329 passages in Rabbinic Midrash
Individual passages from Vayikra Rabbah, shown in source order. Page 2 of 7.
"The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord and one shall slaughter the bull before the Lord." Okay, so far so good. It’s a very s...
It turns out, the ancient rabbis were thinking about this very thing, about the art of asking, of receiving, of appeasing the powers that be. In Vayikra Rabbah 5, a Midrash on the ...
This week, It all begins with a verse from Leviticus (5:1): "And if a person will sin, and hear the voice of adjuration, and he is a witness, who either saw or knew; if he does not...
One of those moral quandaries that the ancient rabbis loved to wrestle with. They found wisdom in the most unexpected places – even in the behavior of weasels! Vayikra Rabbah, a co...
Jewish tradition certainly does, especially when it comes to oaths. In fact, the Rabbis saw the misuse of oaths as so serious that it could literally bring down the house! Vayikra ...
Vayikra Rabbah turns to The Suspected Wife and Her Trial by Sacred Waters. Our focus is on a rather delicate matter: the sota, the woman suspected of adultery. The Torah dedicates ...
The Torah tells us of an agreement, a covenant, between God and the Israelites. But the details, as explored in Vayikra Rabbah, are far more intricate and, frankly, a little . Rabb...
The ancient rabbis grappled with these questions, poring over scripture to understand the nature of prophecy itself. to their fascinating discussion, found in Vayikra Rabbah 6, a m...
A passage from Vayikra Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Leviticus, that explores just that. It revolves around the verse: "Command Aaron and his sons...
The most precious offering a person can bring to God isn't a sacrifice of an animal, or even a perfectly crafted prayer, it's a broken heart. The ancient rabbis grappled with this ...
The Vayikra Rabbah, a classic midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) text, dives into the idea that even our innermost thoughts have significance. In Vayikra Rabbah 7, we fin...
The rabbis of the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) tackled this very question, and their answer might surprise you. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana and Rabbi Hanan, both citing Rab...
It centers on the verse: "And the fire of the altar shall be kept burning in it" (Leviticus 6:2). Now, Rabbi Pinchas makes a subtle but profound observation. He points out that the...
Our tradition certainly does. In Vayikra Rabbah, specifically chapter 7, we find a powerful thread connecting arrogance and divine retribution, often in the form of fire. It's a po...
Vayikra Rabbah turns to Aaron's Daily Offering of Fine Flour That Never Ceased. Then the story really takes off.. A noblewoman, clearly not lacking in confidence, challenges Rabbi ...
Sometimes, a single verse can unlock a whole new world of understanding, linking tales and teachings in unexpected ways. to one of those connections, found in Vayikra Rabbah (Levit...
The Rabbis in Vayikra Rabbah, a Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) collection on the Book of Leviticus, tackle this very question head-on. Rabbi Idi kicks things off with...
Vayikra Rabbah turns to Aaron and the Lawgiver. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin, drawing on the wisdom of Rabbi Levi, points out something truly remarkable about God's compassion. In oth...
The Torah portion of Vayikra (Leviticus) dives deep into the intricate world of offerings, and Vayikra Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of Leviticus, illuminates on...
The verse in question is from (Psalm 50:23): "One who slaughters a thanks offering honors Me." But it's not the simple surface meaning that captures the Rabbis' attention. Instead,...
It happens. But sometimes those moments can teach us something profound about ourselves and the world. Let me tell you a story from Vayikra Rabbah that really hit home for me. It s...
It's even found within the ancient wisdom of Vayikra Rabbah, a Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) compilation focusing on the book of Leviticus! Rabbi Pinḥas, a sage whos...
Vayikra Rabbah, a fascinating collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra in Hebrew), tackles just that. Specifically, Vayikra Rabbah 9 explores a vers...
The core debate boils down to this: Did the descendants of Noah, meaning all humanity before the giving of the Torah at Sinai, offer only burnt offerings, or did they also offer pe...
The Rabbis pondered this very question. And their answer, surprisingly, might be simpler than you think. Rabbi Pinḥas, Rabbi Levi, and Rabbi Yoḥanan, all citing Rabbi Menaḥem of Ga...
The ancient Israelites certainly did. And sometimes, even the best of us can feel that way. Imagine a powerful ruler entering your town, surrounded by criminals in chains. It’d be ...
In Vayikra Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Leviticus, we find a powerful exploration of peace. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai declares that "Great is peace, as all...
It all starts with the verse: “Take Aaron, and his sons with him, and the vestments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of un...
The familiar picture has them as these larger-than-life figures, effortlessly delivering divine messages. But what if it wasn't that simple? What if accepting the role of prophet m...
The familiar story is this: from Exodus 32 – the Israelites, impatient for Moses to return from the mountain, pressure Aaron to create a god for them. He obliges, a golden calf is ...
The ancient rabbis certainly did. to a fascinating story from Vayikra Rabbah, a midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) collection that explores the Book of Leviticus, and see...
The ancient rabbis grappled with this very question, particularly the roles of repentance (teshuva) and prayer in shaping our destinies. We find a fascinating debate in Vayikra Rab...
The ancient rabbis did. And they found profound meaning in the garments worn by the priests in the Beit Hamikdash, the Holy Temple. It's a story woven with symbolism and the desire...
Those little nuggets that make us pause and think, "Huh, I never thought of it that way before." Take the story of David and Goliath, for example. The familiar version gives us the...
Moses stood in the wilderness, preparing a special oil. According to Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai, this wasn't just any oil; it was a vessel for miracles from the very beginning. Th...
Vayikra Rabbah turns to Aaron's Investiture and the Bull Arranged Like a Hill. The midrash doesn't stop there. It moves on to (Leviticus 8:3): "Assemble the entire congregation at ...
This idea through a fascinating interpretation found in Vayikra Rabbah, a midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Leviticus. Ou...
The rabbis of old certainly did, and they painted some pretty wild pictures! One fascinating glimpse comes from Vayikra Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book...
Bar Kappara starts with a verse from Proverbs: “Wisdom has built her house” (Proverbs 9:1). He equates this house with the Torah itself. Makes sense. The Torah is our foundation, t...
The rabbis of old? They were masters at unlocking those secrets. to a fascinating interpretation from Vayikra Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Leviticus. R...
It’s a powerful idea, and it’s one that our sages explored deeply. There's a fascinating passage in Vayikra Rabbah 11 that tackles just this – the idea that God interacts with us i...
They ask some fascinating questions about the roles of Moses and Aaron, especially during those pivotal moments of transition. we know Aaron becomes the High Priest. But what about...
Our Sages certainly did. They paid close attention to the nuances of the Hebrew language, believing that even a seemingly small word could unlock profound insights. In Vayikra Rabb...
In the beautiful pattern of Jewish tradition, the role of elders is absolutely fundamental. It’s a theme that echoes throughout our sacred texts. Vayikra Rabbah, specifically Vayik...
It might sound… unexpected, even a little irreverent. But Jewish tradition, in its beautiful, often surprising way, sometimes paints just such a picture. There's a fascinating pass...
It all starts with a verse from Leviticus (10:9): “Wine or intoxicating drink you shall not drink, you and your sons with you, upon your entry into the Tent of Meeting, and you wil...
Rabbi Yitzḥak begins with a powerful quote from Jeremiah (15:16): “Your words were revealed, and I consumed them; Your words were gladness for me and the joy of my heart because Yo...
Not just Torah as in, "read the text." More like, experience the Torah. The passage begins with a verse from Psalms (19:9): "The precepts of the Lord are upright, gladdening the he...
