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.

Bible: Jacob at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 11:1

The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible grapples with these very feelings. There's a verse in chapter 9, verse 11, that really gets to the heart of it: "I again saw under the sun tha...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsJoseph

Egypt as the Small City in Ecclesiastes' Parable

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 15:4

Take this one, from Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes. It's a powerful allegory, and one we can all relate to. The story begins: ...

JosephMosesProphecyMiracles

Levi: Jacob at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 18:1

Our sages grappled with it too, and one place where they explore this idea is in Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes. The verse in ...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

Wisdom of Yoav

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 18:2

The passage starts with a simple statement: "wisdom is better." Better than what? Better "than instruments of battle." Kohelet Rabbah illustrates this with a remarkable tale involv...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsJoseph

Sharpen Your Axe Before You Start Chopping

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 10:1

It all starts with a verse from Ecclesiastes (10:10): “If the iron is dull, and one did not whet the edge, he must intensify his exertion; the advantage is in preparation with wisd...

JosephSolomonProphecyRepentance

Do Not Curse the King Even in Your Thoughts

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 20:1

Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes, delves into this very human experience, urging us to be mindful of our thoughts and words, esp...

AngelsJosephMosesKing David

Rabbi in Paradise

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 14:1

The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet, as it’s known in Hebrew, ends with this rather stark line: "For every action God will bring to judgment, for every unknown, whether good or ev...

Adam & EveJosephSolomonTemple

Why Discipline and Love Shape Israel's Children

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:1

"These are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; each came with his household" – that’s how the Book of Exodus begins. But what does that have to do wit...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

Pharaoh's Scheme Against Israel and His Punishment

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:9

"He said to his people: Behold, the nation of the children of Israel is more numerous and mighty than us" (Exodus 1:9). This is Pharaoh, setting the stage for oppression. But Shemo...

Noah & FloodJosephMosesKing David