1,099 passages in Rabbinic Midrash
Individual passages from Sifrei Devarim, shown in source order. Page 12 of 23.
Sifrei Devarim turns to Saga of Molech. The passage deals with the horrific practice of child sacrifice, specifically "one who passes his son or daughter through fire." The text st...
For millennia, people have sought guidance from… well, some pretty unusual places.This is a fascinating peek into the beliefs and practices that our ancestors wrestled with, trying...
Our ancestors grappled with these questions too, trying to decipher the hidden language of the world around them. And that's what leads us into the fascinating, and sometimes murky...
Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal and ethical teachings associated with the Book of Deuteronomy, touches on those very impulses. And it does so in a way that feels surprisingly...
The Sifrei Devarim, a legal midrash on the Book of Deuteronomy, introduces us to this shoel av. The text defines him as a necromancer – someone who attempts to communicate with the...
It zeroes in on (Deuteronomy 18:12), which states, "For the abomination of the L-rd are all who do these." Seems But hold on. The passage then asks a crucial question. Because the ...
It's a small snippet, but it's packed with profound ideas about justice, warning, and the consequences of our actions. The verse in question says that God drives out nations becaus...
The book of Sifrei Devarim, a commentary on Deuteronomy, touches on this very idea. It connects our wholeness, our completeness, directly to our relationship with God. It says, "Wh...
We all do sometimes. What if I told you that according to ancient Jewish wisdom, the answers aren't hidden in tarot cards or crystal balls, but much closer to home? The book of Dev...
When a Prophet Commands You to Break a Commandment is the question behind this passage from Sifrei Devarim. It gives the example of Eliyahu (Elijah) on Mount Carmel. for a second. ...
The text, specifically Sifrei Devarim 176, hints at a powerful connection between our own actions and the divine gift of prophecy. It all starts with the verse in Deuteronomy (18:1...
A foundational text of Jewish law, it’s about respecting the very order of things. When (Deuteronomy 17:7) states, "all that I command him," it's not just about what we're commande...
It ends with the rather blunt statement: "then he shall be put to death." Yikes. What exactly does that mean? Well, the Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpr...
What happens when prophecies clash? What happens when someone claims to speak for G-d, but their words don't come true? This very dilemma is addressed in Sifrei Devarim, a collecti...
The verse It’s a commentary on (Deuteronomy 19:1), and it’s all about not holding back when it comes to justice. So, what does it actually say? The phrase is simple: "Do not hold b...
The Torah, in the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), anticipates this feeling when the Israelites finally inherit the land. Specifically, It all starts with the verse: "and you inherit...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Cities of Refuge for the Accidental Manslayer. These weren't just any cities. They were specifically designated places, offering protection to someone who h...
The Torah, in the Book of Deuteronomy, actually makes provision for that. It speaks of cities of refuge, places of safety for those who have committed unintentional manslaughter. B...
Sifrei Devarim enters the law of accidental killing through the figure everyone fears: the blood avenger. The verse we're unpacking says, "Lest the avenger of blood pursue the slay...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Legend of There. Specifically, It asks a simple question: Why does the text repeat certain words three times? Seems redundant, doesn’t it? But in Jewish tra...
Our tradition actually has something to say about that – about how long it takes for someone to become a "foe." And it's surprisingly specific. The Sifrei Devarim, a legal midrash ...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Abba Shaul Receives the Torah. Ready? The verse speaks of someone "chopping wood," and the ancient sage Abba Shaul uses this seemingly simple act as a way t...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Rebbi and the Torah. Our passage opens with a seemingly simple scenario: "and the blade slip from the wood." Now, the text specifies "from the haft (of the ...
Remember, in ancient times, accidental manslaughter wasn't just a tragic accident; it carried real legal consequences. The text says, "not having hated him": If he had hated him, h...
The verse states, "as He swore to your forefathers". And the Sifrei Devarim explains that everything that follows is "all in the merit of the forefathers." The blessings, the promi...
It’s a fascinating peek into a world where every word of the Torah is scrutinized, weighed, and connected to others. to a tiny, but illustrative, example from Sifrei Devarim (a Hal...
Our tradition certainly thinks so. This idea is explored powerfully in Sifrei Devarim, the ancient commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy. It uses a seemingly simple verse about man...
It wasn't as simple as a one-size-fits-all approach. The legal system, as described in texts like Sifrei Devarim, was surprisingly sophisticated, with different outcomes depending ...
Someone accidentally causes another person’s death. A tragedy, no doubt. But what happens next? What does justice look like? The Book of Deuteronomy, or Devarim in Hebrew, lays out...
Deuteronomy, or Devarim, is the fifth book of the Torah, and it’s full of instructions on how to live a just and righteous life. In Devarim 19:14, we read a seemingly simple prohib...
Jewish tradition places immense value on that, and it's reflected in some fascinating laws about boundaries. Not just physical boundaries, but also intellectual and even spiritual ...
It's truly astonishing. Take something as fundamental as the rules of testimony. We might think it’s straightforward, but they delved into every nook and cranny of the Torah to ens...
Jewish law grapples with this all the time, especially when it comes to witnesses and oaths. And sometimes, the logic gets beautifully intricate. to one such discussion from Sifrei...
Our focus is on the verse in Deuteronomy (19:15) that states, "By word of two witnesses, or by word of three witnesses, shall a thing be established." But what exactly does "establ...
The verse reads: "If there arise a witness chamas against a man to testify against him sarah." Now, The first reading, it seems straightforward: a witness is accusing someone of wr...
Specifically, The passage lays out a very specific scenario regarding zomemin (זוממין) – these are “scheming witnesses," witnesses proven to have lied under oath. But what exactly ...
It takes the process of justice very seriously. And even something as simple as standing takes on a deeper meaning.Specifically, (Deuteronomy 19:17), which states, "Then the two me...
It's fascinating to dive in and see how these scholars reasoned. The source unfolds a curious little piece from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of...
Sifrei Devarim, a crucial part of Jewish legal and ethical thought, hits us with a powerful reminder about the weight of such moments. "Before the L-rd." It sounds simple. But the ...
Our tradition grapples with this, especially when it comes to justice. to a fascinating piece from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal teachings connected to the Book of Deuteron...
It all centers around this idea: how do we know when someone is giving false witness? Our guide is Sifrei Devarim 190, a passage from the ancient commentary on the Book of Deuteron...
Our guide for this journey is Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. Specifically, This verse becomes the cornerstone for understanding h...
It's more complex and nuanced than it first appears. The familiar telling remembers it as a straightforward principle: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. But what happens when...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Paying Money for Shaming and Physical Requirements. First up: shaming. Is it just a social faux pas, or does it carry a financial penalty? The text asks, "A...
The Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal midrashim (rabbinic interpretive commentary) on the Book of Deuteronomy, tackles this very feeling in a fascinating way. It starts with th...
The book of Deuteronomy, or Devarim in Hebrew, offers a potent reminder. Specifically, Sifrei Devarim 191 draws our attention to the verse: "Do not fear them, for the L-rd your G-d...
The clash of swords, the blare of trumpets…terrifying. But did you know that Jewish tradition actually makes provisions for those who are overcome by fear in war? We find this in S...
Also imagine the faith, the conviction, the unwavering belief that something greater was on your side. Our text today, from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on...
