Parshat Kedoshim

4,670 related texts · Page 91 of 98

The holiness code: love your neighbor, respect parents, keep Shabbat, honest dealings, and ethical commandments. Leviticus 19:1-20:27.

How the Golden Calf Changed Everything for Israel

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 32:1

Jewish tradition is filled with these "what ifs," these pivot points where history teetered. Take the story of the Golden Calf. According to Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic...

CreationHell/GehennaAngelsAdam & Eve

God Sends an Angel After Israel's Betrayal

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 32:2

In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exploration of this very question. It begins with a verse: "Behold, I am sen...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsJoseph

Take Me as a Gift - Torah as God's Own Presence

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 33:1

It all starts with the verse, "Speak to the children of Israel, and they shall take Me a gift; from every man whose heart pledges, you shall collect My gift" (Exodus 25:2). But ins...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

Moses and Adam of Zimri

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 33:5

Our tradition teaches us that something else holds even greater worth: a good name. And it's not just about reputation, but about the power and blessing inherent in a name earned t...

Adam & EvePatriarchsMosesKing David

Build Me a Sanctuary and I Will Dwell Among You

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 34:2

The answer, according to our Sages, might surprise you. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating discussion about the Ark, ...

CreationNoah & FloodMosesSolomon

Torah as a Flourishing Olive Tree That Lights the Way

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 36:3

The ancient rabbis had something to say about that, and it all comes down to light. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpretati...

Hell/GehennaKing DavidSolomonTorah

Moses and David of From

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 37:4

In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exchange. God tells Moses, "And you, draw near to you." Now, Moses isn't exa...

MosesKing DavidJobTorah

Why a Bull Atones for the Sin of the Golden Calf

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:3

Take the story of atonement after the sin of the Golden Calf. It all starts with an offering. But what kind of offering? The verse in Exodus tells us to "Take one young bull." But ...

AngelsMosesKing DavidJob

The Secret Power Hidden in Prayer and Repentance

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 38:5

The ancient rabbis, plumbing the depths of the Torah, had a different take, and it’s one that resonates even today. We find a fascinating discussion in Shemot Rabbah, a collection ...

CreationAdam & EveMosesSolomon

Avin — Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:2

It's more than just handing something over. It's like tossing a pebble into a pond, the ripples go far beyond what you can see. Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretati...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMoses

Where Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding Come From

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:3

The Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, delves into this very idea. It centers around the verse in (Proverbs 2:6), "For the Lord grants w...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

The Tablets Were Not Given Until the Exact Right Moment

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:5

We often picture him descending triumphantly, tablets in hand. But what if the timing was more delicate than we imagine? Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on ...

MosesTorahHoly Land

Why God Gave the Torah as a Gift After Moses Forgot

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:6

Rabbi Abahu tells us that for all forty days Moses spent up on the mountain, he was studying Torah… and forgetting it just as quickly. Can you imagine the frustration? "Master of t...

CreationPatriarchsMosesJob

Go Down for Your People Have Acted Corruptly

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 42:1

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...

CreationHell/GehennaAngelsAdam & Eve

Moses Invokes the Patriarchs to Save the People

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 43:8

The Israelites, fresh from their miraculous exodus from Egypt, had already broken their covenant with God. And God, understandably, was furious. But Moses, ever the advocate, stepp...

JosephMosesKing DavidJob

Egypt — Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 44:1

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating perspective on this, likening the people of Israel to a vine. Rabbi Tanhuma bar ...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Abraham — The Golden Calf

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 44:9

Today, let’s dive into a powerful story from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, where Moses does just that after the sin of the Golden C...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsMoses

The Constant Dialogue Between Moses and God

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 45:3

The text in Shemot Rabbah (a compilation of rabbinic commentary on the Book of Exodus) gives us a fascinating image. It notes the repeated phrases: "The Lord spoke with Moses," "Th...

MosesTorahDivine NamesHoly Land

Moses's Transgression of Sinai

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 47:1

The answer, according to the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), is a fascinating blend of divine foresight and, well, a little bit of divine concern! Our story begins, as ...

Noah & FloodMosesTorahProphecy

The World Hangs in the Balance of Our Torah Study

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 47:4

The ancient rabbis certainly did. They saw the world – our world, and all the worlds beyond – as hanging in the balance, dependent on something surprisingly simple: our commitment ...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodSolomon

How Moses Survived Forty Days Without Food or Water

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 47:5

The Torah tells us, "He was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread, and he did not drink water. He wrote upon the tablets the words of the covenant, ...

CreationHeavenAngelsNoah & Flood

Give Wisdom to the Wise and They Grow Wiser

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 50:2

The ancient rabbis certainly thought so. We find this idea beautifully illustrated in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It uses a verse...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodMoses

Kingdom of King Yoash

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 51:2

The Book of 2 Kings (12:16) tells us, “They did not require a reckoning from the men [by whose hand] they gave the silver [to give to the workmen, as they acted with trustworthines...

Noah & FloodMosesKing DavidTorah

Moses and the Heavenly Realms of Mishkan

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 51:4

In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating discussion about just that. The passage grapples with the meaning of "the Testi...

HeavenMosesTorahTemple

How Receiving the Torah Made Israel Immortal Briefly

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 51:8

Shemot Rabbah, the collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating glimpse. Specifically, Shemot Rabbah 51 dives into the idea that the Israelite...

HeavenAngelsJosephMoses

The Reward That Awaits the Righteous in the World to Come

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 52:3

Imagine, just for a moment, seeing the reward that awaits the righteous. What would you do? Rejoice? Question your worthiness? Our sages grappled with this very question, and their...

HeavenAngelsMosesKing David

The Tabernacle as a Mirror of Creation Itself

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 52:5

Jewish tradition is full of that – layers upon layers of interpretation, waiting to be uncovered. Today, we're diving into Shemot Rabbah, specifically section 52, which takes a ver...

CreationAdam & EveMosesKing David

Your Sons Will Replace Your Fathers Says the Psalmist

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:6

The text opens with a verse from Psalms (45:17): “Your sons will be in the stead of your fathers.” This seemingly simple statement kicks off a fascinating exploration of legacy and...

HeavenNoah & FloodKing DavidSolomon

The Heart of the Wise Makes the Mouth Prevail

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:7

They begin by referencing (Proverbs 16:23): “The heart of the wise will make his mouth prevail.” The idea is that a wise person’s heart overflows with wisdom. But what proves it? W...

HeavenSolomonTorahSoul

Solomon the Master of Parables and Torah Wisdom

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:8

It's deep, it's rich, but sometimes… it feels inaccessible. That's where stories, analogies, and parables come in. And King Solomon, according to Jewish tradition, was a master of ...

King DavidSolomonTorahMessiah

Elijah and Creation of Alacrity

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:9

You turned the house upside down. You lit every lamp, peered into every corner. Why? Because the reward – finding that lost treasure – was worth the effort. Well, Shir HaShirim Rab...

CreationNoah & FloodKing DavidSolomon

Solomon and the Patriarchs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:11

Today, we're diving into the heart of one of the most beloved, and sometimes debated, books in the Jewish tradition: Song of Songs, or as it's known in Hebrew, Shir HaShirim. We're...

PatriarchsMosesSolomonTorah

God Himself and the Heavenly Realms

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:1

Ever read Song of Songs and wondered, "Where on earth did this passionate love poem even come from?" It's a question that's occupied Jewish thought for centuries, and the Rabbis of...

HeavenAngelsMosesKing David

Let Him Kiss Me With the Kisses of His Mouth

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:3

It goes all the way back to Mount Sinai, according to the ancient Rabbis. Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the commentary on the Song of Songs, dives into a fascinating interpretation of the ...

MosesKing DavidTorahHoly Land

Moses and the Torah of Yehuda

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:4

It’s a deeply human experience, and it’s one that our ancestors grappled with too, especially at Sinai. The ancient collection of rabbinic teachings known as Shir HaShirim Rabbah, ...

MosesTorahProphecyHoly Land

Elazar — Adam at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:5

It’s a question that bubbles up from the depths of Jewish tradition, and Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of Rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs, offers some fascinatin...

CreationHeavenAngelsAdam & Eve

Why the Rabbis Debated Cheese and the Song of Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:6

The passage opens with the famous verse, "…for your love is better than wine" (Song of Songs 1:2). But almost immediately, we're whisked away to a completely different topic: chees...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

Torah as a Tapestry Where Every Thread Connects

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:7

It's like a beautiful tapestry, where each thread, each color, contributes to the overall picture. Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the commentary on Song of Songs, delves into this very idea...

MosesSolomonTorahProphecy

Isaiah — Abraham and the Patriarchs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:8

But in Shir HaShirim Rabbah – that’s the collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs – we find a beautiful exploration of just that. It's all about unpacking the ve...

PatriarchsMosesKing DavidSolomon

Why Abraham's Name Spread Like Poured Oil

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 3:1

a passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a commentary on the Song of Songs, that grapples with just that. It all starts with a verse: "By the fragrance of your good oils, your name is ...

CreationNoah & FloodMosesSolomon

Abraham's Fragrance Released When God Said Go

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 3:3

Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic commentary on the Song of Songs, dives deep into the verse where God tells Abraham, “Go you from your land, fro...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Why Some Nations Face Judgment and Others Do Not

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:3

The ancient rabbis grappled with this very feeling, this sense that some groups seem to get away with things that others don't. And they found surprising answers in the stories of ...

CreationHell/GehennaNoah & FloodTorah

Why the Torah Starts With Creation Not Commandments

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:6

Rabbi Yanai had a similar thought. He pointed out that the Torah truly needed to begin only with the verse "This month shall be for you" (Exodus 12:2), marking the start of the Jew...

CreationCreaturesNoah & FloodMoses

Rabbi Shimon's Legacy

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:8

It's not just a love poem; it's a wellspring of teachings, and today we're diving into Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4 to explore a fascinating story about marriage, devotion, and the power...

MatriarchsTorahProphecySoul

How We Speak About Israel Matters to God

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 6:1

The ancient rabbis certainly thought about this, especially when it came to how we talk about each other – and about the Jewish people as a whole. We find ourselves in Shir HaShiri...

Noah & FloodMosesSolomonElijah

Israel in Exile Asks God Where He Has Gone

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 6:5

It’s a surprisingly ancient feeling. And it's at the heart of a fascinating passage in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs. The pass...

TorahProphecyHoly LandExile

Moses and Joseph of Aaron

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 10:1

It's not just a love poem; it’s a treasure trove of wisdom, and the Rabbis of old found layers of meaning within its verses. Take the verse, “Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments,...

JosephMosesKing DavidSolomon

Sanhedrin and Moses of Shir

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 10:2

Sometimes, the answer can be found in the most unexpected places, like in the ancient commentaries on the Song of Songs, or Shir HaShirim in Hebrew. Specifically, we can look at Sh...

MosesTorahJudgment