us that Rachel was barren for a long time while her sister, Leah, bore Jacob four sons. Now, the text doesn't say Rachel was simply jealous. Instead, the Legends of...
It might sound sacrilegious, but the great Moses, our teacher, apparently did. And the conversation, as recorded in Legends of the Jews, is fascinating. In Ginzberg's retelling, Mo...
The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), that treasure trove of Jewish storytelling, gives us a glimpse into a powerful exchange between Rachel and Jacob (Ginzberg, Legends ...
He led the Israelites through the desert for forty long years, endured hardship after hardship, and finally, finally, the Promised Land was within sight. But he wasn't going to be ...
Leah, found herself in a predicament. She had stopped bearing children, while her sister Rachel's handmaid, Bilhah, had already given Jacob two sons. According to Legends of the Je...
It’s a story filled with rivalry, love, and… well, a whole lot of children. to one little nugget of that complicated family dynamic. Leah. Remember Leah? Jacob's first wife, tricke...
He'd been praying, begging, trying everything he could to change God's decree that he wouldn't enter the Promised Land. But it wasn't working. That's when, as Legends of the Jews r...
A reader can skim over names and births, but hidden in those details are tales of longing, rivalry, and divine intervention. Take the story of Issachar, Jacob's son. His very name,...
Take the tale of Jacob and Leah, for instance. It’s more than just a family drama; it’s a glimpse into destiny, divine intervention, and the very essence of Jewish values. Jacob, r...
