Parshat Lech Lecha

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God calls Abraham to leave his homeland for Canaan. Covers Abraham and Sarah in Egypt, the separation from Lot, the war of the kings, and the covenant between the pieces. Genesis 12:1-17:27.

Tishrei's Legacy

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 29:8

The ancient rabbis grappled with these questions too, and their insights, preserved in texts like Vayikra Rabbah, offer some startling perspectives. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba, quoting R...

PatriarchsKing DavidRepentanceMiracles

King Menashe and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 30:3

It all starts with the verse: "You shall take for you on the first day…" referring to the mitzvah (commandment) of taking the lulav (palm branch) and other species on Sukkot. The p...

CreationHeavenMosesKing David

Rosh Hashanah and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 30:7

And it offers us not just one, but three opportunities for a fresh start each year during the High Holy Days season. But how does it all work? Vayikra Rabbah, a Midrash on the book...

CreationMosesKing DavidRepentance

Aaron and Noah of Putiel

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 33:4

Our tradition certainly thinks so. There’s a powerful message tucked away in Vayikra Rabbah, specifically in section 33, about the weight of our words and the damage they can infli...

Noah & FloodMosesTorahHoly Land

Aviya Faces Judgment

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 33:5

The ancient rabbis certainly did. They saw echoes of these struggles in the biblical text, particularly in the stories surrounding kings and their kingdoms. In Vayikra Rabbah, a co...

Hell/GehennaMosesProphecyPrayer

Pillars of Existence and Nebuchadnezzar

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 33:6

to a fascinating passage from Vayikra Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Leviticus, that wrestles with this very issue. The passage starts with a seemi...

CreationHell/GehennaMosesSolomon

Moses and the King of Judges

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 34:6

The ancient rabbis certainly thought so when reflecting on the history of Israel. Vayikra Rabbah, a midrash – a collection of rabbinic teachings – on the Book of Leviticus, explore...

MosesKing DavidSolomonPrayer

Solomon and the Queen of Land

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 34:7

Rabbi Ze’eira had a fascinating idea about this, especially when it comes to the Land of Israel. He said, remarkably, that even the conversation of the people living there is Torah...

SolomonTorahWisdomHoly Land

Divine Presence and Kohen

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 34:9

Jewish tradition definitely has something to say about that. It's not just about charity; it's about justice, divine presence, and the very fabric of our world. to a fascinating pa...

Hell/GehennaKing DavidProphecyRepentance