Parshat Vaera

2,883 related texts · Page 9 of 321

God reveals His name to Moses, the first seven plagues strike Egypt, and Pharaoh's heart is hardened. Exodus 6:2-9:35.

Moses and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:10

It's easy to see them as just divine punishment, but Jewish tradition often digs deeper, searching for layers of meaning. one fascinating idea from Shemot Rabbah, a classic collect...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsJoseph

Pharaoh and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 10:2

We often focus on the what – the frogs, the locusts, the darkness – but sometimes miss the deeper meaning. to one of the more… amphibious plagues and see what the ancient rabbis ha...

CreationJosephMosesDaniel

Moses and Joseph

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 13:4

It wasn't just about remembering the events, but about understanding the deeper meaning behind them. The Torah tells us, "And so that you will relate in the ears of your son, and o...

JosephMosesTorahProphecy

Splitting of the Sea and Aaron

Midrash Aggadah Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 48:11

But let’s zoom in on that very first encounter, the one that set the whole thing in motion. It begins with Moses and Aaron, standing before Pharaoh, delivering a message that must ...

Adam & EveMosesHoly LandEgypt

Moses in Exile and Pharaoh

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 4:137

According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, that's exactly what happened. Moses arrives, ready to lead, and Dathan and Abiram, prominent Israelites, meet him with hos...

JosephMosesJobMiracles

Moses: Pharaoh and the Lawgiver

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 4:216

Sounds daunting. Now, imagine that you are convinced you’re not eloquent enough to pull it off. That’s precisely the situation Moses found himself in. As Ginzberg recounts in Legen...

MosesMiraclesEgypt

Moses in Battle and Pharaoh

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 4:314

Pharaoh, true to Moses's prediction, immediately reneged on his promise to let the Israelites go. And what did Moses do? He didn't waste a second. He promptly announced the eighth ...

JosephMosesTempleMiracles

Pharaoh: Moses and Joseph

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 4:319

Pharaoh, after enduring plague after plague, is finally starting to buckle. He's ready to let the people go – men, women, children, the whole shebang! But, of course, there’s a cat...

JosephMosesJobMiracles

Moses: Pharaoh and Joseph

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 15:4

Take this one, from Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes. It's a powerful allegory, and one we can all relate to. The story begins: ...

JosephMosesProphecyMiracles