Parshat Vayechi

2,005 related texts · Page 133 of 223

Jacob blesses his sons and grandsons with prophetic blessings, Jacob's death and burial, and Joseph's final years. Genesis 47:28-50:26.

Mordecai's Legacy

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 12:49

The Book of Esther tells a powerful story, but it often feels like we're only getting a glimpse. The Bible mentions Mordecai and his niece Esther, but in just a few words. What abo...

PatriarchsKing DavidSolomonEsther

Esther's Transgression and Mordecai

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 12:165

Mordecai, in the Book of Esther, certainly did. He had to communicate with Esther, his niece and now Queen, without raising suspicion. So how did he do it? Well, according to Legen...

PatriarchsMatriarchsEstherTemple

Moses and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 2:17

Bamidbar Rabbah 2 dives into this very idea, opening with a quote from Hosea (2:1): "The number of the children of Israel will be..." It then launches into a fascinating exploratio...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Cosmic Origins

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 3:1

It all starts with the verse, "Bring the tribe of Levi near and stand it before Aaron the priest, and they shall serve him" (Numbers 3:5–6). This is where our sages begin to unpack...

CreationHeavenAdam & EvePatriarchs

Moses: David and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 3:6

We know, according to tradition, that God created the world in six days. But what about since then? The Talmudic sages pondered this very question. In Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection...

CreationAngelsNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Wisdom of Aaron and Esau

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 11:1

It’s a question that’s plagued humanity for millennia. And believe it or not, our ancient texts wrestle with it too. We find a fascinating perspective in Bamidbar Rabbah, specifica...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaPatriarchs

When God Created and Blessings

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 11:7

Jewish tradition grapples with this apparent contradiction all the time. Take the famous Priestly Blessing from Numbers 6:26: "May the Lord show favor to you, and grant you peace."...

CreationHell/GehennaAngelsNoah & Flood

Abraham and Creation of Presence

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 12:8

It all starts with a verse from the Song of Songs (3:11): "Go out and gaze, daughters of Zion, at King Solomon, at the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wed...

CreationHeavenAngelsAdam & Eve

Elijah and Creation of Kings

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 12:11

Bamidbar Rabbah 12, a section of the classic midrashic text, wrestles with this very question, using the construction of the Tabernacle – the mishkan – as a lens. It all starts wit...

CreationHeavenAngelsPatriarchs