470 passages in Rabbinic Midrash
Individual passages from Shemot Rabbah, shown in source order. Page 8 of 10.
In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating interpretation of the verse, "If you lend money to My people, to the poor who is wi...
Sometimes you're on top, sometimes you're on the bottom. It's a powerful image, and one that resonates deeply in Jewish tradition. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrashic ...
Consider this: the Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Rabbinic commentary on the Book of Exodus, explores the verse "You shall not be as a creditor to him" (Exodus 22:24). It k...
The book of Exodus, specifically 22:27, lays down a firm rule: "You shall not curse judges, [and a prince among your people you shall not revile]." Seems straightforward. But Rabbi...
Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Exodus, dives deep into this idea, using the verse "If you lend money to My people" (Exodus 22:24) as a springboard ...
Take the story of the Golden Calf. According to Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, that single act changed everything. "Behold, I am sen...
In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exploration of this very question. It begins with a verse: "Behold, I am sen...
Our story begins after the devastating sin of the Golden Calf. Can you imagine the scene? Moses is up on Mount Sinai, receiving the very word of God, while down below, the Israelit...
These questions bubble to the surface when we explore a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Exodus. It centers on a vers...
Shemot Rabbah turns to A Woman Betrayed Her Lover and So Did Israel. Imagine, he says, all the miracles, all the mighty acts that God performed for the Israelites in the desert. Bu...
It hinges on the verse, "Behold, I am sending an angel before you" (Exodus 23:20). But it doesn't stop there. It connects it beautifully with a passage from Psalms: "The angel of t...
It quickly jumps to a seemingly unrelated verse from Psalms: "I had said: You are divine beings, celestial beings, all of you" (Psalms 82:6). What's the connection? Shemot Rabbah e...
It happened. And the story, found in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, is It all starts after the Golden Calf incident. Moses, understa...
The Jewish tradition is rich with stories of angels, not just as winged figures, but as manifestations of the Divine Presence itself. And their role? To safeguard and redeem. to on...
It all starts with the verse, "Speak to the children of Israel, and they shall take Me a gift; from every man whose heart pledges, you shall collect My gift" (Exodus 25:2). But ins...
Our story begins with the verse, "They shall take Me a gift" (Exodus 25:2). But where does this gift come from? Shemot Rabbah dives into this, connecting it to a verse in Psalms: "...
The congregation of Israel itself has felt that way! Our passage opens with a fascinating connection between the verse "They shall take Me a gift" (Exodus 25:2), which refers to th...
Shemot Rabbah turns to Yours O Lord Is the Greatness and the Might. It's a mirror, of sorts. Everything that the Holy One, blessed be He, created above, He also created below. the ...
Our tradition teaches us that something else holds even greater worth: a good name. And it's not just about reputation, but about the power and blessing inherent in a name earned t...
Shemot Rabbah turns to The Torah as a Gift That Deepens Connection With God. Shemot Rabbah, a treasury of Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) interpretations on the Book o...
Where did they all come from? The Book of Deuteronomy (33:4) tells us, "Moses commanded us the Torah." But what does that really mean? Well, according to Rabbi Simlai, as quoted in...
Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, gives us a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes preparations for this monumental task. It a...
A very special box, – the Ark of the Covenant. The Torah tells us, "They shall craft an Ark of acacia wood: its length shall be two and a half cubits, and its width a cubit and a h...
The answer, according to our Sages, might surprise you. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating discussion about the Ark, ...
Shemot Rabbah turns to Building a Dwelling Place for the Divine Presence on Earth. The Holy One, blessed be He, says to Israel, "You are My flock and I am a shepherd." Isn't that a...
Jewish tradition certainly has. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, that explores just that. ” But it quic...
In Shemot Rabbah, it’s a lesson in mindful living, a gentle nudge towards respecting the natural world. Imagine wanting to build your own house, and eyeing that beautiful, fruit-be...
It all comes down to the seemingly simple phrase, "You shall craft the boards for the Tabernacle." This comes from Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations o...
It wasn't just about aesthetics or availability. According to Shemot Rabbah, it was a symbolic statement about history, power, and ultimately, redemption. We read in (Exodus 25:3),...
The ancient rabbis certainly understood that feeling. a fascinating Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) that speaks directly to that sense of inadequacy, and how we can over...
The verse that kicks things off is from (Exodus 27:20): “And you shall command the children of Israel, and they shall bring you pure olive oil, pressed for illumination, to kindle ...
It's not that God needs our light, the text insists. As it says, it’s not that I need the light of the candelabra." why then does God command us to bring light? Here's the beautifu...
The ancient rabbis had something to say about that, and it all comes down to light. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) interpretati...
A collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, there are four specific things that God longs for from His creation. The passage begins with the verse, "And you sha...
Shemot Rabbah turns to Aaron and His Sons Chosen to Lead Israel in Service. The text cleverly connects this verse in Exodus to one in Zechariah (10:4): “From it will come a corners...
Shemot Rabbah turns to How Aaron Reacted When Moses Smashed the Tablets. The scene: Moses is descending from Mount Sinai, clutching the tablets of the law. He sees the Israelites r...
The verse It But the Rabbis saw so much more in those words. They connected it to a verse from Psalms (65:5): "Happy is the one You choose to bring near You to dwell in Your courty...
In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exchange. God tells Moses, "And you, draw near to you." Now, Moses isn't exa...
Shemot Rabbah, that incredible collection of Midrashim (rabbinic interpretive commentary) (interpretive stories) on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating insight into just this ...
Our tradition grapples with it head-on. Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating take on this very issue, drawing us back...
Take the story of atonement after the sin of the Golden Calf. It all starts with an offering. But what kind of offering? The verse in Exodus tells us to "Take one young bull." But ...
The verse from Hosea (14:3) says, "Take words with you and return to the Lord." The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) asks: What does that mean? Are we supposed to bring s...
The ancient rabbis, plumbing the depths of the Torah, had a different take, and it’s one that resonates even today. We find a fascinating discussion in Shemot Rabbah, a collection ...
In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exploration of this very idea. The verse "This is the matter [hadavar]" (Exo...
It’s a fascinating subject, and one that the ancient Rabbis pondered deeply. In fact, Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) interpreta...
What allowed him, a human, to step into the most sacred space? Shemot Rabbah, a treasure trove of biblical interpretations, explores this very question. "This is the matter," it sa...
It is often remembered as just a structure, but according to Jewish tradition, every single element, every color, every placement, held profound meaning. Take the Hoshen, the breas...
In Jewish tradition, a census wasn't just a matter of logistics. It was a delicate, even potentially dangerous, undertaking. Shemot Rabbah, a rich collection of midrashic (rabbinic...
