Rabbi Alexandri Reads Challoti as Prayer Not Weakness

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Ki Tisa 14:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation: "Challoti hi" (This is my entreaty, Psalms 77:11). Rabbi Alexandri said: All these things that came upon us came about because we did not entreat the Holy One, blessed be He. And this expression is nothing other than an expression of prayer, as it is said, "And now, entreat the favor of God" (Malachi 1:9). "Will the Lord reject forever, and never again be favorable?" (Psalms 77:8). In the past, when Moses was angry with Israel, the Holy One, blessed be He, would placate him, as it is said, "And he would return to the camp..." (Exodus 33:11).

Themes

PrayerMosesRepentance

Biblical References

Continue Reading

The Book of Maccabees IISacred Fire Fell From Heaven at Solomon's TempleThe Second Book of Maccabees, a historical and religious text not included in the Hebrew Bible but important for understanding the Second Temple period, tells uBook of JasherJoseph and Creation of MedanimBook of Jasher turns to Joseph and Creation of Medanim. The Medanim, hearing that Potiphar, "an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard," was looking for a serBook of JasherMoses and Mount Sinai's TransgressionBook of Jasher turns to Moses and Mount Sinai's Transgression. The story picks up right after the Israelites leave Rephidim. They arrive in the Sinai wildernessLegends of the JewsThe Ram at the Binding Was Created at the Dawn of TimeLegends of the Jews turns to The Ram at the Binding Was Created at the Dawn of Time. The answers, according to Jewish tradition, are, well, The story of the akeLegends of the JewsJoseph — Jacob's TransgressionLegends of the Jews turns to Joseph, Jacob's Transgression. Jacob begins, according to Legends of the Jews, by acknowledging Joseph's upbringing: "O son whom I Legends of the JewsThe New Pharaoh Was Worse Than the Old OneThey were enslaved, toiling under Pharaoh’s harsh rule. They’d hoped things would get better when he died, maybe his son would be more merciful. But nope. The n