Parshat Chayei Sarah

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The death and burial of Sarah, Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac, and Rebekah joins the family. Genesis 23:1-25:18.

Western Wall and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 9:5

The verse we're looking at references a "fawn." Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina equates this to the offspring of a hind. But where is this fawn, this fragile new life? "Behold, he is standi...

CreationPatriarchsMosesSolomon

David's Song and Asaf

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:1

It's filled with poetic imagery, and today we're going to delve into just one verse, Song of Songs 4:4: "Your neck is like the tower of David, built magnificently. One thousand buc...

Hell/GehennaAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

Merit of the Fathers and Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:5

Now, Song of Songs is already pretty heady stuff – love, longing, metaphor piled upon metaphor. But the Rabbah, the commentary, takes it to a whole new level, interpreting the poem...

CreationPatriarchsKing DavidSolomon

Joshua: Abraham and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 6:1

It turns out, the ancient rabbis thought about this a lot, especially when it came to the relationship between humanity and God. Let's delve into a fascinating interpretation of a ...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsSolomon

Isaac: Esau at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 11:2

The collection of rabbinic homiletic interpretations of Song of Songs, Shir HaShirim Rabbah, dives deep into this very question. Rabbi Berekhya offers a surprising take: how can ho...

CreationHeavenAngelsAdam & Eve

Covenant with the Fathers and Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 13:1

Beautiful. But what's it really saying? Well, let's dive in, guided by the wisdom of Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a classic commentary on the Song of Songs. The verse begins, "His cheeks ...

PatriarchsSolomonTorah

Rabbi Yudan at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 15:1

Take this verse from Song of Songs 5:15: "His calves are pillars of marble, set on sockets of fine gold; his appearance is like Lebanon, choice like cedars.” Now, what does any of ...

CreationAngelsAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Temple and the Heavenly Realms

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:3

It's filled with metaphors, and some of them are truly striking. Take this one: "Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon." What does that even mean? Well, the Rabbis of Shir HaShiri...

HeavenPatriarchsKing DavidTemple

Nebuchadnezzar and Creation of Fall

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 11:1

We're looking at verse 8:12: “My vineyard is before me; the thousand is for you, Solomon, and two hundred for those who guard its fruit.” What does this seemingly simple verse real...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsKing David