Parshat Vayera

2,677 related texts · Page 64 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.

Abraham and Creation of Ezra

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 46:8

The Torah tells us in Genesis 17:5, "Your name will no longer be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations." Seems prett...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsTorah

Birth of Abraham and Aivu

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 47:7

to a fascinating, and frankly, rather unusual story from Bereshit Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis. Genesis 17:23 tells us that Abrah...

CreationPatriarchsMosesTemple

Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 47:8

Take the story of Abraham, for instance. We all know he was commanded to circumcise himself and his household. But did you ever stop to consider the details of that commandment, an...

CreationPatriarchs

Covenant of Circumcision of Abraham

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 47:9

We read the stories, we know the milestones – but sometimes the weight of those moments gets lost. Take the act of circumcision, the brit milah, at the ripe old age of ninety-nine....

CreationPatriarchsTorahProphecy

When God Created and Abraham

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 48:1

Like a flash of light and a booming voice. But maybe, just maybe, it's something a little more… intimate. Let’s take a peek into a fascinating passage from Bereshit Rabbah, a colle...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsKing David

Abraham's Offering and Levi

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 48:5

It all starts with a verse from Exodus, "You shall make for Me an altar of earth…[I will come to you and I will bless you]" (Exodus 20:21). Rabbi Yitzḥak takes this to heart. He im...

PatriarchsMosesTempleEgypt

Abraham's Miracle and Were

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 48:8

It opens with the seemingly simple phrase: "At the entrance [petaḥ] of the tent [ohel]." This refers to Abraham sitting at the entrance of his tent, welcoming guests. But, as is so...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Abraham's Transgression and Circumcision

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 48:9

But the Rabbis of Bereshit Rabbah, that incredible collection of Rabbinic interpretations on Genesis, find layers of meaning we might otherwise miss. According to Bereshit Rabbah, ...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsDaniel

Wonders of Genesis and Abraham

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 48:11

We find an intriguing exploration of just that in Bereshit Rabbah 48, a section of the ancient midrashic collection on the book of Genesis. It all stems from Genesis 18:5, where Ab...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses