Parshat Bechukotai

1,508 related texts · Page 82 of 168

The blessings for following God's laws, the curses for disobedience, and laws of vows and valuations. Leviticus 26:3-27:34.

Jacob's Song and Isaac

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 79:4

His story, as told in Bereshit Rabbah (the great commentary on Genesis), is a masterclass in turning sorrow into joy, sowing in tears and reaping with songs. The verse says, "Jacob...

CreationPatriarchsKing David

Jacob Wrestles the Angel

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 82:1

Our ancestors certainly did. And sometimes, just sometimes, they got one. Take Jacob, for instance. He's been through the wringer, hasn't he? Deception, exile, wrestling angels… yo...

CreationPatriarchsKing DavidPrayer

Bilam and Moses of Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 1:4

It’s baked right into Jewish tradition. to a fascinating idea from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of homiletic interpretations of the Book of Deuteronomy. The very first verse of Deu...

MosesPrayerHoly Land

Kingdom of David and Adoniya

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 3:1

Kohelet Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on Ecclesiastes, wrestles with this very idea, focusing on the verse: "Anger is better than laughter, as with a cross countenance the heart ...

Noah & FloodKing DavidSolomonJob

Trial of Moses and Jethro

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:10

It all centers around the Hebrew word ve’eleh, meaning "these are." The Midrash opens with a question: What's so special about ve’eleh? The Rabbis of old saw in it a profound testa...

CreationJosephMosesHoly Land

Abraham and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:6

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...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsJoseph

The Golden Calf of Abraham

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 44:3

One perspective comes to us from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. In Shemot Rabbah 44, we find a powerful idea connected to the story ...

PatriarchsMosesSolomonHoly Land

Caleb and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 37:4

In Vayikra Rabbah 37, the Midrash explores this idea through a fascinating lens: vows. Specifically, it looks at instances where individuals made, shall we say, unreasonable reques...

CreationCreaturesPatriarchsKing David

Nadav and Noah

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 15:2

Who shall sojourn in Your holy mountain?" It’s a question that’s echoed through the ages, prompting deep reflection on what it means to be worthy of divine intimacy. The Talmud in ...

Noah & FloodKing DavidTemple