Parshat Vayechi

2,039 related texts · Page 202 of 227

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

Mission of Moses and Haughty

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 21:5

Our tradition recognizes this struggle, and even offers some pretty ingenious battle strategies. It all starts with a verse from Leviticus (16:3): “With this Aaron shall come.” But...

MosesKing DavidSolomonProphecy

Moses: Aaron in Joseph's Time

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 21:7

That feeling, that ache of separation, is what this week’s portion of Vayikra Rabbah (Leviticus Rabbah) touches upon. It centers around a seemingly simple phrase in Leviticus 16:2:...

JosephMosesKing DavidDaniel

Rod and Serpent of Rabbis

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 22:1

We find ourselves pondering this very question in Vayikra Rabbah 22, a section of the ancient Midrash. It begins with a seemingly simple verse from Leviticus (17:3): "Any man from ...

MosesSolomonTorahProphecy

Adam Names the Animals and Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 22:8

That’s the image Rabbi Pinḥas, quoting Rabbi Levi, uses to explain a powerful idea in Vayikra Rabbah. He tells the story of a king’s son who’d developed a taste for… well, let’s ju...

DemonsAdam & EveJosephTemple

Elijah in Paradise

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 22:9

The rabbis of old grappled with this question, especially concerning the laws around building altars for sacrifice outside the designated Temple in Jerusalem. This wasn't some free...

Adam & EveElijahTempleProphecy

Laban: Rebecca and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 23:1

The Torah tackles this very question, and the answer is surprisingly nuanced. We find a fascinating passage in Vayikra Rabbah 23, which delves into Leviticus 18:3: “You shall not a...

CreationPatriarchsJosephSolomon

Trials of Joseph and Canaan

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 23:7

That feeling is surprisingly ancient. The Rabbis of the Midrash knew it well, wrestling with how to maintain Jewish identity in a world of competing cultures. In Vayikra Rabbah 23,...

CreationJosephMosesProphecy

Isaiah: Divine Presence

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 24:1

We all do it. But have you ever wondered what it truly means to avert your gaze, to consciously choose kedushah, holiness? Rabbi Menashya, grandson of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, offe...

HeavenKing DavidProphecyHoly Land

Zion's Transgression

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 24:4

That’s the kind of feeling we're going to explore today, but with a very specific location in mind: Zion. We find a fascinating passage in Vayikra Rabbah, a midrashic collection fo...

MosesKing DavidTorahTemple