10,602 related texts · Page 195 of 221
Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers us a fascinating take on (Psalm 117:1), "Praise the Lord, all nations." It’s not as simple as a univ...
In fact, it teaches us that it's really not fitting to sing your own praises… unless someone else steps up to vouch for you. But then, who vouches for God? That's the question pose...
The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) teaches us that it's better to trust in God than to rely on the words of even our own parents. Why? Because human understanding is li...
We often take for granted the stability around us, the fact that the sky is (usually) above us and the ground beneath. But where does that stability come from? Midrash Tehillim, an...
King David knew that feeling well. Midrash Tehillim, our collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, opens up Psalm 119 and illuminates David’s struggles, particularly his...
That feeling of a long, hard journey – that's exactly what's captured in the Psalm of Ascents. But it's not just about the struggle; it's about the song that rises with each step. ...
Psalm 124, a song from the collection known as Shir Hama'alot, the Songs of Ascent, dives deep into that feeling. It's raw, visceral, and speaks directly to the heart of anyone who...
Because today, we're diving into a fascinating teaching from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, that might just flip your perspective...
We often take clouds for granted, but Midrash Tehillim, an ancient collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, offers us a surprisingly profound peek into their s...
Our story today comes from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms. It's a look at Psalm 137, which starts with the heartbreaking words: "By the riv...
The ancient texts wrestle with this idea, particularly when it comes to our relationship with the Divine. Psalm 139, a heartfelt song of David, begins with the powerful declaration...
It all comes down to this idea: God loves the stranger. But why? What's so special about the stranger? Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, o...
Jewish tradition, in its beautiful complexity, actually has something to say about that feeling – about being an outcast, and even more surprisingly, about the possibility of retur...
The Torah tells us about the 10th plague, the death of the firstborn in Egypt, and the Exodus that followed. But the details… they’re fascinating. Rabbi Shimon Ben Yochai, a toweri...
The Book of Lamentations, a raw and mournful lament over the destruction of Jerusalem, grapples with this very feeling. It asks, in a voice thick with sorrow: "What shall I testify...
It's all about the Tekufot (תְּקוּפוֹת) – the beginnings of the seasons. Now, the text might seem a little dense at first glance, but bear with me. It's like unlocking a secret cod...
According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval text, it all happened with incredible precision. Imagine the scene: the fourth day of creation, night is falling. ...
It’s no accident. For millennia, Jewish tradition has seen the moon not just as a celestial body, but as a living symbol of renewal, of cycles, and of profound connection to the di...
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating and sometimes enigmatic text, sheds light on this very question. It tells us that the sun marks the days, and the moon the nights, their cycle...
Like the calendar is just... off? Well, our ancestors in Egypt felt that way too. And it all ties into a fascinating, and often overlooked, concept: the Jewish calendar and the pra...
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, in chapter 8, touches on just that. It paints a picture of a world where the connection to the Holy One, blessed be He, isn't always a given. It suggests th...
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating and imaginative work of Jewish literature, tells us that on the fifth day, God commanded the waters to bring forth all kinds of winged fowl, b...
We all know the story of Jonah and the whale. But have you ever stopped to wonder why he ran away in the first place? It's not just simple disobedience. According to Pirkei DeRabbi...
But imagine trying to run from… God. That’s precisely the pickle Jonah found himself in. We all know the story of Jonah and the whale. But let's rewind a bit, because the beginning...
The story picks up with Jonah fleeing God's command to preach repentance to Nineveh. He boards a ship, hoping to escape his divine assignment. But, as we quickly learn, you can run...
Turns out, that whale-sized miracle had some serious consequences, impacting not just Jonah, but a whole ship of sailors. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating and often imaginativ...
It feels like the Bible just breezes through it: animals, done! But, of course, there's so much more to the story when you start digging. Imagine the scene. According to Pirkei DeR...
Our sages pondered these questions for centuries, and their answers, preserved in texts like Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, might surprise you. It's not just about grand pronouncements or...
Our sages certainly thought so, and they had some amazing stories to illustrate just that. to one, found in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 16. It tells of Eliezer, Ab...
This ancient text paints a vivid picture of the bridegroom, and it does so by comparing him to… a king! A king is, ideally, someone admired, celebrated, and treated with utmost res...
Sometimes, the source is more surprising than you might think. Take, for example, the concept of showing loving-kindness, or chesed, to mourners. Where do we learn about the import...
The Book of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating and often imaginative work of Jewish literature, poses this very question. And it answers it with a story of courage, loyalty, and...
Take (Psalm 60:8), for instance: "Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe;...
The creation of the heavens and the earth... it's a story that resonates deep within Jewish tradition, filled with wonder and the sheer power of the Divine. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer,...
Jewish tradition has a powerful message for you – a message of enduring strength and the beauty of a life lived fully, even in old age. We often celebrate youth, vitality, and the ...
We get glimpses, tantalizing hints, and sometimes outright fantastical stories about that long-ago world. And one of the most striking comes from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinat...
We all know the story: Noah, his family, and a boatload of animals. But Jewish tradition sometimes offers surprising twists, doesn't it? The Book of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fasci...
It's not exactly the Bible, but it's an ancient retelling and expansion of biblical narratives, filled with legends and interpretations. Think of it as a really engaging, slightly ...
The story of the Tower of Babel, found in Genesis, offers a powerful explanation, but it's in texts like Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer – a fascinating collection of stories and interpreta...
Our tradition teaches us that we are deeply influenced by our surroundings, and especially by the people we choose to spend our time with. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating ear...
Tradition tells us that Abraham faced not just a few challenges, but ten major trials throughout his life. Ten! Can you imagine? The Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, an early medieval colle...
His life was practically a masterclass in overcoming adversity. We often think of Abraham's trials, his nisyonot, as being primarily about faith – being asked to sacrifice Isaac, f...
It’s a fascinating idea, explored in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a text filled with beautiful stories and interpretations. Rabbi Ẓe'era makes a profound statement: there are five kinds...
Our journey begins with Isaac. According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 29, Isaac himself circumcised his twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Now, here's where the plot thickens. The text sugges...
Jewish tradition is full of stories of righteous individuals who, facing persecution, chose to flee. And often, it was the very act of fleeing that led them to salvation and a deep...
They instituted a custom, a seat of honor specifically for the "Messenger of the Covenant." And who is that messenger? None other than Elijah himself! The Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer te...
The patriarch Abraham certainly did. The story begins with Sarah, Abraham's wife, making a demand. She tells Abraham to write a get, a bill of divorce, and send away his handmaid H...
Rabbi Judah paints a vivid picture. He tells us that Isaac, when blessing Jacob, bestowed upon him ten distinct blessings. Now, these weren't just any blessings. They were specific...
