3,050 related texts · Page 27 of 64
But it's also so much more. It’s a roadmap, a history book, a mystical text. And it's all wrapped up together, often needing a little… unpacking. That's where commentaries like Ber...
The scene is intense. Joseph, after years of separation and playing a cat-and-mouse game with his brothers, is about to reveal his true identity. But let’s back up a little. Rememb...
We're going to explore a verse about the tribe of Zebulun and how it unexpectedly leads us to... the prophet Jonah. The verse in question is (Genesis 49:13): "Zebulun will dwell at...
The Torah gives us stories of such people again and again, and one of the most striking is Samson. Our text from Bereshit Rabbah (98) delves into the strength – and the thirst! – o...
Specifically, we're looking at section 99, which explores a verse from Amos: "For the Lord God will not do anything, [unless He has revealed His secret to His servants the prophets...
It’s a deep-rooted tradition, one filled with both sorrow and, surprisingly, a glimmer of hope. But what’s the connection between grief and joy? Bereshit Rabbah, a classic collecti...
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...
The verse we're looking at is from (Deuteronomy 1:11): "May the Lord, God of your fathers, add to you one thousand times as you are, and He will bless you, as He spoke to you." Sou...
The Book of Proverbs nails it: "Expectation deferred sickens the heart" (Proverbs 13:12). But what does that really mean, especially when we're talking about something bigger than ...
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...
In Devarim Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, we find a fascinating connection between looking after the Levites – members of the tribe of Levi...
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai points out that there were actually three commandments the Israelites received upon entering the land: to wipe out the memory of Amalek, to appoint a ki...
And sometimes, in the most unexpected places, it even offers us ways to protect ourselves. Take, for example, the seemingly simple mitzvah (commandment) of sending away the mother ...
The Jewish tradition certainly does. In fact, it links our speech directly to our relationship with the Divine. Devarim Rabbah, a collection of homilies on the Book of Deuteronomy,...
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...
Kohelet Rabbah, a commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes, dives deep into the question: "Of laughter, I said it is confounded" (Ecclesiastes 2:2). How confounding is laughter, real...
Kohelet, the book of Ecclesiastes, gives us a glimpse. In chapter 2, verse 7, it says, "I purchased myself slaves and maidservants and I had stewards. I also had great possession o...
The Book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet as it’s known in Hebrew, tackles this head-on. There's this passage that really hits home: "I hated all my toil that I toiled under the sun, as...
Specifically, (Ecclesiastes 2:21) states: "For there is a man whose toil is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skill; yet to a man who has not toiled in it, he will leave it...
Like there's a little angel on one shoulder and... well, something else on the other? Jewish tradition recognizes this internal struggle, personifying it in a fascinating way. to a...
Like that perfect cup of coffee, or maybe... mitzvot (commandments)? That’s the question bubbling up from Kohelet Rabbah, a fascinating exploration of the book of Ecclesiastes. In ...
The story begins with a loss. When Rabbi Bon ben Rabbi Ḥiyya passed away, Rabbi Zeira rose to eulogize him, choosing the verse: “Sweet is the sleep of the laborer.” (Ecclesiastes 5...
The Book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet as it's known in Hebrew, certainly grapples with this very human feeling. And within Kohelet Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on Ecclesiastes, w...
The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet, certainly does. And the rabbis, in their insightful commentary Kohelet Rabbah, really dig into this sense of transience. Take this verse from ...
Specifically, the verse in Chapter 7, verse 20: "For there is not a righteous man upon the earth, who does good, and does not sin." Is it saying that everyone messes up, regardless...
The Book of Kings tells us that Solomon "spoke three thousand proverbs" (I (Kings 5:1)2). But wait a minute... when we actually read through the Bible, how many proverbs do we find...
Kohelet, Ecclesiastes, dives right into that tension. And Kohelet Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on Ecclesiastes, unpacks it for us with layers of meaning. Let's look at one short...
Today's story from Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes, speaks directly to that feeling, urging us to pause and consider our approa...
Jewish tradition grapples with this very human experience, and it does so in a fascinating way, using the story of Noah. We find this exploration in Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of...
Take this one, from Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes. It's a powerful allegory, and one we can all relate to. The story begins: ...
It seems Kohelet Rabbah, the collection of rabbinic commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes, thought so too. It uses that very image – "Dead flies spoil and froth a perfumer's oil" ...
It's like they're walking around with a spotlight shining on everyone else but themselves. Well, Kohelet Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on Ecclesiastes, has some thoughts on that,...
We find one such sentence in (Ecclesiastes 10:13): "The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his mouth is evil debauchery." Ouch. But who is this vers...
Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes, delves into this very human experience, urging us to be mindful of our thoughts and words, esp...
It wasn't just about accumulating knowledge, but about understanding the very essence of reward, redemption, and the mysteries of the universe. The verse from Ecclesiastes (12:9-10...
The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet as it’s known in Hebrew, grapples with this in its final chapter. Chapter 12, verse 12, reads: "More than that, my son, be careful: Making many...
In fact, they wrestled with it in their interpretations of the book of Exodus, specifically (Exodus 2:25): "God saw the children of Israel, and God knew." What did God see? What di...
In the book of Exodus, specifically (Exodus 3:19), God tells Moses, "And I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, except by a mighty hand.” It's a pretty direct warning. ...
It's all there in the book of Exodus, chapter 7, verse 9: "When Pharaoh will speak to you, saying: Provide a wonder for you; then you shall say to Aaron: Take your staff, and cast ...
It's not just a random trick. It's a direct confrontation, a symbolic smackdown, if you will. : Pharaoh saw himself as a god, the supreme ruler of Egypt, unshakeable and all-powerf...
It’s found within Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. Imagine a king, overflowing with riches. Not just money, but gold, silver, precious...
Our story comes from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It paints a breathtaking picture of divine intervention and the unwavering faith...
He says that God declares "I am the Lord your God" precisely because He took us out of Egypt. It's the foundation. He freed us so that we would, in turn, accept His divinity upon o...
One minute someone is a hero, the next... well, not so much. It's human nature. But what about those in positions of authority, like judges? Do our shifting opinions of them have c...
It's not just about power, but about the very fabric of society and our relationship with the Divine. The book of Exodus, specifically 22:27, lays down a firm rule: "You shall not ...
We find a powerful idea tucked within Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It centers around the verse: "And you, draw Aaron your brother ...
Specifically, in Shemot Rabbah 48, we find a fascinating exploration of the power of a good name. The passage begins with Moses announcing Betzalel's appointment to oversee the con...
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...
