Parshat Vayeshev

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Joseph's dreams and his brothers' jealousy, Joseph sold into slavery, Judah and Tamar, and Joseph in Potiphar's house and prison. Genesis 37:1-40:23.

Pharaoh and the Heavenly Realms of Gehenna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 7:4

Rabbi Levi starts us off with a parable. Imagine a king who owns a beautiful orchard. Now, in this orchard, he plants not only fruit-bearing trees – the kind that give you deliciou...

HeavenAdam & EveJosephMoses

Mouth of the Abyss and Solomon

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 8:1

The passage begins with a rather grand statement from Exodus: "See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother will be your prophet” (Exodus 7:1). But what does it re...

Hell/GehennaNoah & FloodJosephMoses

Abraham in Paradise and Pharaoh

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:4

It's not just a random trick. It's a direct confrontation, a symbolic smackdown, if you will. : Pharaoh saw himself as a god, the supreme ruler of Egypt, unshakeable and all-powerf...

Adam & EveJosephMosesProphecy

Aaron: Moses and Adam

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:5

It might seem trivial, but sometimes, the order of things speaks volumes. Think about when Moses and Aaron first approach Pharaoh. The verse in Exodus 7:10 tells us, "Moses and Aar...

Adam & EveJosephMosesMiracles

Pharaoh: Moses's Miracle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:6

And his reaction to Moses and Aaron's miracles in Egypt, as described in Shemot Rabbah, is a masterclass in insecure overcompensation. We all know the story: Moses and Aaron come b...

JosephMosesMiraclesWisdom

Moses and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:10

It's easy to see them as just divine punishment, but Jewish tradition often digs deeper, searching for layers of meaning. one fascinating idea from Shemot Rabbah, a classic collect...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsJoseph

Moses's Miracle and Nile

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:11

The Torah tells us, "The magicians of Egypt did so with their spells; and Pharaoh's heart hardened, and he did not heed them, as the Lord had spoken” (Exodus 7:22). But what does "...

CreationJosephMosesProphecy

Pharaoh and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 10:2

We often focus on the what – the frogs, the locusts, the darkness – but sometimes miss the deeper meaning. to one of the more… amphibious plagues and see what the ancient rabbis ha...

CreationJosephMosesDaniel

Pharaoh's Transgression and Egyptians

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 10:6

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, gives us a fascinating take on the plague of frogs. We all remember the story: Egypt is overrun with ...

JosephMosesHoly LandExile