Parshat Lech Lecha

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God calls Abraham to leave his homeland for Canaan. Covers Abraham and Sarah in Egypt, the separation from Lot, the war of the kings, and the covenant between the pieces. Genesis 12:1-17:27.

Moses and the Establishment of Cities of Refuge

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 2:29

Today, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, that explores just that, through the lens o...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsMoses

A Parable of God's Love and Israel's Redemption

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:7

Devarim Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, offers a powerful parable about just that – the relationship between God and Israel. It's a story of...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsTorah

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

The Poisonous Snake and the Power of Slander

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 6:11

In Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, we find a powerful exploration of this very feeling, wrapped in a story about snakes and the proph...

CreationAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

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

What Happens When You Make a Mistake in Prayer

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 11:1

Maybe you stumble over your words during a presentation, or completely blank on someone's name. Imagine the pressure, then, of leading a congregation in prayer and making a mistake...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsMoses

The Heart's Many Roles According to the Sages

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 16:1

We often talk about the heart as the seat of our emotions, but what does that really mean? The ancient rabbis certainly pondered this. In Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic i...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

Adam and Creation of There

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 1:1

The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet in Hebrew, grapples with this very idea, and the rabbinic commentary on it, Kohelet Rabbah, digs even deeper. It all starts with that famous li...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Elijah — Adam and Eve in Eden

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 14:1

The sun rises, the seasons turn... it all seems so fixed, so unchangeable. But is it, really? Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the book of Ecclesiastes, ...

CreationAdam & EveNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Better Not to Vow Than to Vow and Not Pay

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 4:1

It’s a topic explored further in the rabbinic commentary on Ecclesiastes, Kohelet Rabbah, and it's a fascinating, and frankly, a little scary. The verse in question is (Ecclesiaste...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsMatriarchs

Acts of Kindness at the Beginning Middle and End of Torah

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 2:2

And it's not just some nice little add-on. It's woven into the very fabric of our faith. Rabbi Berekhya, in Kohelet Rabbah, makes a powerful point: acts of kindness appear at the b...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsJoseph

Elisha — Rabbi Meir at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 8:1

The verse in question is (Ecclesiastes 7:8): "The end of a matter is better than its beginning; one of patient spirit is better than one of proud spirit." The rabbis, as they often...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaPatriarchs

Wisdom Bolstered Noah More Than Ten Rulers

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 19:2

Kohelet Rabbah, a fascinating collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes, wrestles with this very question. Specifically, it digs into the verse: "Wisdom wi...

CreationAdam & EveNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Wisdom Strengthens More Than Ten Rulers in a City

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 19:4

Kohelet Rabbah, the commentary on Ecclesiastes, digs into this very question, offering some fascinating, and at times surprising, answers. The verse from Ecclesiastes, "Wisdom will...

Adam & EvePatriarchsMosesKing David

Does God Follow His Own Rules

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 4:1

to one fascinating interpretation from Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes. The verse at the heart of it all is (Ecclesiastes 8:4):...

CreationPatriarchsKing DavidSolomon

Levi — Jacob at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 18:1

Our sages grappled with it too, and one place where they explore this idea is in Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes. The verse in ...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

Where Is God When the World Is Suffering

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 2:2

But where is God, exactly? Is He up in the heavens, completely removed from our earthly struggles? Or is He still somehow… here? The book of Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic...

CreationHeavenAdam & EvePatriarchs

Who Am I That I Should Go to Pharaoh

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 3:4

That's the situation Moses found himself in. In (Exodus 3:11), Moses cries out to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should take the children of Israel out of ...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

What It Means That God Hardened Pharaoh's Heart

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 5:7

The answer, they suggest, might lie in the seemingly simple phrase, "I will harden his heart." But what does it mean to harden someone's heart? According to Shemot Rabbah, a collec...

PatriarchsJosephMosesMiracles

Moses and Creation of Pharaoh

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 5:22

It’s a moment of raw honesty from Moses himself. The story begins after Moses relays God's message to Pharaoh – the one demanding freedom for the Israelites. Instead of freedom, Ph...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsMoses

Aaron's Vision

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 12:4

The Book of Exodus tells us, "Moses extended his staff toward the heavens and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down to the ground, and the Lord rained hail upon the lan...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsMatriarchs

How God Counted the Days Until Israel's Redemption

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:6

It's not just dry recitation – it's a story of resilience, faith, and the enduring bond between God and the Jewish people. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah 15, a collect...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsJoseph

Aaron — Moses at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:14

Our starting point is the verse "This month shall be for you" (Exodus 12:2). But Shemot Rabbah, in its characteristic way, finds a connection to (Micah 6:4): "I sent Moses, Aaron, ...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

Three Things That Can Never Be Used to Heal

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 16:2

The verse "Draw, and take for yourselves lambs" (Exodus 12:21) might seem straightforward, but the Rabbis saw layers of meaning. They connect it to the verse "With stillness and pl...

CreationHeavenAngelsAdam & Eve

God Acted Alone on the Night of the Exodus

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 18:8

Today's story comes from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It's a powerful reflection on God's role in the Exodus, and really, in all o...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsJoseph

Akilas at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 19:4

And it's a feeling that Judaism, in its wisdom, addresses head-on. We find a fascinating exploration of this theme in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the...

CreationAngelsNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Consecrate Every Firstborn to Me Says God

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 19:7

It goes way beyond just family lineage. In fact, according to Shemot Rabbah, it points to something truly messianic. The verse in (Exodus 13:2) commands us to "Consecrate to Me eve...

PatriarchsJosephMosesKing David

Did Pharaoh Simply Cave or Was There More

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:3

We often think of Moses, armed with divine authority, as the driving force behind the Israelites' liberation. But what about Pharaoh? Did he simply cave to the plagues, or was ther...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Ephraim at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:11

The book of Exodus tells us, “God did not lead them via the land [derekh eretz]” (Exodus 13:17). But what exactly does that mean? Well, Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbi...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsJoseph

Moses Raises His Staff and Splits the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:6

It sounds like something out of a movie, but the Rabbis grappled with this moment, and what it truly meant. The book of Exodus (14:16) tells us, "And you, raise your staff, and ext...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

One Perfect Shabbat Could Bring the Messiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:12

Rabbi Levi makes a staggering claim in Shemot Rabbah: a single, perfectly observed Shabbat (the Sabbath) could bring about the Messiah. He says, “If Israel observes Shabbat properl...

HeavenPatriarchsMosesKing David

Yitro and the Fires of Gehenna of Amalek

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 27:6

He appears in the narrative, offers Moses some crucial advice, and then… well, what do we really know about him? The Book of Exodus tells us, “Yitro heard…” (Exodus 18:1). But hear...

Hell/GehennaPatriarchsMosesKing David

Moses Ascended to Heaven and Took the Torah Captive

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 28:1

We all know the story, but the Rabbis of the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), those ancient interpreters of scripture, delve into the details, revealing layers of meanin...

HeavenAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

God's Ordinances Given to Israel and No Other Nation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:9

It's a pretty radical concept, really. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash on the Book of Exodus, dives right into this. It starts with the verse "These are the ordinanc...

CreationHell/GehennaAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Why the Torah Was Given Only to the People of Israel

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:12

It’s a question that's been asked for centuries. And Shemot Rabbah, a treasure trove of rabbinic commentary on the Book of Exodus, gives us a glimpse into a fascinating answer. The...

CreationPatriarchsKing DavidTorah

Jeremiah — Messiah at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:10

That feeling, that fear, is something the Jewish people have grappled with throughout our history. And it's right there in Shemot Rabbah 31, a midrash on the book of Exodus. The pa...

CreationPatriarchsMosesTemple

Esau Among the Fathers

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:11

And Jewish tradition, as always, has some fascinating perspectives. The Book of Exodus, Shemot in Hebrew, is rich with laws and ethical guidelines. And within Shemot Rabbah, a clas...

PatriarchsSolomonProphecyHoly Land

Cain and the Greed That Rushes After Wealth

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:17

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Exodus, dives deep into this idea, using the verse "If you lend money to My people" (Exodus 22:24) as a springboard ...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveNoah & Flood

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

Behind the Scenes of Building the Tabernacle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 33:8

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, gives us a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes preparations for this monumental task. It a...

CreationPatriarchsMosesTemple

Edom Among the Fathers

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 35:5

It wasn't just about aesthetics or availability. According to Shemot Rabbah, it was a symbolic statement about history, power, and ultimately, redemption. We read in (Exodus 25:3),...

PatriarchsJosephMosesKing David

God's Humility in Partnering With Mere Mortals

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 41:4

We often think of God as all-powerful, distant, maybe even a little intimidating. But what if I told you that Jewish tradition also emphasizes God's incredible humility? Shemot Rab...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

How Far Should an Advocate Go to Save His People

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 44:10

The ancient rabbis grappled with this question, particularly when considering moments where Moses, arguably the greatest prophet, interceded on behalf of the Israelites. In Shemot ...

CreationPatriarchsMosesProphecy

We Are the Clay and You Are the Potter Says Isaiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 46:4

Shemot Rabbah (a classical collection of Rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus) explores this very human dynamic, and it hits surprisingly close to home. The text opens wi...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

The Human Struggle Echoed in Building the Mishkan

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 52:2

That feeling, that struggle, is something deeply human, and surprisingly, it echoes in the story of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretat...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMoses

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

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

Moses Asks God Who Will Lead After He Dies

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 7:2

Moses knew that feeling all too well. As he approached the end of his time, he had one burning question for God: "Who will lead Your people after I'm gone?" This question forms the...

HeavenPatriarchsMosesKing David