Parshat Vayishlach

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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.

Abraham in Battle of Sodom

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 49:7

Genesis 18:22 tells us, "The men turned from there and went to Sodom, and Abraham was still standing before the Lord.” Seems straightforward. But hold on... The opening phrase, "Th...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsShekhinah

Destruction of Sodom and Rabbis

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 49:10

We'll be looking at Bereshit Rabbah 49, which unpacks Abraham's famous negotiation with God over the fate of Sodom. Remember the story? God is about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah b...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

Sodom: Ruth at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 50:10

Jewish tradition is rich with insights into these liminal spaces, and one passage in Bereshit Rabbah (Genesis Rabbah) 50, really caught my attention. It's all about Lot's escape fr...

CreationAngelsKing David

Abraham and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 51:6

It's one of those stories from Genesis that's always felt a little... abrupt. "His wife looked behind him, and she became a pillar of salt" (Genesis 19:26). Poof! Salt. But the Rab...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchs

Abraham and Creation of Avimelekh

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 52:10

to a fascinating passage from Bereshit Rabbah, a classical rabbinic commentary on the Book of Genesis, to see how the ancients grappled with the unexpected. The story unfolds in Ge...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsDaniel

Sarah: Covenant of Abraham

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 53:4

Psalm 119:89 declares, “Forever, Lord, Your word stands firm in the heavens.” But does this mean it doesn’t stand firm here, with us? Our sages grappled with this, finding an answe...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMatriarchs

Isaac's Transgression and Meisha

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 55:5

The passage comes from Bereshit Rabbah 55, a treasure trove of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis. It all starts with a verse from the prophet Micah (6:6): “With what ...

PatriarchsSoulRepentanceSacrifice

The Binding of Isaac and Yehuda

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 56:6

We all know the story: Abraham, tested by God, is asked to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. He obeys, bringing Isaac to Mount Moriah. Just as Abraham raises his knife, an angel in...

CreationDemonsPatriarchsTorah

Isaac: Abraham and the Patriarchs

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 57:2

It’s a beautiful image, isn't it? But what does it really mean? Our sages, grappling with this very verse, connected it to something we say every day: a blessing. Specifically, the...

PatriarchsSolomonSoulPrayer