1,099 passages in Rabbinic Midrash
Individual passages from Sifrei Devarim, shown in source order. Page 7 of 23.
Our tradition teaches that some things run so deep, they require a complete overhaul of how we see the world. That brings us to a seemingly simple verse in Devarim (Deuteronomy 12:...
Our text from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, grapples with this very question. It starts with a seemingly simple commandment: the...
The verse in question: "for the blood is the soul..and you shall not eat the soul with the flesh." So simple. But it opens a door to a fascinating discussion about the reasons behi...
A reader can assume they were just always there, handed down on high. But sometimes, the rabbis of old had to do some serious textual detective work to figure things out. to one su...
Sometimes, it's not as straightforward as it first appears. Take the classic example of basar b'chalav, meat and milk – a cornerstone of kashrut (dietary laws). You might assume it...
He points to the verse in Deuteronomy, where It seems straightforward. Don't eat blood. Rabban Gamliel, whose wisdom continues to resonate through the ages, sees something much dee...
The Sifrei Devarim (literally "Books of Deuteronomy," a collection of early rabbinic legal interpretations), in section 77, explores the specifics of responsibility for consecrated...
Jewish law, especially concerning sacrifices and offerings in ancient times, can sometimes feel that way. We read the verses, but the nuances… they can be tricky. to a fascinating ...
In Jewish law, they absolutely do. Take the ma'aser behemah, the tithe of animals. It's not just about giving a tenth of your livestock; it's about whose livestock and how you got ...
What happens when only part of the offering is present? Is it still valid? Our little puzzle comes from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deutero...
The Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, dives into just that when discussing the burnt offering, the olah. So, everything goes up. Wel...
Sifrei Devarim turns to How Sacrificial Blood Was Applied at the Altar. The passage Specifically, it's trying to answer the question: what are the rules? The passage starts with a ...
It gets complicated! to a fascinating corner of Jewish law dealing with substitutes for offerings and their offspring, as discussed in Sifrei Devarim. The passage Rabbi Yishmael in...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Take Heed a Little and You Will Hearken Much. the verse states: "If you take heed just a little, in the end you will hearken much." for a second. It’s not a...
The ancient text Sifrei Devarim suggests that the answer is a resounding yes, especially when it comes to the transformative power of Torah learning. One interpretation within Sifr...
It's (Deuteronomy 12:29) states: "When the L-rd your G-d will cut off the nations." Okay, but what does that mean? Sifrei Devarim takes that verse and turns it into a cause-and-eff...
It’s a powerful emotion, and one that our ancestors understood intimately. that yearning and what it truly means to inherit and dwell in the land of Israel, Eretz Yisrael. Our star...
They’re traveling to learn Torah from Rabbi Yehudah ben Betheira, a renowned teacher, in a place called Netzivim. Sifrei Devarim 80 tells us their story. Their path takes them thro...
The Torah, our ancient guide, is full of advice about that very thing. a tiny but potent verse from Sefer Devarim – the Book of Deuteronomy – that speaks directly to this feeling. ...
Especially when "everyone else" seems to be having a grand old time. What if that "grand old time" is built on shaky foundations? What if following the crowd leads you right off a ...
It’s not enough to just feel it; the how matters immensely. The Torah, in the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), really digs into this when it warns us, "You shall not do thus to the L...
It might just surprise you. Deuteronomy, or Devarim (דברים) in Hebrew, chapter 13, verse 1, opens with a powerful statement: "The entire thing that I command you." But it's the int...
It goes right down to the very specifics of Temple offerings, as we’ll see. to a passage from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. The ...
In Judaism, that feeling extends to the sacred commands, the mitzvot (commandments). How closely do we need to follow them? Can we embellish a little? Maybe cut a corner or two? We...
The Book of Devarim, Deuteronomy, dives right into this question. It's in chapter 13, verse 2, where it says, "If there arise in your midst a prophet..." But it doesn’t just stop t...
Sifrei Devarim turns to A Dreamer of Dreams Is Not the Same as Moses. What about signs and wonders? Surely, if someone can perform miracles, we should listen to them. Not necessari...
Maybe they gave you bad advice, or maybe they completely changed their tune on something important. How do you know who to trust, especially when it comes to matters of faith? The ...
It's found in Deuteronomy (Devarim) 13:5: "After the L-rd your G-d shall you go." Sounds straightforward. But what does it actually mean to "go after" God? After all, God isn't exa...
It’s from Sifrei Devarim, a portion of the book of Deuteronomy, and it unpacks what it REALLY means to serve God. The verse (Deuteronomy 13:5, or 13:6 in some translations) is Simp...
Then, the weight of twisting the very words of the Divine. That's what It explores the consequences for those who falsely prophesy – those who claim to speak for God but whose word...
Isn’t it amazing sometimes, the things we take for granted? We rush through our days, caught up in the whirlwind, and forget the truly monumental things that have shaped us. Like, ...
The Torah, our guide, understands this human struggle. It doesn't just lay down laws; it anticipates the whispers of temptation, the subtle nudges that can lead us astray. And in S...
It's a serious business, leading people astray from the one true God. Our text today comes from Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. It...
The fear of being led astray. The book of Devarim, Deuteronomy, wrestles with this very fear. It lays out the laws, the commandments, the stories of our people – all to guide us, t...
There's something deeper going on. Deuteronomy, or Devarim (דְּבָרִים) as it's known in Hebrew, really hammers this point home. And there's this one little verse, Devarim 13:8, tha...
Sifrei Devarim turns to From One End of the Earth to the Other Means the Sun. Our first little gem revolves around the phrase "from one end of the earth to the other." Sounds prett...
The Torah, our guide through life's complexities, anticipates these moments. You see someone struggling. Maybe their animal is overloaded and collapsing under the weight. Instinct ...
The phrase "and you shall not shield him" isn't just a nice sentiment; it's a directive. It means, according to this teaching, if you possess information detrimental to a defendant...
Sifrei Devarim turns one punishment verse into a counting problem: how many stones are required? The verse in (Deuteronomy 13:11) states, "And you shall stone him with stones and h...
What's the ultimate betrayal? To be led away from God, the very source of our being. That's what's at stake in the passage from Sifrei Devarim The passage focuses on the phrase, "f...
It's not a casual topic. It strikes at the very core of our relationship with the Divine. The Sifrei Devarim, a crucial legal commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy, explores the co...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Where Embracing an Idol Crosses Into Real Incitement. The text asks: should all these actions be punishable by stoning, just like the one who actively incit...
It even demands it. Let's What happens when you hear something… unsettling? Something that hints at wrongdoing within a community? Do you just shrug it off? Sifrei Devarim, a legal...
The verse in question is (Deuteronomy 13:14), dealing with the investigation of a suspected idolatrous city. It begins: "There have gone out men..." Hold on. The sages didn’t just ...
In the book of Sifrei Devarim, they grappled with just that. They explored the idea of people so lost, so rebellious, that they were called "men of belial." What does belial mean? ...
Sifrei Devarim turns to Rules of Evidence and Examination in Ancient Courts. The text asks a very practical question: where do we learn about the need for bedikot, or general exami...
Like you think you understand a passage, and then BAM! – something comes along and flips your understanding on its head? Well, buckle up, because It deals with the concept of an Ir...
The ancient text of Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, wrestles with just that. It's not just about punishing the wicked; it's about ...
