Parshat Vayera

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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.

Judah in Battle and Joseph

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 93:7

This moment, fraught with tension and brotherly love disguised as animosity, is explored in a fascinating passage from Bereshit Rabbah 93. The story opens with a quote from Ecclesi...

CreationPatriarchsJosephSolomon

Day of Atonement and Hashanah

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 98:1

That’s the sense I get reading Bereshit Rabbah 98, a beautiful passage from the ancient midrashic collection, which interprets a verse from Psalm 57:3: “I cry out to God on High, t...

PatriarchsMatriarchsKing DavidTemple

Ezekiel: Jacob and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 98:2

The Torah tells us, "Jacob called to his sons, and he said: Gather, and I will tell you what will befall you at the end of days. Assemble and hear, sons of Jacob, and listen to Isr...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaPatriarchs

Death of Jacob and Simeon

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 99:7

Today, we’re diving into one particularly intense moment: Jacob's words about Simeon and Levi. It all starts with the verse: "Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of villainy are ...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Issachar's Transgression and Jacob

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 99:10

to a fascinating passage from Bereshit Rabbah 99, a midrashic commentary on the Book of Genesis, and unpack some of the hidden gems within Jacob's blessing to his son, Issachar. Th...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsKing David

Esau and Creation of Dama

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 1:15

Jewish tradition has a lot to say on the subject, and some of the stories might surprise you. Our jumping-off point is the verse in Deuteronomy 2:3, "You have circled this mountain...

CreationPatriarchsMosesTorah

Heavenly Assembly

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 1:22

It's not always as simple as a direct hand from above. Sometimes, there's a cosmic chess game happening behind the scenes. Devarim Rabbah, in its very first section, opens with a p...

AngelsJosephMosesKing David

Moses and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:7

Our story revolves around a verse from Deuteronomy (3:24): "Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is in the heavens or on ...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

Hidden Secrets of Creation and Gamliel

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:24

Jewish tradition actually has a lot to say about that, especially the power of teshuvah, or repentance. And let me tell you, some of these stories are wild. Devarim Rabbah, a colle...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMoses