Parshat Bereshit

11,731 related texts · Page 236 of 245

Covers the creation of the world in six days, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the first sin, Cain and Abel, and the generations from Adam to Noah. Genesis 1:1-6:8.

Why God Chose Mount Sinai Over Taller Mountains

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 99:1

It wasn't just a random selection, you know. According to Bereshit Rabbah, the classic collection of Rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis, there was some serious competi...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

Asher's Transgression of Naphtali

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 99:12

We start with Asher. Jacob's blessing, "From Asher, his bread is rich, and he will provide royal delicacies," (Genesis 49:20) seems straightforward enough. But the rabbis in Beresh...

CreationJosephMosesProphecy

Jacob's Final Blessings to His Sons Before He Died

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 100:1

(Psalm 100:3) declares, "Know that the Lord is God." But it's the next part that really sparked their interest: "He made us, and we are His" (Psalm 100:3). Or is it? See, the Hebre...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

Jacob's Final Command and How His Sons Obeyed

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 100:2

The book of Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Genesis, gives us a peek into just that, focusing on the patriarch Jacob and the sage Rabbeinu Yehuda ...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsJoseph

Kingdom of Moses of Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 1:5

The text presents a fascinating idea: that the speaker's life and experience lend weight to their words. It's not just what you say, but who you are that matters. Imagine someone e...

CreationMosesKing DavidSolomon

God's Multiplication of Israel Beyond Just Numbers

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 1:11

Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the book of Deuteronomy, opens our eyes to some fascinating insights. It all starts with the verse, "the Lord your God has mul...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

The Long Game of Patience With Esau's Descendants

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 1:17

It begins with the phrase "you have circled enough," and then dives into what it really means to be patient, to trust, and to understand the long game of history. The verse in ques...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsKing David

When Esau Realized Jacob Stole His Blessings

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 1:19

The story of Esau and Jacob is a classic example, and the Rabbis in Devarim Rabbah, a collection of homiletic interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, unpack it with incredible ...

CreationPatriarchsKing DavidSolomon

Why God Told Moses Not to Fear the Giant King Og

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 1:25

In (Deuteronomy 3:2), God tells Moses, "Do not fear him, as I have delivered him and his entire people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Siḥon, king of...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMatriarchs

God Changes the Times and Seasons at Will

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:3

And it’s a feeling that even Moses, our great leader, experienced. Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, explores this very idea through th...

CreationMosesDanielPrayer

The Painful Moment Joshua Replaced Moses

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:5

The passage opens with the phrase, "At that time." But what time are we talking about? The Rabbis tell us it's the moment Joshua is appointed as Moses' successor. As (Deuteronomy 3...

Hell/GehennaMosesJoshuaTime

The Profound Meaning Hidden in the Word Saying

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:6

Today, we’re diving into a passage from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, that explores exactly that. We'll be unpacking a single word:...

Adam & EveMosesTorahRepentance

Moses Pleads to See God's Full Greatness

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:7

Our story revolves around a verse from Deuteronomy (3:24): "Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is in the heavens or on ...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

Trial of Moses of Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:8

The Torah is full of these stories, and they often leave us scratching our heads. One such story is that of Moses, perhaps the greatest prophet in Jewish history, who led the Israe...

CreationAngelsJosephMoses

The Lone Jew on a Ship Full of Idolaters

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:16

Jewish tradition has some powerful stories that speak to that very idea. Take this tale, recounted in Devarim Rabbah. It’s a quick one, but it packs a punch. Rabbi Tanhuma shares a...

Holy LandIdolatryPrayerAdam & Eve

The Devastating Consequences of Wicked Deeds

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:20

This is a theme that echoes powerfully through Jewish tradition, and it's something we see vividly in the Devarim Rabbah. This particular passage delves into the profound consequen...

CreationHeavenAngelsPatriarchs

How Israel Sinned With Full Calculation and Intent

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:21

It’s not just about breaking rules, but the intent behind the actions, the chilling calculation of wrongdoing. Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deu...

Adam & EveTorahProphecyHoly Land

Rabbi Meir on Suffering That Does Not Match the Sin

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:28

It all starts with the verse from Deuteronomy, "You shall know this day, and restore to your heart" (Deuteronomy 4:39). Rabbi Meir interprets this in a fascinating way. He suggests...

CreationHeavenMosesSolomon

Jacob's Struggles Foreshadow Israel's Future Exile

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:35

(Deuteronomy 6:4). It's a question that takes us back to a pivotal moment, a deathbed scene filled with both anxiety and profound unity. Devarim Rabbah 2 paints a vivid picture. Ja...

CreationPatriarchsPrayerHoly Land

Why Keeping Commandments Brings the Greatest Reward

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:1

Take this passage from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy. It all starts with a verse: "It will be, because you heed these ordinances, an...

Noah & FloodMosesKing DavidTorah

The Faithful God Who Always Keeps His Ancient Covenant

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:3

It all starts with the verse, “You shall know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God” (Deuteronomy 7:9). Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba uses a parable to unpack this idea. Imagi...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsJoseph

Moses Breaks the Tablets in Righteous Anger

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:14

We all have. But have you ever stopped to consider the consequences, not just for those around you, but for yourself? The Book of Deuteronomy, or Devarim in Hebrew, is full of wisd...

Noah & FloodMosesSolomonTorah

Moses Invokes the Patriarchs to Save Israel From God's Wrath

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:15

That’s what I want to talk about today, by diving into a powerful story from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings and interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. This...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Why God Needed to Give Moses Two Sets of Tablets

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:17

We all know the story of the first set, shattered in anger at the sight of the Golden Calf. But why two in the first place? Devarim Rabbah, a collection of homilies on the Book of ...

CreationHeavenJosephMoses

Why God Commands Peace Before Waging War

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 5:12

The verse in Deuteronomy (20:10) sets the stage: "When you approach a city to wage war against it, you shall call to it for peace." Seems counterintuitive. But in Devarim Rabbah, t...

CreationHeavenAngelsJob

Joshua's Surprising Call for Peace Before Battle

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 5:14

Turns out, there was a surprising amount of "calling for peace" involved. (Deuteronomy 20:10) tells us, "When you approach a city to wage war against it, you shall call to it for p...

TorahWarJoshuaAdam & Eve

Torah Compared to Water, Wine, Honey, and Milk

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 7:3

Water, wine, honey… it's a veritable feast of metaphors! But what's the meaning behind it all? Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the book of Deuteronomy, explor...

CreationSolomonJobTorah

Angelic Hierarchies

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 7:9

Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, tackles this very question. It starts with a verse from Proverbs (2:1): "My son, if you take my sayin...

AngelsNoah & FloodJosephMoses

Behold Your Days Are Approaching to Die Says God to Moses

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 9:1

In (Deuteronomy 31:14), God says to Moses, "Behold, your days are approaching to die; summon Joshua, and stand in the Tent of Meeting and I will command him." This verse, "Behold, ...

CreationAngelsJosephMoses

Moses Pleads With God After All His Miracles

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 9:4

Even Moses, the great lawgiver, felt it. In Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, we find a poignant moment where Moses pleads with God. He...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsMoses

Do the Heavens Have a Mouth, Heart, and Ears

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 10:4

It's not just poetic flourish. According to Devarim Rabbah, there's a profound and multifaceted reason why Moses calls upon them as witnesses, as partners, as something more. Rabbi...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMoses

Moses Wrestles the Angel

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 11:5

Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, gives us a glimpse into that incredible scene, a cosmic struggle between life and death, between Mose...

CreationHell/GehennaAngelsMoses

Why We Bless Before and After Reading Torah

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 11:6

Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the book of Deuteronomy, opens up this very question for us. It begins with the verse, "This is the blessing," and then delves...

CreationMosesKing DavidJob

Three Prophets Named After Their Fathers

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 1:2

It’s a question that comes up right at the beginning of Kohelet Rabbah, the ancient rabbinic commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes. It kicks off by asking about the opening line: ...

CreationHeavenKing DavidSolomon

One Generation Passes and Another Comes to Take Its Place

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 4:1

The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet as it's known in Hebrew, certainly did. “One generation passes, and one generation comes; and the earth abides forever. The sun rises and the s...

SolomonSinAdam & EveDeath

The Eye Is Not Satisfied With Seeing and the Ear Not Filled

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 8:1

The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet, gets it. "All matters are wearying; man cannot utter it, the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing" (Ecclesiastes ...

SolomonHumorDivine justiceKings

Much Wisdom Brings Much Vexation

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 18:1

Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet as it's called in Hebrew, is full of his reflections, and one line in particular always gets me: "For with much wisdom is much vexation; and one who increa...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaCreatures

The Wedding Feast That Ended in Tragedy

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 2:4

Kohelet Rabbah, a fascinating collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes, explores exactly this kind of sudden, heartbreaking reversal. This particular stor...

PrayerDeathJoyAdam & Eve

Legend of Solomon

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 10:1

The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet as it's known in Hebrew, wrestles with these very questions. And Kohelet Rabbah, a rabbinic commentary on Ecclesiastes, dives even deeper. one ...

SolomonJoyHumorAdam & Eve

Solomon Turned to Behold Wisdom and Found Folly Too

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 11:1

It grapples with the very human experience of seeking knowledge, stumbling, and trying to make sense of it all. The verse we're looking at today is (Ecclesiastes 2:12): "I turned t...

CreationSolomonTorahWisdom

The Wisdom of the Patriarchs According to Ecclesiastes

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 14:1

Kohelet Rabbah, a rabbinic commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes, grapples with this very question, using the verse, "The wise man, his eyes are in his head; but the fool walks in...

CreationPatriarchsSolomonWisdom

Hadrian in Solomon's Court

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 20:1

"I turned my heart to despair regarding all the toil that I toiled under the sun," it says (Ecclesiastes 2:20). It's a sentiment that resonates even today. But Kohelet Rabbah, a co...

SolomonRomeAdam & EveHumor

A Time to Cast Stones and a Time to Gather Them

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 5:1

The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet as it's known in Hebrew, wrestles with these very questions. And one particular verse, (Ecclesiastes 3:5), has sparked some fascinating interpr...

SolomonHumorRainWisdom

Nothing Better Than to Rejoice and Do Good

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 12:1

And one particular passage in Kohelet (3:12-13) offers a surprising answer: "I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good during their lifetime. Al...

SolomonTorahJoyAdam & Eve

The Fool Folds His Hands and Two Torah Students Diverge

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 5:1

It’s a universal human experience. And it's something the ancient rabbis wrestled with too, as we see in Kohelet Rabbah, a fascinating commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes. The v...

SolomonTorahAdam & EveDivine justice

Two Are Better Than One - The Power of Partnership

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 9:1

It turns out, that feeling has deep roots in Jewish thought. We find it beautifully expressed in (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12): “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward fo...

CreationHeavenJosephMoses

Guard Your Feet When You Enter God's House

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 17:1

It all starts with a verse from Ecclesiastes (4:17): “Guard your feet when you go to the house of God, and draw near to heed. This is better than fools giving an offering, as they ...

CreationKing DavidSolomonEsther

Fear God Instead of Chasing Vain Dreams and Empty Words

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 6:1

It all starts with the verse from (Ecclesiastes 5:6): "So it is with a multitude of dreams and vanities and many words; rather, fear God.” The verse seems to be saying that too muc...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMatriarchs