Parshat Vayetzei

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Jacob's dream of the ladder to heaven, his years working for Laban, his marriages to Rachel and Leah, and the birth of the twelve tribes. Genesis 28:10-32:3.

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...

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Issachar: Rabbi Meir at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 94:7

I was reading in Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis, and I stumbled across just such a moment. It revolves around a rather pointed exc...

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Isaiah: Judah and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 95:1

And they found hints of it in the most unexpected places – like the story of Jacob sending Judah ahead to Joseph in Goshen (Genesis 46:28). The verse says, "He sent Judah before hi...

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Faith of Ephraim

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 95:3

The verse in Isaiah (11:13) says, "The jealousy of Ephraim will cease." Now, Bereshit Rabbah, that incredible collection of rabbinic interpretations of Genesis, sees a connection h...

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Death of Joseph and Lakish

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 97:2

The Torah portion Vayechi, at the very end of Genesis, gives us a glimpse into that very idea. Jacob, on his deathbed, blesses his sons. And when he blesses Joseph, it says, "He bl...

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Joseph: Moses at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 97:6

Specifically, we're going to look at section 97, which unpacks Jacob's final words to Joseph. The verse in question is Genesis 48:21: "Israel said to Joseph: Behold, I am dying, an...

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Simeon and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 98:5

The story starts with a quote from Genesis 49:5: "Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of villainy are their heritage." But what does it really mean? Bereshit Rabbah, an ancient c...

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David: Judah at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 98:6

The passage centers around Jacob's blessing to his son Judah: "Judah, you shall your brothers acknowledge; your hand will be at the nape of your enemies; your father’s sons will pr...

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Mount Tavor and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 98:12

It wasn't just a simple story; it was a portal to layers of meaning, hidden connections, and profound insights. Take Jacob's blessing to his son Issachar in Genesis 49:14-15: “Issa...

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