Parshat Mishpatim

1,021 related texts · Page 89 of 114

A collection of civil and criminal laws covering slavery, damages, lending, and the covenant ceremony at Sinai. Exodus 21:1-24:18.

Rod and Serpent

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:23

We find a powerful idea nestled within its verses, a radical claim about the relationship between God and the Jewish people. It all starts with the verse "This month shall be for y...

MosesSolomonTorahTemple

Maker of Heaven and Earth

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 16:2

The verse "Draw, and take for yourselves lambs" (Exodus 12:21) might seem straightforward, but the Rabbis saw layers of meaning. They connect it to the verse "With stillness and pl...

CreationHeavenAngelsAdam & Eve

Akhish in Heaven

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 19:1

It turns out this very human experience is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition. We find this idea beautifully explored in Shemot Rabbah, specifically in its interpretation of the ver...

HeavenNoah & FloodMatriarchsJoseph

Akilas at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 19:4

And it's a feeling that Judaism, in its wisdom, addresses head-on. We find a fascinating exploration of this theme in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the...

CreationAngelsNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Ephraim at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:11

The book of Exodus tells us, “God did not lead them via the land [derekh eretz]” (Exodus 13:17). But what exactly does that mean? Well, Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbi...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsJoseph

Moses: Enosh and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:4

It all starts with the verse, "Then Moses…sang" (Exodus 15:1). The Rabbis connect this to Proverbs 31:26, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her t...

CreationAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

Moses's Song

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 28:1

We all know the story, but the Rabbis of the Midrash, those ancient interpreters of scripture, delve into the details, revealing layers of meaning we might otherwise miss. one fasc...

HeavenAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

Giving of the Torah and Jeremiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 29:9

We often picture a grand, almost theatrical event. But the ancient texts hint at something far more profound, and even a little terrifying. The Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection ...

CreationMosesKing DavidSolomon

Life of Moses and the Altar

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:2

Take a look at Exodus. Right after we're told, "You shall not ascend on stairs to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed upon it," (Exodus 20:23) we suddenly read, "A...

MosesTorahTempleEgypt