Parshat Lech Lecha

12,014 related texts · Page 227 of 251

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.

God's Word as a Lamp to David's Feet

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 27:2

It’s a universal feeling, and even King David, the shepherd-turned-king, knew it well. That’s why he declared, "A lamp to my feet is Your word, a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105)....

CreationHeavenKing DavidJob

Levi and the Dreamer

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 27:3

to one particularly powerful passage, a meditation on (Psalm 27:1), "The Lord is my light and my help; whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom should I drea...

JosephMosesKing DavidTorah

Elijah Finds Refuge at the Gates of the Temple

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 27:6

There’s this beautiful passage in Midrash Tehillim (Commentary on Psalms), specifically on Psalm 27, that offers a powerful image of refuge. It says, "For He will hide me in His ta...

ElijahTempleProphecyRepentance

David's Fear of Being Swallowed by Silence

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 28:1

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, offers a powerful insight into this very idea. Rabbi Chiyah bar Abba, a sage of the Talmudic era,...

King DavidSoulPrayerHoly Land

Who Are the Sons of the Mighty in Psalm 29

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 29:1

Specifically, we're diving into Psalm 29 today. The psalm begins, "Give to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, give to the Lord glory and strength." But who are these "sons of the migh...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

The Secrets Hidden Within the Words of Torah

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 31:5

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, grapples with this very feeling. Specifically, Midrash Tehillim 31 dives into (Psalm 31:22), "Bles...

TorahHoly LandFaithHumor

Why the Righteous Will Sing a New Song to God

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 33:1

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of Rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Psalms, dives deep into this idea, exploring how the voices of the righteous resonate with the Divine. "The r...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsMoses

David's Psalm Against Envying the Wicked

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 37:1

We've all been there. But what if that fleeting moment of envy could actually hold a deeper lesson? to a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachin...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodPatriarchs

David's Struggle to Guard His Own Tongue

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 39:3

Our tradition grapples with this very human challenge. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives deep into the power – and the danger – of our ...

King DavidSolomonTorahMessiah

Hannah in the Days of Moses

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 42:2

It’s like your body is telling you it has all the nourishment it needs, just from the sheer act of weeping. Well, Jewish tradition actually speaks to this very experience. Midrash ...

MosesSoulHoly LandEgypt

Israel Cries Out to God on the Eve of Passover

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 42:4

The ancient rabbis certainly did. In fact, they put those feelings right into the mouth of the people of Israel, in a powerful passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbin...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

What the World to Come Looks Like for the Faithful

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 45:3

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, explores this idea through a fascinating lens. It all starts with the verse from Hosea (14:6): "I will be l...

HeavenKing DavidMessiahSoul

Korah's Song

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 48:1

The sons of Korah, whose story we find woven throughout the Book of Psalms, certainly pondered this. In Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Psalms, we...

TempleProphecyHoly Land

Rabbi Helbo in Zion

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 48:7

Jewish tradition understands that feeling, deeply. And sometimes, the most unexpected texts can offer a glimmer of hope. Take this cryptic passage from Midrash Tehillim 48, a colle...

Holy LandWarAdam & EvePsalms

Psalm 51 and the Deadly Power of Speech

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 51:1

Midrash Tehillim 51, a commentary on Psalm 51, dives headfirst into this very idea, using the story of King David and the prophet Nathan to illustrate just how potent our speech ca...

CreationKing DavidSolomonTorah

The Joy David Found Hidden Inside Deep Remorse

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 51:3

It sounds strange, I know. But stick with me, because the ancient rabbis saw a profound truth in even the deepest remorse. We find this idea beautifully illustrated in Midrash Tehi...

King DavidProphecyRepentanceHoly Land

The Tongue Can Kill Even From a Distance

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 52:2

We often underestimate it, but Jewish tradition teaches us that the tongue is a force to be reckoned with. (Proverbs 18:21) says it plainly: "Death and life are in the power of the...

CreationHell/GehennaMosesSolomon

The Slander of Doeg That Destroyed a City of Priests

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 52:4

The story we're about to explore from Midrash Tehillim, specifically Midrash Tehillim 52, plunges us right into such a scenario, revolving around King Saul, David, and the priest A...

Hell/GehennaKing DavidSolomonSoul

Why Kindness All Day Long Defeats the Wicked

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 52:5

Midrash Tehillim, that beautiful collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers a surprising answer: kindness, all day long. It sounds simple, almost too simple, doesn...

King DavidSolomonTorahRepentance

Ezra at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 57:2

It might sound audacious, but our tradition actually suggests there are times when the "lower court" – that's us, down here – and the Holy One, blessed be He, are in a bit of a… di...

CreationHeavenAngelsNoah & Flood

When David's Heart Grew Faint Far from Home

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 61:3

The book of Psalms touches on this very feeling. (Psalm 61:3), "…when my heart becomes faint…," it's not just a pretty verse, it's a doorway into understanding the depths of prayer...

King DavidProphecyPrayerHoly Land

David Before the Flood

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 62:6

Midrash Tehillim 62, a beautiful exploration from the world of midrash (Jewish biblical interpretation), gives us some fascinating – and maybe even comforting – food for thought. T...

Noah & FloodKing DavidSolomonTorah

Edom in Paradise

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 63:3

King David certainly did. And his words, captured in Psalm 63, resonate across the ages, a testament to a soul seeking connection with the Divine. “My God, I seek You early,” David...

Adam & EveKing DavidSolomonTorah

Living by Torah of Isaiah

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 65:1

We often think of praise as loud, exuberant, filled with song and dance. But what about the silence? What kind of praise is that? (Psalm 65:1-2) gives us a clue: “For the conductor...

King DavidTorahTempleProphecy

The Ache of Being Unseen by God and the World

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 70:1

That feeling, that ache of being unseen… it’s a very human experience, and it resonates deeply within Jewish tradition. Our journey today takes us into Midrash Tehillim, specifical...

Noah & FloodKing DavidJobMessiah

David Pleads with God Not to Cast Him Off in Old Age

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 71:1

King David knew that feeling. In Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, we find David pleading with God. He cries out, acknowledging God's attenti...

AngelsKing DavidDanielMessiah

What Moses and Daniel Saw of the World to Come

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 73:3

We get glimpses, whispers really, throughout our sacred texts. And some of those glimpses are...well, let's just say they're unexpected. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpret...

MosesDanielProphecySoul

Edom Among the Heavenly Host

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 78:3

We know the story from Genesis, but the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), those incredible collections of rabbinic interpretations and expansions on the Hebrew Bible, off...

AngelsPatriarchsTempleProphecy

Jethro and the Lawgiver

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 78:12

Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), that beautiful, winding path through Jewish text and tradition, often uses metaphors to help us understand our place in the grand scheme...

MosesProphecyHoly LandEgypt

From Shepherd to King and the Divine Plan for David

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 78:18

But the story of David, the shepherd who became the king of Israel, is far more complex and inspiring than any simple rags-to-riches story. The Book of Psalms, traditionally attrib...

King DavidTempleProphecyWisdom

Why God Called Joseph the Shepherd of Israel

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 80:1

Psalm 80, a poignant plea for divine intervention, opens with a striking image: "Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, You Who leads Joseph like a flock." It's a cry for guidance, for protec...

JosephKing DavidSolomonProphecy

Two Messiahs Emerge from Joseph and David

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 80:2

That tension, that push-and-pull, it's something our ancestors wrestled with too. And wouldn't you know it, the ancient wisdom of the Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretati...

CreationAngelsJosephKing David

Jacob's Transgression of Benjamin

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 80:3

And trust me, the list is pretty surprising. The passage we're looking at today focuses on Psalm 80, specifically the verse "Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh." Now, these are...

PatriarchsTribesJealousyHeresy

The Pig From the Forest and What It Really Means

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 80:6

Sometimes, a seemingly simple phrase can unlock a whole world of interpretation. Take, for instance, the verse from (Psalm 80:14), "A pig from the forest ravages it." (Tehillim 80:...

CreationCreaturesMosesDaniel

Moses and Creation and the Wilderness

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 81:3

The blast of the shofar, that ancient ram's horn, isn't just some ritualistic noise. It’s a call to action, a reminder, and, if we listen closely, a whisper from the Divine. Midras...

CreationMosesKing DavidTorah

When Israel Cried Out and God Seemed Silent

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 83:1

We find this struggle echoed in Jewish tradition, this tension between our cries and the perceived silence of God. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of ...

MosesSolomonTorahProphecy

Divine Secrets Heaped Up for Israel in Psalm 83

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 83:3

Jewish tradition certainly does. It speaks of hidden wisdom, divine secrets revealed to those who seek them. But with revelation comes responsibility, and with secrets, sometimes, ...

King DavidTorahTempleMessiah

Ahithophel's Legacy

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 86:8

David, our King, isn't shy about expressing that vulnerability. "Turn to me and be gracious to me," he cries out. It's a raw, human plea. He's not just asking for a blessing; he's ...

MatriarchsKing DavidTempleProphecy

The Binding of Isaac Still Echoes in Messianic Hope

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 87:2

And guess what? It's not always what you'd expect. The Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers a particularly intriguing take. It suggests t...

MosesElijahMessiahProphecy

Hezekiah's Jerusalem and the Dream of Rebuilding

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 87:4

The ancient sages certainly did. a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, specifically Psalm 87, and see where i...

King DavidSolomonTorahTemple

Messiah's Song

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 87:5

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers a fascinating glimpse into this future. It paints a picture of nations from around the glob...

CreationSolomonJobTemple

Israel Cries Out 'My Salvation Is Only in You'

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 88:2

The ancient rabbis grappled with this feeling, this sense of utter desolation. And they found a powerful voice for it in the words of the Psalms. Specifically, in Midrash Tehillim,...

Hell/GehennaProphecyHoly LandDeath

An Angel Takes Charge of Israel's Prayers

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 88:4

Take Psalm 88, for instance. "And to You, O Lord, is my cry for help." Simple words. But the Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, unpac...

AngelsPrayerHoly Land

Jeremiah Warns Against Boasting in Human Wisdom

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 89:1

The prophet Jeremiah, in the name of God, tells us no. "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom...but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am t...

CreationKing DavidTorahTemple

Jeremiah's Prayer

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 90:1

Midrash Tehillim 90 dives deep into this very question, contrasting empty rituals with the power of sincere prayer, particularly through the examples of Moses, David, Jeremiah, and...

CreationNoah & FloodJosephMoses

Moshe's Song

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 90:3

Midrash Tehillim (a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms) poses a seemingly simple question about the opening of Psalm 90, traditionally ascribed to Moses: ...

MosesTorahPrayerMiracles

Why Moses Is Called the Man of God in the Psalms

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 90:5

It seems like a simple title, but Midrash Tehillim 90, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, dives deep into what that name really means. It's not just ab...

AngelsNoah & FloodJosephMoses

Rebuilding and Restoration of Abba

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 90:8

It’s a feeling that resonates deeply, and it’s something the ancient rabbis grappled with too, especially when contemplating the fate of Israel. Midrash Tehillim, a fascinating col...

TorahMessiahHoly LandExile