Parshat Vayishlach

3,588 related texts · Page 18 of 399

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.

Wisdom of Aaron and Esau

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 11:1

It’s a question that’s plagued humanity for millennia. And believe it or not, our ancient texts wrestle with it too. We find a fascinating perspective in Bamidbar Rabbah, specifica...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaPatriarchs

Jacob and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 16:4

And one powerful image used to describe this cycle is the idea of a "cup of terror." The Midrash, specifically Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Ge...

CreationHell/GehennaAdam & EvePatriarchs

Birth of Jacob and Arise

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:18

The scene is set: Jacob, disguised as his brother Esau, deceives his aging and blind father Isaac to receive the blessing meant for the firstborn. The Torah tells us, "He came to h...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

Joseph: Esau and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 73:7

That’s the kind of feeling we get when we delve into Bereshit Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis. Specifically, let’s look at verse 30:...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

Jacob and Creation of Joseph

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 78:10

Sometimes, it's in those very details that the most fascinating stories are hidden. Take the moment in Genesis 33:5 when Jacob, after years of estrangement, finally meets his broth...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

Jacob's Journey and Intact

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 79:5

That feeling, that resilience, is at the heart of a beautiful teaching about Jacob, our patriarch. The Torah tells us that Jacob "arrived intact" (Genesis 33:18) after his long jou...

CreationPatriarchsJosephSolomon

Joseph: Jacob at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 84:5

Our ancestor Jacob knew it well. We find ourselves in Bereshit Rabbah (Genesis Rabbah) 84, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Genesis. The text opens with a seemingly...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

Levi's Legacy and Yehoshua

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:6

It’s not a typo, and it’s definitely not random! There’s a beautiful lesson tucked away in that apparent inconsistency. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin, quoting Rabbi Levi, offered a pow...

PatriarchsProphecyHoly Land

Yudan: Esau at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 15:3

In Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs, we find a fascinating discussion about these pesky creatures and what they represent. Rabbi ...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsKing David