1,099 passages in Rabbinic Midrash
Individual passages from Sifrei Devarim, shown in source order. Page 18 of 23.
Like you stumble across something in the Torah that makes you stop and say, "Wait, what?" Well, buckle up, because It's all about the yevamah (sister-in-law) and the ritual of hali...
It's a fascinating, slightly strange, and deeply human process. The Torah tells us, in (Deuteronomy 25:9), that if a man dies without children, his brother has a responsibility to ...
Sifrei Devarim turns to The Shoe Ceremony That Releases Levirate Duty. This ritual, detailed in Deuteronomy, comes into play when a man dies childless, leaving his widow in a bind....
A fascinating corner of Jewish law, a ritual known as chalitzah, found tucked away in the book of Deuteronomy. It's all about shoes, brothers, and escaping a very specific kind of ...
This particular passage, Sifrei Devarim 292, takes a rather dim view of disagreements. The passage starts with the verse from Deuteronomy (25:11), "If men strive together.." But th...
When Men Strive Together and a Woman Intervenes is the question behind this passage from Sifrei Devarim. Then, the text drills down even further. "A man and his brother" – does thi...
Take, for instance, this tiny but intense snippet from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. The passage grapples with a rather…uncomfor...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Rabbi Yehudah in Jewish Tradition. One such connection is pointed out by Rabbi Yehudah. He notices something fascinating about the phrase "you shall have no...
The ancient rabbis certainly did. They saw the potential for moral slippage even in something as mundane as weights and measures. to a passage from Sifrei Devarim. This is a midras...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Rabbi Akiva Remembered. The text dives right in. It suggests that it first appears this verse is just telling you not to own a whole set of different measur...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Fair Weights, Measures, and Local Business Custom. Conversely, how do we know you shouldn't give that extra bit where precision is the norm? The answer, Sif...
It's fascinating, isn't it, how deeply Jewish law explores the everyday details of life? We find this concern for fairness, even in commerce, in Sifrei Devarim, a collection of leg...
Sometimes, it’s not just the ancient Hebrew, but also the cultural context that can leave us scratching our heads. Take this little nugget from Sifrei Devarim 295, a commentary on ...
It turns out, very seriously indeed. to a passage from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, and unpack a fascinating idea about what co...
Take the story of Amalek. It’s a name that echoes through Jewish history, a symbol of unprovoked hatred and aggression. We're commanded in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 25:17 to remember w...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Teachings of Amalek. It goes further. "When you went out of Egypt" says Sifrei Devarim, means "at the time of your redemption." A time of joy and hope! Just...
It starts with a poignant observation: "and you were faint and weary". This refers to Israel. Why is this weariness important? Because right after, it says, "and did not fear the L...
It says, "And it shall be when you come to the land..." and then it adds this profound thought: perform the mitzvah – that's a commandment or good deed – mentioned herein, "in whos...
Our ancestors felt that way about the land itself. But how did they express that gratitude, and what were the specific rules around it? The ancient mitzvah of bikkurim, the offerin...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Tale of Shavuot. The passage from Sifrei Devarim 297 opens with a surprisingly generous statement: "of the first": even one cluster, even one fig, (there be...
You’ve poured your heart and soul into your land. You’ve nurtured the soil, coaxed life from the earth, and finally, the first fruits of your labor are ready. These aren't just any...
Yes, baskets. Specifically, the basket mentioned in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 26:2, as it says: "And you shall put (them) in a basket." What’s the big deal, you might ask? Just a baske...
Our tradition has some surprisingly direct advice about that. to a passage from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. Whe...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Gratitude as the Cornerstone of the First Fruits Rite. Jewish tradition reminds us, forcefully, beautifully, that gratitude isn't just good manners, it's a ...
(Deuteronomy 26:3) says, "I have professed this day..." But what exactly are you professing? And how often? Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal midrashim (rabbinic interpretive c...
It's woven into so much of Jewish tradition, the source turns to one small but significant thread: the bikkurim. What are bikkurim? The word itself means "first fruits" in Hebrew. ...
The ritual of bringing bikkurim, the first fruits, required every Israelite farmer to recite a specific formula, a declaration of gratitude and remembrance. The Sifrei Devarim, a c...
Sifrei Devarim reads Jacob's descent to Egypt through one word: vayagar, he sojourned. It's tempting to think he went to seize power, to claim a throne! After all, his son Joseph w...
The verse states, "and he became there a nation." But what does that really mean? Sifrei Devarim, an early rabbinic commentary on Deuteronomy, suggests this simple phrase carries i...
Sifrei Devarim reads the Exodus recital as more than memory. Egypt's words become evidence of a planned campaign against Israel. The passage Specifically, it examines the verses in...
Like you're just.. toiling? The ancient Israelites certainly did, and their story, as told in the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), resonates even today. but the source asks us to rea...
The Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, pauses to reflect on just that. It unpacks a key verse, reminding us of the spe...
Sifrei Devarim turns to The Strong Hand and Outstretched Arm Against Egypt. "With a strong hand" – the Sifrei Devarim tells us this refers to dever, pestilence. Think back to the p...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Moses and Creation of Joel. The Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early Jewish legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, offers a fascinating explanat...
In the Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, Rabbi Yehudah gives us a fascinating mnemonic device for remembering the ten...
A picture of abundance and blessing. But have you ever stopped to think about what it really means, and where it comes from? The phrase appears multiple times in the Torah, includi...
It involves bikkurim (בִּכּוּרִים), the first fruits offering. You're a farmer in ancient Israel. You've poured your heart and soul into your land, and finally, the first fruits of...
The Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, offers a fascinating glimpse into this idea. It starts with the simple phrase: "And you shall ...
It wasn't just about plowing and planting. It was a system of sacred sharing, a way of life woven into the very fabric of their calendar. a little corner of that system today, a pa...
Specifically, (Deuteronomy 26:12). It’s a short verse, but it’s packed with meaning: "then you shall give to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow." Sounds simple, do...
The verse The rabbis, never ones to let a good turn of phrase go unexamined, ask: what does it really mean to be sated? How much is enough? Sifrei Devarim interprets this to mean g...
Within those intricate instructions, there’s a beautiful core of responsibility and community. to a small but fascinating corner of that world, found in the ancient text, Sifrei De...
In Jewish tradition, especially when it comes to fulfilling mitzvot (commandments), the answer is a resounding yes.It’s a fascinating glimpse into the meticulous nature of ancient ...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Tithes and Ritual Purity - What Counts as Unclean. One phrase in particular catches our attention: "and I did not consume of it in uncleanliness (tumah)." T...
That feeling isn't new. It's ancient. We find it echoed in the words of Sifrei Devarim, a text that dives deep into the book of Deuteronomy. In this passage, it's all about tithes ...
Be!" And then, "Wait... slow down. Your time is almost up." It's enough to make your head spin. That tension – between action and mortality, between boundless potential and the sta...
Nowhere is it more poignant than in the story of Moses, right before his passing. Moses, the greatest prophet, standing at the edge of the Promised Land, knowing he won't cross ove...
In fact, the Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early legal midrashim (rabbinic interpretive commentary) on the book of Deuteronomy, highlights this idea beautifully. It all starts wi...
