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.

World to Come and David

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 59:6

The Torah tells us that Abraham was old, zaken (Genesis 24:1). But the rabbis in Bereshit Rabbah 59 ask, what does that really signify? The rabbis dig deep, finding layers of meani...

PatriarchsMosesKing DavidSolomon

Rebecca: Laban at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 60:7

The story begins with Rebecca, who, upon meeting Eliezer at the well, "ran and told her mother’s household all about these matters" (Genesis 24:28). Now, Rabbi Yoḥanan makes an int...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsMatriarchs

Esau: Rebecca at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:6

The verse in Genesis 25:22 tells us "The children were agitated within her, and she said: If this is so, why do I exist? She went to inquire of the Lord." But what exactly does "ag...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMatriarchs

Sarah: Rebecca and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:7

In Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of Genesis, specifically in section 63, we find a discussion around the verse, "The Lord said to her" (Genesis 25:23), ...

CreationAngelsNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Foundations of Being and Esau

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:8

Take the birth of Jacob and Esau, for example. Seems straightforward. But Bereshit Rabbah, the ancient rabbinic commentary on Genesis, dives deep, revealing layers of interpretatio...

CreationHeavenDemonsPatriarchs

Birth of Esau and Sage

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:10

Our story today comes from Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis. Specifically, we're looking at section 63, which delves into the lives ...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsProphecy

Esau: Abraham and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:11

It all boils down to a pot of stew. Genesis 25:29 tells us, "Jacob cooked a stew, and Esau came from the field and he was weary." Simple enough. But within that weariness, and with...

CreationAdam & EveNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Esau: Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:14

Take the story of Jacob and Esau and that fateful bowl of lentil stew. We often think of it as a simple transaction, a hungry Esau trading away his birthright for a quick meal. But...

CreationPatriarchsMosesSolomon

Kingdom of Isaac and Abraham

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 64:1

Let’s look at Isaac, the son of Abraham. The book of Genesis tells us, "There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was during the days of Abraham, and Isaac went...

CreationPatriarchsKing David