Parshat Vayishlach

3,612 related texts · Page 272 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.

Upper Worlds and Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 16:6

We often think of the Song of Songs, Shir HaShirim, as just that: a beautiful, sensual poem about love between a man and a woman. But what if it’s also about something much, much b...

HeavenSolomonPrayerHoly Land

Joseph and His Brothers of Jerusalem

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:1

Well, let's turn to Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a classic midrashic commentary, for some help. The Rabbis weren't content to just admire the pretty words; they wanted to understand the d...

JosephSolomonProphecyMiracles

Court of Solomon and Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 8:1

I know I do! Take the Song of Songs, or Shir HaShirim, that beautiful, sensual poem often interpreted as an allegory for the relationship between God and Israel. Right smack in the...

SolomonEstherHoly LandShabbat

Moses's Journey and Yered

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 1:3

The Jewish tradition teaches that names aren't just labels; they're packed with meaning, hinting at a person's essence, their destiny, and even their connection to the Divine. to a...

CreationHeavenJosephMoses

Mount Sinai's Transgression and Meeting

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 1:10

Vayikra Rabbah, a fascinating Midrashic text on the Book of Leviticus, dives into this very idea, using a beautiful analogy to explain how the Torah’s commandments truly took root ...

MosesSolomonTorahHoly Land

Wisdom of Moses and Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 1:15

Vayikra Rabbah, the great Midrash on the Book of Leviticus, dives right into this question with a startling statement. It says that a Torah scholar without sense – meaning, without...

HeavenJosephMosesTorah

Ephraim and Moses

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 2:2

Li (לי). It simply means "to Me" or "for Me." But according to the ancient sages, as we learn in Vayikra Rabbah, that little word packs a cosmic punch. It signifies an unbreakable ...

MosesKing DavidTempleMessiah

Staff of Moses

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 2:4

The verse “Speak to the children of Israel” (Leviticus) becomes the launching point for a fascinating discussion. Rabbi Yudan, citing Rabbi Yishmael bar Naḥman, presents a parable:...

MosesTempleProphecyHoly Land

Moses's Prophetic Vision and Shimon

Midrash Rabbah Vayikra Rabbah 2:5

Turns out, that feeling might be older than you think! Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai, a giant in the world of Jewish mysticism and a figure we often encounter in the Zohar, had a fascinat...

MosesProphecyPrayerHoly Land