Parshat Vayishlach

3,612 related texts · Page 15 of 402

Jacob wrestles with the angel, his reunion with Esau, the incident at Shechem, Rachel's death, and the genealogy of Esau. Genesis 32:4-36:43.

Aram: Jacob at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 4:1

The text opens with a seemingly straightforward instruction: "The Lord said to Moses: Count every firstborn male of the children of Israel from one month old and above, and take th...

CreationHeavenAngelsPatriarchs

Jacob's Journey

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 68:10

It centers on Jacob, later to be known as Israel, at a pivotal moment in his journey. The verse in question: "He encountered the place" (Genesis 28:11). The text tells us that Jaco...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsJoseph

Yosei: Jacob at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 78:6

It’s a fascinating story that takes us back to the very beginnings of our people, to Jacob wrestling with a mysterious figure. The Torah tells us, in Genesis 32:33, "Therefore, the...

CreationPatriarchsTorahHoly Land

Jacob's Transgression and Avner

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 82:4

We find ourselves doing just that in this week's story, wrestling with an ancient blessing and its surprising recipients. Our tale begins with God speaking to Jacob, saying, "I am ...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsKing David

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...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsJoseph

Hidden Secrets of Creation and Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 32:7

It’s a question that takes us to the heart of Jewish thought, and to a fascinating passage in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The pas...

CreationHeavenAngelsPatriarchs

Isaac and the Angels of Gedi

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 14:1

Beautiful. But what does that imagery evoke? Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a Midrashic collection (meaning a collection of interpretations and stories) focusing on the Song of Songs, unpac...

AngelsPatriarchsKing DavidSolomon

Jacob's Journey

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 6:3

It's one of those biblical scenes that's both epic and deeply mysterious. Who was this "man" Jacob wrestled with all night? And what does this strange encounter really mean? Our jo...

CreationHeavenAngelsPatriarchs

Isaac: Esau at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 11:2

The collection of rabbinic homiletic interpretations of Song of Songs, Shir HaShirim Rabbah, dives deep into this very question. Rabbi Berekhya offers a surprising take: how can ho...

CreationHeavenAngelsAdam & Eve