1,037 related texts · 4 related myths · Page 22 of 22
A beautiful analogy, connecting the "vineyard" mentioned in Song of Songs to the Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish high court. Why a vineyard? Because, as we learned in Mishna Eduyot, ...
The Torah starts the book of Leviticus, Vayikra in Hebrew, with just that kind of a call. "He called to Moses, and the Lord spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying…" (Levitic...
Jewish tradition has a beautiful answer for that feeling, a welcoming embrace for those who choose to join the community. It's all about gerim, or proselytes – converts to Judaism....
Vayikra Rabbah, a fascinating Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) text on the Book of Leviticus, dives into this very idea, using a beautiful analogy to explain how the To...
Rabbi Yitzchak, a sage of old, had an interesting take on this. He taught that before the Mishkan – the Tabernacle – was built, prophecy wasn't confined to the Israelites. It was, ...
A fascinating story from Vayikra Rabbah, a Midrash (rabbinic commentary) on the Book of Leviticus, that explores just that. It's a story of ambition, betrayal, and ultimately, divi...
"The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the Lord and one shall slaughter the bull before the Lord." Okay, so far so good. It’s a very s...
This week, we're diving into Vayikra Rabbah 6, a fascinating passage that wrestles with the complexities of truth, testimony, and our relationship with both God and each other. It ...
The Torah tells us of an agreement, a covenant, between God and the Israelites. But the details, as explored in Vayikra Rabbah, are far more intricate and, frankly, a little . Rabb...
The ancient rabbis grappled with these questions, poring over scripture to understand the nature of prophecy itself. to their fascinating discussion, found in Vayikra Rabbah 6, a m...
Vayikra Rabbah centers this passage on Aaron and the Lawgiver. Here's where things get really interesting. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin, drawing on the wisdom of Rabbi Levi, points ou...
Vayikra Rabbah centers this passage on Aaron's Investiture and the Bull Arranged Like a Hill. The midrash doesn't stop there. It moves on to (Leviticus 8:3): "Assemble the entire c...
The rabbis of old certainly did, and they painted some pretty wild pictures! One fascinating glimpse comes from Vayikra Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book...
Bar Kappara starts with a verse from Proverbs: “Wisdom has built her house” (Proverbs 9:1). He equates this house with the Torah itself. Makes sense. The Torah is our foundation, t...
Rabbi Yudan tells us that for seven long years, as Solomon built the Beit Hamikdash, the Temple, he abstained from wine. A monumental achievement. But the moment he finished, the m...
They found wisdom in a seemingly simple verse from Ecclesiastes: "Through slothfulness the ceiling sags, and through idleness of the hands the house leaks." (Ecclesiastes 10:18). W...
Like someone's pointing out all your flaws, comparing you to others, and generally making you feel. unworthy? Well, according to some ancient Jewish texts, even the Israelites face...
It’s a fascinating idea, and one that Vayikra Rabbah (Leviticus Rabbah), specifically section 22, explores in a surprisingly beautiful way. The passage begins by quoting (Psalm 146...
It turns out the Talmud and Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) are full of stories about them. And, interestingly, God seems to have taken special notice of their actions. ...
Vayikra Rabbah centers this passage on Rabbi Shimon and the Torah of Shabbat. "A bull, a sheep, or a goat, when it is born, shall be seven days under its mother." Why those seven d...
The verse from (Leviticus 23:24) sets the stage: "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first of the month, shall be a rest for you, a remembrance b...
Vayikra Rabbah imagines Moses ascending into a heavenly debate over Torah, wisdom, and power. The tradition turns to Vayikra Rabbah, specifically chapter 31. This Midrash, a collec...
Vayikra Rabbah opens a hard teaching about giving and withholding kindness, and the stakes begin with the poor at the door. The first example? None other than Abraham. Abraham as a...
The verse we're looking at is (Leviticus 26:4), "I will give your rains at their time." Seems straightforward. God promising timely rain for a bountiful harvest. But the Rabbis, ne...
The verse from Proverbs sets the stage: “One hand to another will not be absolved from evil, [but the descendant of the righteous will escape]” (Proverbs 11:21). This raises the qu...
The question at hand: how could the Israelites, knowing the honor due to God, prostrate themselves before something that was created? Isn't that, well, a bit too close to idolatry?...
Jewish thought is FULL of those moments. The source unfolds one Our journey starts with what some might call "foolishness and evil folly." Strong words. The text we're looking at q...
Philo, in this particular midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), is confronting the story of Noah and his sons. You know, the flood, the ark, the whole deal. But he focuses on...
The Tree of Souls tells us that these souls resided in the Garden of Eden, up above. And get this: they were all present at the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai! How do we know t...
