484 related texts · Page 9 of 11
It describes the offerings brought by the leaders of Israel: "And the chiefs of Israel presented (their offerings)." Now, who were these chiefs? Were they just some random people a...
In the book of Bamidbar (Numbers), we find ourselves wrestling with just that: Who gets a share of the Promised Land? The verse in Bamidbar 26:53 states: "To these shall the land b...
The passage opens with the verse from Devarim (Deuteronomy) 3:23: "And I supplicated (va'ethchanan) the L-rd." Va'ethchanan, the text tells us, is a term loaded with entreaty, a he...
It seems like a simple question, but in the world of Jewish law and tradition, even something as seemingly straightforward as who speaks to Moses first becomes a subject of deep co...
The very next verse tells us "And there were handed over… twelve thousand armed for the host, etc." So, twelve tribes, a thousand soldiers each. Simple math. But why, asks Rabbi Ak...
It's not just about laws; it’s about understanding the world through a Jewish lens. In this particular passage, we're diving into the nuances of taste and geography. The text begin...
That feeling of déjà vu, that unsettling sense that we've been here before… it's a powerful one, and it echoes through Jewish history, particularly when we talk about exile. Sifrei...
And the answer, according to Jewish tradition, is wonderfully layered. Deuteronomy (Devarim) 12:5 tells us, "But to the place that the L-rd your G-d will choose of all your tribes…...
We find a fascinating puzzle in the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy) regarding the location of the Temple. One verse (Deuteronomy 12:14) seems to say the Temple should be built "in th...
The book of Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the book of Deuteronomy, presents us with a bit of a puzzle. We're talking about the place where the Temple in ...
We find this idea woven throughout Jewish tradition, particularly when we explore the concept of being a chosen people. But what does it really mean to be chosen? The book of Sifre...
It all starts with a verse in Devarim (Deuteronomy 18:1): "There shall not be to the Cohanim, the Levi'im, the entire tribe of Levi, a portion and an inheritance with Israel." Okay...
Jewish tradition places immense value on that, and it's reflected in some fascinating laws about boundaries. Not just physical boundaries, but also intellectual and even spiritual ...
Specifically, we're looking at Sifrei Devarim 196. It deals with exemptions from military service – a topic that’s always relevant, isn't it? The passage starts with a seemingly si...
This verse in Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, hits you right in the gut. It talks about divine vengeance, and not just a single ac...
Turns out, the Torah might have some surprising advice for us, hidden in the very last words Moses ever spoke to the Israelites. It’s in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:2, part of Moses' ...
Remember him? Reuven, the eldest son of Jacob, who, well, didn't exactly cover himself in glory. We're talking about the incident with Bilhah (Genesis 35:22). It's a complicated st...
Today, we’re focusing on a curious absence: Why does Levi get a blessing ("And of Levi he said"), but not Shimon? The Sifrei Devarim, an early halakhic midrash on the Book of Deute...
Today, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Sifrei Devarim 352, which explores this concept through the story of the tribe of Benjamin and a mysterious plot of land in Jeri...
Sometimes, the most profound truths are whispered in the echoes between our words and the response of the Holy Spirit. One intriguing idea comes from (Deuteronomy 33:25): "Iron and...
..[With regard to] this did [Jeremiah] say to have it written, 'Surely the shepherd boys will drag away [the evil ones, Edom or Babylonia in defeat].' (Jeremiah 49:20, 50:45) Rabbi...
Kamsa&Fall of Jerusalem. Git tin, f. 55b, 56b, 57. Sanhedrin (the supreme rabbinic court), f. 104. Pirke de R. Eliezer, ch. 49. Tanh. Numb. Hukkat § 1. and B. ibid. p. 99. Midr. Ha...
The Prophet Elijah, who never died but was taken up to Heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11), was known to appear to the righteous in moments of great need. One such visit was...
The story goes that after his less-than-amicable departure from his father-in-law Laban, Jacob found himself at the River Yabbok (Yabbok, a river in the Transjordan, now part of Jo...
Let’s take a journey into Bamidbar Rabbah, a treasure trove of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Numbers. We’re looking specifically at the second section, which dives into t...
It seems like such a simple detail, but the Torah dedicates a lot of space to describing the precise arrangement of the tribes around the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. And the Rabbis, n...
In the Book of Numbers, Bamidbar, we read about how the Kehatites, a family within the tribe of Levi, had the unique and profoundly important task of carrying the Ark of the Covena...
The ancient rabbis grappled with these questions constantly, searching for meaning in misfortune. One particularly fascinating exploration revolves around the affliction of leprosy...
to a fascinating, and frankly, a little disturbing, passage from Bamidbar Rabbah (Numbers Rabbah) 9 that explores exactly that. We're going to unpack the strange case of the sotah,...
Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Numbers, dives deep into the prophet Amos's rebuke of those who are "tranquil in Zion" (Amos 6:1). Who are these ...
And it seems even the leaders of ancient Israel weren't immune. We find a fascinating story in Bamidbar Rabbah 12, a section of the great collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpreti...
We find one such moment in Bamidbar Rabbah 12, nestled within the Book of Numbers. It's a story about offerings, divine reassurance, and the enduring nature of service. The passage...
The Torah portion Naso, particularly in Bamidbar Rabbah 13, delves into this very concept, using the offerings of the princes as a springboard. It's a fascinating exploration of Is...
Sometimes, those little things hold the key to unlocking profound insights. to one such instance from Bamidbar Rabbah (Numbers Rabbah), specifically chapter 13, and see what we can...
And it all starts with Issachar. The text dives right in: "One silver dish" (Numbers 7:19), marking the offering of the prince of Issachar. But it's not just about the silverware. ...
The text opens with a seemingly simple observation about the dedication offerings brought by the princes of the tribes. "On the third day, prince of the children of Zebulun, Eliav ...
Specifically, we're looking at the offerings of Elyasaf son of Deuel, the prince of the tribe of Gad. "On the sixth day, prince of the children of Gad, Elyasaf son of Deuel" (Numbe...
It's like peeling back the layers of an onion – the deeper you go, the more you discover. Today, we're diving into Bamidbar Rabbah 14, a section of the Bamidbar Rabbah, which itsel...
It’s a question that our Sages grappled with, and Bamidbar Rabbah 14 dives deep into the reasons behind this seemingly small detail. The verse we’re focusing on is from (Numbers 7:...
Sometimes it feels like wading through ancient accounting ledgers. But hidden within those seemingly dry details are profound connections – whispers of cosmic harmony and echoes of...
Our ancestors felt that way, too. The ancient rabbis understood this, and that's why we find so much human drama, even in the most sacred texts. Take this story from Bamidbar Rabba...
The Book of Bamidbar Rabbah (Numbers Rabbah), in its 15th section, delves into just that, using the seemingly simple instruction of crafting silver trumpets as a springboard. "Craf...
to a story from Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Numbers, that explores just this. The story goes that God tells Moses to gather seventy men to he...
The text opens with God's command to Moses: "Take the vengeance of the children of Israel against the Midianites; then you will be gathered to your people" (Numbers 31:2). It seems...
to one such verse, found in (Numbers 31:4), which speaks of sending soldiers to battle against Midian: "One thousand from each and every tribe [elef lamateh elef lamateh], from all...
It’s a deeply human dilemma, and it appears even in the stories of our greatest leaders. to a fascinating passage from Bamidbar Rabbah, specifically section 22, to uncover just suc...
The verse in (Joshua 1:5) declares, "As I was with Moses, I will be with you." This promise seems to imply that Joshua would enjoy a life parallel to that of Moses, who lived to be...
It’s a question that's captivated Jewish mystics and scholars for centuries. And, like many profound questions in Jewish tradition, the answer isn't simple, but layered with meanin...
