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.

Mount Horev and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 2:4

It might seem like just a simple Hebrew word meaning "was," but in the world of Jewish thought, it can unlock hidden meanings, destinies, and connections. Shemot Rabbah, a collecti...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaAdam & Eve

Covenant of Abraham and Egyptians

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 3:11

to that, drawing from the ancient wisdom of Shemot Rabbah, a classic rabbinic commentary on the Book of Exodus. In Exodus 3:20, God says, "I will extend My hand, and smite Egypt wi...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsJoseph

Caleb in Joseph's Time

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 5:17

We all know the story of the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the triumphant journey to freedom. But was it really the entire nation that crossed over? Pharaoh, in his stub...

JosephMosesProphecyMiracles

Isaac: Abraham's Transgression

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 6:4

This very human experience echoes in the ancient texts, specifically in a powerful passage from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The ...

CreationAdam & EveNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Wonders of God and Yehuda

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:12

The Torah isn't always explicit about timing, and sometimes, a seemingly simple phrase can unlock a whole world of debate. Take Exodus 7:25: "Seven days were completed, after the L...

MosesMiraclesEgyptJudgment

Foundations of Being and Gehenna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 14:2

"Moses extended his hand toward the heavens, and there was a thick darkness in the entire land of Egypt for three days. They did not see one another, and no one rose from his place...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Birth of He

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:13

The ancient rabbis felt that way about the Israelites in Egypt. : generation after generation born into slavery. It's a crushing weight. But what if, suddenly, that debt was cancel...

CreationJosephMosesSolomon

Abraham: Splitting of the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:18

We often think of it as being solely for the sake of the Israelites, to free them from slavery. But what if there was another, deeper reason? Shemot Rabbah, the collection of Midra...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Lord and the Ark

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:21

The ancient rabbis certainly did! And they painted a vibrant picture, filled with light, healing, and unimaginable peace. Our starting point is a fascinating passage from Shemot Ra...

Noah & FloodMosesSolomonTorah