Parshat Vayera

2,677 related texts · Page 123 of 298

Three angels visit Abraham, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the birth of Isaac, and the Binding of Isaac (the Akedah). Genesis 18:1-22:24.

Trial of Abraham and Rabbis

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 61:2

He shows us that even in old age, we can still blossom and bear fruit. It all starts with a beautiful verse from Psalms (92:14-15): "Planted in the House of the Lord, they blossom ...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsMatriarchs

Death of Abraham and Yehuda

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 62:1

The Torah, and later rabbinic texts, offer some fascinating, and comforting, glimpses. Let’s start with Abraham. Genesis 25:7 tells us, "These are the days of the years of Abraham’...

CreationPatriarchsKing DavidSolomon

Abraham and the Patriarchs of Shmuel

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:2

It’s a beautiful, cyclical relationship, one that Jewish tradition explores in fascinating ways. Bereshit Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Ge...

PatriarchsSolomonDanielProphecy

Esau: Abraham and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:11

It all boils down to a pot of stew. Genesis 25:29 tells us, "Jacob cooked a stew, and Esau came from the field and he was weary." Simple enough. But within that weariness, and with...

CreationAdam & EveNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Esau: Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:14

Take the story of Jacob and Esau and that fateful bowl of lentil stew. We often think of it as a simple transaction, a hungry Esau trading away his birthright for a quick meal. But...

CreationPatriarchsMosesSolomon

Kingdom of Isaac and Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 64:3

Our ancestor Isaac certainly did. The Torah tells us that Isaac went to Avimelekh, king of the Philistines, in Gerar (Genesis 26:1). But where exactly was Gerar? Bereshit Rabbah, t...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsJoseph

Eiruv: Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 64:4

But did he just follow the big commandments, the obvious ones? Or was there something more? Genesis 26:5 tells us that Abraham "heeded My voice, and observed My commission, My comm...

CreationPatriarchsJobTorah

Isaiah: Isaac and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:5

The Torah tells us, "It was when Isaac was old, and his eyes dimmed from seeing, he summoned Esau his elder son, and said to him: My son, and he said to him: Here I am" (Genesis 27...

CreationPatriarchsMosesProphecy

Kingdom of Isaac and Esau

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:7

The Torah, and the wisdom of our Sages, are deeply concerned with justice, with making sure the scales are balanced. And the story of Isaac and his sons, Jacob and Esau, is a power...

PatriarchsMosesSolomonEgypt