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's Four Decrees to Destroy Israel

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:12

And their story, as told in Shemot Rabbah, is a powerful reminder of resilience, faith, and the strength of community. Pharaoh, you see, wasn't just content with enslaving the Isra...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsJoseph

Shifra and Puah the Midwives Who Defied Pharaoh

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:13

Our story begins in ancient Egypt, where the Israelites are flourishing, a little too flourishing for the liking of the Pharaoh. He sees their growing numbers as a threat, and so, ...

JosephMosesSolomonJob

The Midwives Who Feared God and Saved the Boys

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:15

We all know about Moses, about the plagues, about the parting of the Red Sea. But what about the women who defied a king's cruel decree and saved countless Israelite babies? The To...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

God Rewards the Midwives With Dynasties of Their Own

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:17

Specifically, we're diving into Shemot Rabbah 1, which offers a fascinating take on Exodus 1:21: "It was because the midwives feared God, He made houses for them.” But what exactly...

HeavenJosephMosesKing David

Moses and the Angels of Amram

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:19

"A man from the house of Levi went and he took a daughter of Levi" (Exodus 2:1). Simple enough. But the Rabbis of the Midrash, in Shemot Rabbah, never leave a stone unturned. They ...

AngelsPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

Baby Moses Grabs Pharaoh's Crown and Faces a Death Test

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:26

It’s a story filled with palace intrigue, near-fatal tests, and a touch of divine intervention. We all know the basics: baby Moses in a basket, found by Pharaoh's daughter. But She...

AngelsJosephMosesTorah

Blessing of Moses

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:29

But as is so often the case with Torah, the rabbis unpack layers upon layers of meaning. What did it really mean when it says "he saw that there was no man"? The ancient rabbis of ...

JosephMosesMiraclesDivine Names

Moses Makes a Surprising Deal With Jethro

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:33

It all centers around Moses, and a rather interesting agreement he makes with Jethro (also known as Yitro), his future father-in-law. Remember, Moses has just fled Egypt after, sha...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

The King of Egypt Died and Israel Cried Out

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:34

The ancient rabbis certainly understood that feeling. In the book of Exodus, we read, “It was during those many days that the king of Egypt died and the children of Israel sighed d...

Noah & FloodPatriarchsJosephMoses