2,672 passages in Modern Compilations & Folklore
Individual passages from Legends of the Jews, shown in source order. Page 49 of 56.
The Torah is full of blessings, but it's not always straightforward. Some blessings are more potent than others, some are given grudgingly, and some come with unexpected consequenc...
Rabba bar Abbahu knew that feeling all too well. He was a scholar, a man of wisdom, but poverty had him in its grip. He confessed to the prophet Elijah himself that his meager circ...
It's a story featuring none other than the prophet Elijah, that fiery figure who pops up throughout Jewish lore. Readers often think of Elijah helping scholars. Like saving those s...
Before asking for something big, wouldn't you acknowledge the power and greatness of the one you're asking? That's exactly what Moses did before blessing Israel. He didn't just div...
Jewish folklore is full of such moments, and the choices people make in those moments reveal profound truths about human nature and divine providence. to a story recounted in Ginzb...
The stories surrounding the giving of the Torah are filled with this kind of fiery devotion. In fact that at a certain point, overcome with emotion, Israel declared, "The Torah tha...
Take the story of Elijah the Prophet. He's not just a figure from the Bible; he's a constant presence in Jewish folklore, always popping up to help those in need. But sometimes, hi...
The Torah portion V'Zot HaBerachah, "This is the blessing," gives us a glimpse into that raw, fervent side of prayer as Moses, in his final act, intercedes for the tribes of Israel...
Let me tell you a story about the prophet Elijah and a man whose life was turned upside down, not once, but three times. This man, was incredibly poor, but also deeply pious. He li...
Legends of the Jews turns to Moses's Prayer Shapes the Military Destiny of Judah. Moses, even as he shepherded the Israelites, was already praying for future generations. Specifica...
He ingested a noxious reptile. Yikes! You might expect a divine plague, or some sort of cosmic retribution. But instead, Elijah appears. Not as a gentle prophet offering comfort,. ...
Remember the story of the daughters of Moab? It's a troubling episode in the Torah where the Israelites succumbed to temptation and idolatry (Numbers 25). According to the biblical...
Sometimes, it's the small acts of kindness, the clever solutions, and the subtle interventions that ripple through generations. Take this story of Elijah, the prophet who, accordin...
Moses, in his final blessings, had some pretty powerful things to say about the Levites. He specifically calls out Aaron, prince of the tribe, praising his unwavering service to th...
It's about Elijah the Prophet, or Eliyahu HaNavi, a figure who pops up throughout Jewish tradition, often in unexpected places, always as a messenger of God. In this story, we see ...
The tales of Elijah the Prophet often give us glimpses into that "more," blurring the lines between this world and the next. He’s not just a prophet, but almost a celestial caretak...
The blessings he bestowed were powerful indeed. Think about Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob. Moses declared, "Benjamin is the beloved of the Lord, whom he will always shield." ...
They had a fascinating partnership, one that highlights the beautiful interdependence within Jewish tradition. Ancient Palestine, bustling with trade. Zebulun, according to Legends...
The Torah tells us he died on Mount Nebo, overlooking the Promised Land he would never enter. But is that the whole story? The Book of Deuteronomy (34:6) states rather cryptically ...
Elijah the prophet. Just the name conjures up images of fire, brimstone, and unwavering devotion to God. But was he all thunder and lightning? Or was there more to this fiery figur...
Land, strength, spiritual insight… A reader can look at the ancient blessings bestowed upon the tribes of Israel and wonder what we’re meant to take away from them today. to a coup...
Legends of the Jews turns to Elijah Tests the Rabbis on the Boundaries of Jewish Law. Elijah, a towering figure in Jewish tradition, wasn't just concerned with outward compliance w...
The tradition says Moses himself called Asher the "favorite of his brethren." Why? Well, it's said that during the shmita years – the sabbatical years when the land was left to res...
The sages saw it as a collection of voices, a chorus echoing through generations. In Legends of the Jews, Moses himself contributed a significant portion! Just as Moses gave eleven...
It turns out, according to Jewish legend, it's all about how you treat your workers. We know Elijah as a zealous figure, a defender of God's honor. But the Legends of the Jews, as ...
He had so much wisdom to impart, so many blessings yet to bestow upon each tribe of Israel. But time, as it always does, was running short. So, he gathers all those individual bles...
Elijah the Prophet appears in this tale as the measure of justice when friendship, mercy, and fairness collide. One such tale, found within Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, recounts...
The Torah portion V'Zot HaBerachah, "This is the blessing," recounts the final moments of Moses, and the sages fill in the gaps with incredible stories. Moses, the man who spoke to...
The prophet Elijah, that fiery figure of Jewish tradition, sometimes took it upon himself to nudge people in the right direction. And sometimes, that nudge was more like a cosmic s...
Legends of the Jews turns to Moses's Final Half Hour and the Reward of the Righteous. It’s a poignant scene, isn’t it? The book recounts that a heavenly voice rang out, gently tell...
Because let’s face it, we've all been there. The sages tell a story that speaks directly to this. It’s about a great Tanna (a sage of the Mishnaic period), Rabbi Eliezer, the son o...
That’s a tiny glimpse into what Moses must have felt. After leading the Israelites for forty long years through the wilderness, after all the trials, the tribulations, the miracles...
The Legends of the Jews, that incredible compilation of rabbinic stories and folklore assembled by Louis Ginzberg, gives us a glimpse into a truly human moment for the greatest pro...
Take Elijah, for instance. him is often remembered as this larger-than-life figure, the fiery prophet who challenged the priests of Baal and ascended to heaven in a whirlwind. But ...
The stories surrounding Moses' death, as told in Jewish tradition, are nothing short of extraordinary. God, seeing that Moses was ready to depart from this world, turns to the ange...
In Legends of the Jews, it was Elijah himself who taught Rabbi Jose a profound lesson about the role of women. He revealed the "deep meaning" behind the Scriptural passage describi...
Legends of the Jews turns to Samael Gleefully Draws His Sword to Claim Moses. Samael, often identified with the angel of death, though some traditions paint a more complex picture,...
The Legends of the Jews, that incredible compilation of rabbinic lore gathered by Louis Ginzberg, paints a vivid picture. It tells us that Moses, knowing Samael (the angel of death...
It wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, let me tell you. Samael (the angel of death), having just heard Moses’ fiery words, scurries back to God, practically trembling. According to ...
One such story features Elijah, that fiery prophet who pops up throughout our history, often in the most unexpected places. There's a fascinating tidbit in Legends of the Jews (Gin...
Let me tell you a story… a story about Moses, facing down none other than Samael (the angel of death) himself. Samael isn't your run-of-the-mill angel. He's often depicted as the A...
Jewish tradition certainly suggests so. we're taught that the Torah, God's own wisdom, is something we're meant to confront, to interpret, to argue over even! It's not a static thi...
The Legends of the Jews tells us that Moses's time was up. Not in a vague, someday-it'll-happen kind of way, but precisely. A voice, resonant and unmistakable, booms from the heave...
Legends of the Jews turns to Judah — Elijah and the Heavenly Realms. The story goes that Elijah, who, as you probably know, is a major figure, often popping up in unexpected places...
Legends of the Jews turns to God Descends With Three Angels to Take Moses's Soul. In Legends of the Jews, drawing from various Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) sources ...
The prophet Elijah, of all people, acted as a sort of celestial correspondent, reporting happenings down here on earth to those "higher up," so to speak. Here's the thing: Elijah w...
Sometimes, it takes a little nudge from an unexpected source. Turns out, even the prophet Elijah was in the business of fostering future greatness. In Ginzberg's retelling in, Lege...
What happens to a leader when they die? Especially a leader like Moses? We know Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, received the Torah at Sinai, and guided them for forty years ...
