1,351 related texts · 28 related myths · Page 28 of 29
It centers on an incident involving Reuben, Jacob’s eldest son, and its lasting impact on his status within the family. The story begins with a seemingly simple statement from (Gen...
Jewish tradition is just teeming with those kinds of moments. Take Jacob, for instance, as he's about to head down to Egypt to reunite with his son Joseph. The Torah tells us, "Isr...
It seems like a strange thing to worry about when, well, we're no longer around to worry about anything. But the story of Jacob, as he nears the end of his life in Egypt, gives us ...
Bereshit Rabbah turns to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in Jacob's Psalm. It's a treasure trove of wisdom. So, how does this verse tie into these High Holy Days? Well, the Midrash ex...
The Rabbis of the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) take this idea and run with it, suggesting that Jacob and Moses, in their own ways, foreshadowed the battles between th...
Our jumping-off point is the verse in (Deuteronomy 2:3), "You have circled this mountain enough; turn yourselves to the north.” But how does this relate to honoring parents? Well, ...
That feeling isn't new. It goes all the way back to Moses and Aaron facing down Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. They’re walking into the lion's den, asking the most powerful ruler o...
Shemot Rabbah turns to Moses Set as God Before Pharaoh and Aaron as His Prophet. The story takes an unexpected turn. We're transported to the time of King Solomon and the construct...
It's so much more than just a simple "Let my people go!" narrative. Take, for instance, the exchange in (Exodus 10:24-29). It's a masterclass in negotiation, divine will, and maybe...
The story of the Exodus, as told in Shemot Rabbah, the compilation of rabbinic sermons on the Book of Exodus, gives us a fascinating glimpse into this idea, focusing on the final p...
The familiar reading treats these epic stories in the Torah and just accept that things happened at the right moment. But what if there's a hidden layer of incredible detail beneat...
Shemot Rabbah, a classic midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) collection, explores the details of the Exodus narrative, painting a vivid picture of that pivotal moment. One...
Shemot Rabbah turns to Aaron and His Sons Chosen to Lead Israel in Service. The text cleverly connects this verse in Exodus to one in Zechariah (10:4): “From it will come a corners...
The book of Exodus and the sages of the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) explore this very idea. In (Exodus 32:7), we read, "The Lord spoke to Moses: Go descend; for your...
Who do we trust? Why do we trust them? And what happens when that trust is broken? In Jewish tradition, the concept of trust, of being a ne'eman, a trustworthy person, is incredibl...
Our story comes from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It centers on a seemingly simple verse: “The Tabernacle of the Testimony, as the...
The ancient rabbis certainly understood it. Let me tell you a story from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a beautiful, expansive commentary on the Song of Songs, a.k.a. the Song of Solomon. T...
That feeling, that intense desire, is at the heart of today's story. We find ourselves in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, an ancient commentary on the Song of Songs, that most beautiful and ...
A fascinating interpretation of a verse from the Song of Songs – Shir HaShirim – that explores just this idea: the contrast between foul odor and sweet fragrance, and what it revea...
Ever catch a whiff of something amazing and wonder, "What is that?" Our senses are powerful doorways to memory and meaning. And in ancient Jewish tradition, few things were as powe...
What was God's response? According to Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, it was like a king with priceless gems being asked for a treasure by his son. The king doesn't...
In Shir HaShirim Rabbah 7, the Rabbis unpack a seemingly simple verse – (Song of Songs 2:7): “I administer an oath to you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles, and by the hinds...
Shir HaShirim Rabbah turns to My Beloved Is Mine and the Bond Between God and Israel. "My beloved is mine, and I am his," the commentary states. He is God for me, and I am a nation...
Shir HaShirim Rabbah turns to The Secret Incense Recipe of the House of Avtinas. Specifically, the incense prepared by the House of Avtinas. In Shir HaShirim Rabbah, this priestly ...
A collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs, Hugras was a Levite, part of the choir that served in the Temple. Now, the Levites were already known for their music...
That feeling is something our ancestors grappled with intensely after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. And in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the ancient commentary on Song of Son...
It's a story about perspective, gratitude, and maybe even a missed opportunity to usher in... the Messiah! The passage begins with a verse from Song of Songs, "Look from the peak o...
The mystics of old certainly did. to a fascinating interpretation of a verse from the Song of Songs, a book overflowing with symbolism and hidden meanings. "Your branches [shelaḥay...
A passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs, that explores just that feeling. Specifically, What does it all mean? The Rabbis...
It's filled with metaphors, and some of them are truly striking. Take this one: "Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon." What does that even mean? Well, the Rabbis of Shir HaShiri...
It’s a central part of how Jewish tradition understands itself, constantly weaving together narratives to find deeper meaning. to a fascinating example from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a...
Our Rabbis certainly did. They grappled with this very question, especially when comparing the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. In Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the Rabbis explore th...
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 ...
The Vayikra Rabbah, a classic midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) text, dives into the idea that even our innermost thoughts have significance. In Vayikra Rabbah 7, we fin...
The core debate boils down to this: Did the descendants of Noah, meaning all humanity before the giving of the Torah at Sinai, offer only burnt offerings, or did they also offer pe...
Moses stood in the wilderness, preparing a special oil. According to Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai, this wasn't just any oil; it was a vessel for miracles from the very beginning. Th...
They ask some fascinating questions about the roles of Moses and Aaron, especially during those pivotal moments of transition. we know Aaron becomes the High Priest. But what about...
Vayikra Rabbah, specifically section 13, offers a fascinating glimpse into their thought process, starting with a powerful verse from Habakkuk: "He stood and assessed the earth" (H...
One such example, a passage from Vayikra Rabbah 18, which tackles a seemingly simple verse from Leviticus: "Any man, when he has a discharge from his flesh.." (Leviticus 15:2). Hol...
Sometimes, seemingly simple rules contain entire worlds of disagreement. Take the laws of slaughter, for instance. What seems like a straightforward process opens up a fascinating ...
Vayikra Rabbah turns to The Prince Who Ate Non-Kosher Until the King Set His Table. The king, understandably, wasn't thrilled. He declares, "This one will frequent my table, and on...
He points out a simple truth: When we wash our clothes on a rainy day, we have to work so hard to dry them. But while we're sleeping soundly, the Holy One, blessed be He, sends a l...
This isn't just about political correctness; it's about the power of our words, our thoughts, and their ripple effects in the cosmos. Rabbi Avin kicks things off with a powerful id...
“My eye will flow and will not cease, without respite. Until the Lord looks out and sees from Heaven” (Lamentations 3:49–50).“My eye will flow and will not cease.… until the Lord l...
There was an incident involving a certain man in Jerusalem, who made a feast. He said to a member of his household: ‘Go and bring me my friend, Kamtza.’ He went and brought his ene...
“Those killed by sword were better off than those killed by hunger, for those would bleed, ruptured from the produce of the field” (Lamentations 4:9).“Those killed by sword were be...
“It was due to the sins of her prophets, the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in her midst” (Lamentations 4:13).“It was due to the sins of her prophet...
“Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens; they pursued us on the mountains, they ambushed us in the wilderness” (Lamentations 4:19).“Our pursuers were swifter than...
