Parshat Shoftim

3,050 related texts · Page 61 of 64

Laws of judges and officers, the king, the Levitical priests, true and false prophets, cities of refuge, and warfare. Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9.

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

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

Israel's Children Became the Guarantors for the Torah

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:1

It wasn't just handed to us on a silver platter, so to speak. According to the ancient rabbis, receiving the Torah at Sinai was contingent on something quite surprising: finding su...

CreationPatriarchsMosesKing David

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

The Many Shades of Joy in the Song of Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:7

The ancient rabbis certainly did. They explored every facet of joy, dissecting its many shades and flavors. And in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the commentary on the Song of Songs, they g...

King DavidJobProphecyHoly Land

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

I Am Dark but Lovely Says the Community of Israel

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:1

And Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on the Song of Songs, captures this beautifully in its interpretation of the verse: "I am black but lovely, daughters of Jerusalem...

JosephMosesKing DavidSolomon

What the Daughters of Jerusalem Really Represent

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:3

It's like peeling back an onion, only instead of tears, you find profound insights. Let's take a dive into a fascinating passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic...

Noah & FloodPatriarchsMatriarchsMoses

The Sun Has Tanned Me - Israel's Sins in Song of Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 6:2

The ancient rabbis wrestled with this tension, too, especially when thinking about moments in Jewish history when the people faltered. to a passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a col...

TempleProphecyPrayer

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 Asks God Where He Should Lead the Flock

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 7:1

I can't possibly do that!" Well, Moses felt that way too. to a fascinating interpretation of the Song of Songs that reveals Moses's very human anxieties. The verse we're looking at...

JosephMosesSolomonProphecy

God Likens Israel to His Love at the Red Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 9:6

Today, we’re diving into Shir HaShirim Rabbah 9, a section of the rabbinic commentary on the Song of Songs, and trust me, it’s not always what you’d expect. The verse under discuss...

CreationHeavenJosephMoses

The Mystical Joy and Intensity of Deep Torah Study

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 10:3

That, my friends, is a glimpse into the mystical world of Torah study as described in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a beautiful, poetic exploration of the Song of Songs. We’re diving into ...

MosesEstherTorahProphecy

The Gifts of Gold That Adorned Israel Like a Bride

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 11:1

It's not just a love poem, but a lens through which to view the most precious gifts given to the Jewish people. to one fascinating interpretation from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a colle...

Noah & FloodJosephMosesSolomon

Songs — Mikhael at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 12:1

Today, we’re diving into a fascinating interpretation of a verse from the Song of Songs – Shir HaShirim – that explores just this idea: the contrast between foul odor and sweet fra...

CreationHeavenAngelsNoah & Flood

Songs — Giving of the Torah

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 12:2

"While the king was at his feast..." (Song of Songs 1:12). Rabbi Pinḥas, quoting Rabbi Hoshaya, connects this verse to the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, and His "feas...

CreationHeavenMosesTorah

Ephraim — Him in the Days of Moses

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 17:2

It might sound strange, but even the type of tree can hold a profound lesson. to a passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs,...

MosesTorahProphecyPrayer

Betzalel Before the Flood

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:1

That’s the feeling at the heart of a beautiful passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on the Song of Songs. It starts with the line, "I am a rose of Sharon, a l...

Noah & FloodJosephMosesKing David

Where Was the Song of Songs Originally Sung

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:2

The Rabbis certainly did, and their answers, as found in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, are…well, they're Rabbi Berekhya offers us one possibility: the wilderness itself! Can you imagine? T...

ProphecyDeathExodusMusic & Song

Avun — Esau at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 2:6

But in the ancient wisdom of Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the Song of Songs commentary, we find just that: the humble lily as a powerful metaphor for the enduring spirit of Israel. Rabbi ...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

God Gives Israel the Torah Like Priceless Gems

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 3:3

And what was God's response? According to Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, it was like a king with priceless gems being asked for a treasure by his son. The king doe...

JosephMosesKing DavidSolomon

Death of Hadrian

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:3

That’s how I feel diving into the pages of Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of Rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs. Today, we're looking at a fascinating passage from s...

HeavenNoah & FloodJosephMoses

Messiah — Moses at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 8:2

Jewish tradition understands that feeling, and offers a powerful image to overcome it: God leaping over mountains. We find this image in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the commentary on the...

CreationJosephMosesMessiah

Little Foxes in the Vineyard and the Nations of the World

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 15:1

It turns out, our ancestors were asking these questions too. to a fascinating passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs. The ...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodMoses

The Hidden Terror of Slavery Behind the Red Sea Miracle

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 15:2

We often focus on the parting of the Red Sea, a miraculous escape. But what about the pain, the suffering, the sheer terror of those enslaved in Egypt? The Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a ...

MosesProphecyHoly LandEgypt

Yudan — Esau at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 15:3

In Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs, we find a fascinating discussion about these pesky creatures and what they represent. Rabbi ...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsKing David

Daniel's Transgression

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:2

Today, we're diving into the Book of Daniel and a fascinating interpretation found in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs. We’re foc...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaNoah & Flood

The Secret Incense Recipe of the House of Avtinas

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 6:4

We often focus on the architecture, the rituals, the sheer scale of it all. But sometimes, the most fascinating stories lie in the details, in the dedication of the people behind t...

HeavenHell/GehennaMosesSolomon

Sixty Warriors Around Solomon's Bed and Their Meaning

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 7:1

It's more than just a love story, you see. Jewish tradition often interprets it allegorically, finding layers of meaning beneath the surface. And sometimes, those layers lead us to...

MosesSolomonTempleProphecy

Menashe at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 10:3

The Song of Songs, a beautiful and often enigmatic book, offers some tantalizing clues, and the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), specifically Shir HaShirim Rabbah, ampli...

CreationHeavenSolomonTorah

Solomon's Palanquin and the Hidden Blueprint of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 10:4

The ancient rabbis did, and they found clues in the most unexpected places, even in the love poetry of the Song of Songs! We're diving into Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a rabbinic comment...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodMoses

The Crown Solomon's Mother Placed on His Wedding Day

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 11:1

We start with a verse: “Emerge, daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, at the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, and on the day of the rejoici...

CreationHeavenAngelsAdam & Eve

God Compares Israel to a Beloved Daughter in a Crown

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 11:2

The text we're diving into today comes from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs. It's a fascinating exploration of a verse that ment...

HeavenMosesKing DavidSolomon

The Exiles Destined to Return to the Peak of Amana

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 8:2

Our sages pondered just such a return, a return from exile so profound it would reshape the world. This vision is beautifully captured in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the commentary on th...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Abraham and Creation of Hezekiah

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 8:3

It's a story about perspective, gratitude, and maybe even a missed opportunity to usher in... the Messiah! The passage begins with a verse from Song of Songs, "Look from the peak o...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsJoseph

Israel Called Bride Ten Times in the Song of Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 10:1

The rabbis of old saw something truly profound in this verse. Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Ḥelbo, quoting Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, point out that the word "bride" appears no less than ...

MosesKing DavidSolomonProphecy

Isaac — Esau at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 11:2

The collection of rabbinic homiletic interpretations of Song of Songs, Shir HaShirim Rabbah, dives deep into this very question. Rabbi Berekhya offers a surprising take: how can ho...

CreationHeavenAngelsAdam & Eve

Your Branches Are an Orchard of Pomegranates and Gifts

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 12:2

Today, we’re diving into a fascinating passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic commentary on the Song of Songs, to explore this very idea....

HeavenAngelsNoah & FloodMoses

God Will Turn Israel's Desolation Into a Pomegranate Garden

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 12:4

It sees potential even in the most desolate places. Take the verse from (Song of Songs 4:13), "Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates [shelaḥayikh]." Beautiful. But Shir HaSh...

ProphecyHealingMusic & SongSolomon

Divine Presence at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:1

The Rabbis, in their infinite wisdom, saw layers upon layers of meaning in these words. The phrase “I came to my garden” is especially rich. Rabbi Menaḥem, son-in-law of Rabbi Elaz...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Ezra and the Lawgiver

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 5:1

Today, we’re diving into a passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs, that explores just that feeling. Specifically, we're lo...

MosesSolomonDanielTemple

The Fool and the Wise Person Before a Mountain of Dirt

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 11:2

Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Song of Songs, uses this very image to explore how we approach challenges, particularly the challenge of learning To...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

Isaiah — Gift of Prophecy

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 15:2

And it’s a frustration the ancient rabbis grappled with, too. Rabbi Shimon ben Rabbi Yosei bar Lakoneya, a sage whose name echoes through the ages, had something powerful to say ab...

ProphecyMusic & SongHumorSolomon

Ezekiel — Reish Lakish at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 16:1

We start with a verse from (Song of Songs 5:16): "His palate is sweet and all of him is delightful. This is my beloved, and this is my companion, daughters of Jerusalem." The Rabbi...

CreationPatriarchsKing DavidSolomon

Three Times God Argued With Israel and the Nations Rejoiced

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 16:2

But our tradition, in its rich tapestry of stories, isn't afraid to explore the complexities of the relationship between the Divine and humanity. to one such fascinating exploratio...

PatriarchsProphecyHoly LandJudgment

Ezekiel and the Lawgiver of Sabbath

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 16:4

Rabbi Aḥa and Rabbi Tanḥum bar Rabbi Ḥiyya, quoting Rabbi Yoḥanan, offer a beautiful and practical answer, drawing on the words of the prophet Ezekiel: "Sanctify my Sabbaths" (Ezek...

MosesMessiahProphecyMiracles

She Appears Like Dawn and Grows Formidable Like the Sun

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 10:1

Our ancestors certainly did. And they found a beautiful way to grapple with that tension, a way that still resonates today. It all starts with a verse from the Song of Songs (6:10)...

CreationMosesKing DavidSolomon

Return O Shulamite and the Meaning of Six Dances

Midrash Rabbah Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:1

That feeling isn't new. In fact, our ancient texts wrestle with it all the time. Take the Song of Songs, also known as Shir HaShirim in Hebrew, often considered the most beautiful ...

CreationMosesKing DavidSolomon