Parshat Shemot

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The Israelites' enslavement in Egypt, the birth of Moses, Moses at the burning bush, and God's call to liberate His people. Exodus 1:1-6:1.

Yiftah and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 19:15

This week, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Bamidbar Rabbah 19 that touches on exactly that feeling, exploring a moment of high diplomacy – or rather, a diplomatic bric...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Giving of the Torah

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 19:33

But in Jewish tradition, there are moments where even MOSES, our greatest prophet, seems to do just that. to one of those fascinating instances from Bamidbar Rabbah 19. The verse w...

CreaturesPatriarchsJosephMoses

Kingdom of Bilam

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 20:9

It's all about Bilam, the non-Jewish prophet, and his less-than-holy intentions. The story kicks off with God approaching Bilam and asking, "Who are these men with you?" (Numbers 2...

CreationHell/GehennaMatriarchsJoseph

Acts of Creation and Shittim

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 20:22

Our story begins in Shittim, a place whose name, as we'll see, carries a weight of meaning. "Israel was dwelling in Shittim, and the people began to engage in harlotry with the dau...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Balak: Balaam's Transgression

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 21:4

The Torah gives us some pretty strong clues, and it all boils down to how they chose to attack us. Think about the story of Balaam and Balak. Remember that? Balak, the King of Moab...

MosesMessiahRepentanceMiracles

Trial of Tirtza

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 21:10

The story of the daughters of Tzelofḥad challenges that assumption in a profound way. It all starts in Numbers 27:1: “The daughters of Tzelofḥad, son of Ḥefer, son of Gilad, son of...

JosephMosesEgypt

Akhan and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 23:6

Take, for example, the verse in Numbers: "This will be the land that will fall [tipol] to you as an inheritance." (Numbers 34:2). "Fall?" the Rabbis asked. Does land just fall? Isn...

CreationAngelsNoah & FloodMoses

First Days of Existence and Simon

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 3:5

It's like the whole thing is one giant, intricate tapestry. Take the creation of light, for example. The very first "Let there be light!" in Genesis. Rabbi Simon, in Bereshit Rabba...

CreationJosephMosesTorah

First Days of Existence and Edom

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 6:5

And they all seem to stem from one little verse in Genesis (1:17): “God set them in the firmament of the heavens to illuminate upon the earth.” Rabbi Yoḥanan sees something special...

CreationHeavenMosesKing David