Parshat Vayigash

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Judah's plea for Benjamin, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, and Jacob's family descends to Egypt. Genesis 44:18-47:27.

Abraham and Creation of Haran

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 45:1

The Torah touches on this very issue, and the Rabbis of the Midrash, those ancient interpreters of scripture, offer some pretty fascinating explanations. to Bereshit Rabbah 45, a s...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsMoses

Covenant of Abraham of Abram

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 45:3

They were promised descendants as numerous as the stars, yet years went by in the land of Canaan, barren and seemingly forgotten by destiny. The Torah tells us, “Sarai, Abram’s wif...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsHoly Land

Yosei: Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 48:3

Today, let’s delve into a fascinating passage from Bereshit Rabbah, a classical rabbinic commentary on the Book of Genesis, that explores just that. The passage opens with a quote ...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsJob

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

Righteousness of Abraham and Joshua

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 49:8

What does it mean to approach God? That's precisely what the Rabbis grapple with in Bereshit Rabbah 49. The text opens with that powerful line from Genesis, "Abraham approached, an...

CreationHell/GehennaNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Lot and Creation of Sodom

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 50:3

It's like a linguistic puzzle, where sometimes a single letter can shift the whole meaning of a word. And that brings us to a curious little detail in the Torah, one that our sages...

CreationHell/GehennaJosephKing David

Veil Between Worlds and Sodom

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 50:9

We're diving into Bereshit Rabbah, a treasure trove of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis, specifically chapter 50, and it tells a wild story about just that. It all r...

CreationHeavenAngelsPatriarchs

Ishmael in Exile

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 53:11

The Torah tells us Sarah saw Ishmael "playing" (Genesis 21:9), and it was enough for her to demand, in no uncertain terms, that Hagar and Ishmael be banished. But what exactly did ...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsMoses

Abraham and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 59:5

It might sound surprising, but the ancient Rabbis certainly thought so! The Midrash, specifically Bereshit Rabbah 59, delves into a fascinating interpretation of Psalm 45:3, "You a...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David