Parshat Vaera

3,636 related texts · Page 21 of 76

God reveals His name to Moses, the first seven plagues strike Egypt, and Pharaoh's heart is hardened. Exodus 6:2-9:35.

Moses and Joseph of Tanhuma

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:9

And it seems Devarim Rabbah, in its own unique way, grapples with this very idea. The passage starts with a verse from Deuteronomy: “Hear, Israel: you are crossing the Jordan today...

JosephMosesKing DavidJob

Why Moses Cried Hear O Israel at the End

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:10

Our ancestors knew that feeling well. : Moses, standing before the Israelites, about to impart some final, crucial wisdom. He cries out, "Shema Yisrael – Hear, O Israel!" But...why...

MosesPrayerHoly LandEgypt

Moses Cannot Cross the Jordan With Israel

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:11

It's a poignant moment, and the book of Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, sheds light on the depth of that experience. "You are crossin...

CreationHeavenAngelsPatriarchs

Ark of Salvation of Moses

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:12

There’s a fascinating passage in Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, that sheds light on this very concept. It all starts with a verse we...

Noah & FloodMosesTorahHoly Land

Moses Breaks the Tablets in Righteous Anger

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:14

We all have. But have you ever stopped to consider the consequences, not just for those around you, but for yourself? The Book of Deuteronomy, or Devarim in Hebrew, is full of wisd...

Noah & FloodMosesSolomonTorah

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

Why God Needed to Give Moses Two Sets of Tablets

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 3:17

We all know the story of the first set, shattered in anger at the sight of the Golden Calf. But why two in the first place? Devarim Rabbah, a collection of homilies on the Book of ...

CreationHeavenJosephMoses

Joseph, Moses, and David Freed from Distress

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 4:7

That feeling of unexpected liberation and joy is at the heart of our story today, drawn from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. Th...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Moses Begs God to Let Him Enter the Land

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 9:6

Well, Jewish tradition offers a powerful, and frankly heartbreaking, story about just such a predicament involving Moses himself. The text we're diving into today comes from Devari...

JosephMosesEgypt

Why Moses Surpassed Every Great Figure Before Him

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 11:3

The verse in question comes from (Proverbs 31:29): "Many women have performed valiantly, but you have surpassed them all." But who is the "you" being referred to here? According to...

CreationHeavenAngelsAdam & Eve

Moses Blessed Israel with the Torah Itself at His Side

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 11:4

The Book of Deuteronomy, or Devarim in Hebrew, opens with Moses preparing to bless the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. But the Rabbis of the Midrash (rabbinic inter...

CreationHeavenJosephMoses

Moses Earned His Legacy by Carrying Joseph's Bones

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 11:7

The answer, according to Devarim Rabbah, isn't what you might immediately think. It's not just about Moses being a great prophet; it's about a specific act of kindness and dedicati...

CreationJosephMosesMessiah

Death of Moses of Behold

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 11:9

The ancient rabbis wrestled with this very idea, and their insights, preserved in texts like Devarim Rabbah, can still resonate deeply today. Our story begins with Moses, nearing t...

AngelsMosesSolomonElijah

The Ten Deaths Written for Moses in the Torah

Midrash Rabbah Devarim Rabbah 11:10

It sounds almost unbelievable, doesn't it? Yet, according to Devarim Rabbah, this is precisely the monumental struggle Moses faced at the end of his life. Rabbi Yoḥanan tells us th...

CreationHeavenAngelsDemons

Elijah — Moses at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 15:1

And the ancient Rabbis, in their commentary called Kohelet Rabbah, dive deep into a specific verse that really makes you think: "What has been, already is, and what will be has alr...

CreationAdam & EveNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Rabbis — Nimrod at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 14:1

The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet in Hebrew, speaks to this feeling with raw honesty. And the Rabbis, in their infinite wisdom, found layers of meaning within its verses, especi...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Moses's Wisdom Was Stronger Than Ten Rulers

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 19:3

Kohelet Rabbah, that rich collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Ecclesiastes, gives us a fascinating, almost unbelievable image of just that, using none other than ...

MosesWisdomEgypt

Time and Chance Happen to Moses Too

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 11:2

It’s a feeling as old as time, and the ancient rabbis grappled with it too. Kohelet Rabbah, a rabbinic commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes, dives deep into this very idea, using...

AngelsMosesKing DavidTorah

Moses and the Torah of Sinai

Midrash Rabbah Kohelet Rabbah 15:5

Jewish tradition is full of such stories, and one of my favorites comes from a surprising source: Kohelet Rabbah, a rabbinic commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes. The passage sta...

MosesTorahWisdomEgypt

Shifra and Puah the Midwives Who Defied Pharaoh

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:13

Our story begins in ancient Egypt, where the Israelites are flourishing, a little too flourishing for the liking of the Pharaoh. He sees their growing numbers as a threat, and so, ...

JosephMosesSolomonJob

Rabbis — Moses at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:20

The Torah tells us, "The woman conceived and bore a son; she saw that he was good and she hid him for three months" (Exodus 2:2). But what lies beneath that simple verse? The ancie...

CreationAdam & EveMatriarchsMoses

Miriam in the Days of Moses

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:22

That feeling isn’t new. In fact, it echoes through one of the most powerful stories in the Torah. We all know the story of Moses. Born into slavery, hidden away, destined for great...

MosesSolomonProphecySoul

Moses Leaves Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:27

That’s the kind of feeling that propelled Moses into his destiny. to the book of Exodus, specifically Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of Exodus. It all star...

MosesJobEgypt

Moses Kills an Egyptian and Is Betrayed by Two Hebrews

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:30

The story goes that Moses, having slain an Egyptian taskmaster, intervenes in a quarrel between two Hebrews. And what does he get for his trouble? A stinging rebuke: "Who appointed...

MosesMessiahRepentanceWisdom

The Well Where Moses Met His Future Wife

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 1:32

Like a well, for instance. It's more than just a source of water; it’s often a meeting place, a place of destiny. Our sages point this out in Shemot Rabbah, noting how the well is ...

CreationHeavenAdam & EvePatriarchs

Moses and the Dreamer and the Wilderness

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 2:1

Our story begins, as so many do, in the book of Exodus. "Moses was herding the flock of his father-in-law Yitro, the priest of Midyan, and he led the flock into the wilderness, and...

JosephMosesKing DavidTorah

The Hidden Destiny Buried in the Hebrew Word Was

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 2:4

It might seem like just a simple Hebrew word meaning "was," but in the world of Jewish thought, it can unlock hidden meanings, destinies, and connections. Shemot Rabbah, a collecti...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaAdam & Eve

Moses Hesitates at the Burning Bush and God Responds

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 3:5

In the Book of Exodus, we find Moses at the burning bush, tasked with the monumental mission of freeing the Israelites from slavery. He's understandably apprehensive. It’s a daunti...

MosesTorahHoly LandEgypt

Egypt — Moses at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 4:1

The ancient rabbis saw that struggle playing out in the life of Moses, as he stood on the cusp of his world-changing mission. The book of Exodus (4:18) tells us, "Moses went and re...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Moses Returns to Jethro Before Going to Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 4:3

Even some of the biggest figures in Jewish history felt that way. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpretations on the Book of...

MosesJobTorahProphecy

Why Moses Was Raised Outside His Father's House

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 5:2

It wasn't just a random event, a quirk of fate. According to Rabbi Ḥama, there was a very specific, almost divinely orchestrated reason. Imagine Moses growing up comfortably in his...

JosephMosesDivine NamesHoly Land

A Single Word That Changed Moses' Destiny

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 5:3

A seemingly insignificant phrase can carry immense weight, altering the course of destiny. to a curious observation from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on ...

JosephMosesTorahEgypt

Moses and Joseph of Midyan

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 5:4

The verse says, "The Lord said to Moses in Midyan: Go, return to Egypt; as all the men who sought your life are dead" (Exodus 4:19). Simple enough. But the Rabbis of the Midrash (r...

JosephMosesTorahEgypt

Moses Rides a Donkey With the Staff of God

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 5:5

(Exodus 4:20) tells us, "Moses took his wife and his sons, and mounted them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. Moses took the staff of God in his hand." Simple enou...

JosephMosesTorahHoly Land

How Zipporah Saved Moses From the Angel of Death

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 5:8

to a strange and intense little story from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It revolves around Moses, the man destined to lead the Isr...

Hell/GehennaAngelsMosesEgypt

How God's Voice Traveled From Heaven to Earth

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 5:9

The book of Exodus tells us that God spoke, but the how… that’s where the Jewish tradition gets truly wondrous. Our exploration starts with a seemingly simple verse: “The Lord said...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

Caleb in Joseph's Time

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 5:17

We all know the story of the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the triumphant journey to freedom. But was it really the entire nation that crossed over? Pharaoh, in his stub...

JosephMosesProphecyMiracles

Moses and Creation of Aviram

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 6:2

Even Moses, the great lawgiver, felt that way. Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers us a fascinating glimpse into a moment where Mo...

CreationJosephMosesSolomon

Egypt — Pharaoh in Joseph's Time

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 7:3

Shemot Rabbah, a classic midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic compilation – a collection of interpretations and expansions on the Book of Exodus (Shemot in Hebrew) – gives ...

JosephMosesWisdomHoly Land

Pharaoh and the Heavenly Realms of Gehenna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 7:4

Rabbi Levi starts us off with a parable. Imagine a king who owns a beautiful orchard. Now, in this orchard, he plants not only fruit-bearing trees – the kind that give you deliciou...

HeavenAdam & EveJosephMoses

How Long Each Plague Lasted in the Land of Egypt

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 9:12

The Torah isn't always explicit about timing, and sometimes, a seemingly simple phrase can unlock a whole world of debate. Take (Exodus 7:25): "Seven days were completed, after the...

MosesMiraclesEgyptJudgment

Moses and the Dreamer of Egyptians

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 14:1

In (Exodus 10:21), God tells Moses to stretch out his hand, and the text says, "there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, and the darkness will be tangible." Tangible! What do...

JosephMosesKing DavidEgypt

Moses Struggles to Understand the New Moon

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:28

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Exodus, recounts a fascinating episode. It begins with the verse, "This month shall be for you" (Exodus 12:2), referri...

MosesKing DavidTorahTemple

Samuel — Moses at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 16:4

But Jewish tradition teaches us that justice, true justice, is at the very heart of the Divine. And that the way we act in the world has cosmic repercussions. In Shemot Rabbah, a c...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

The Blood on the Doorpost and the Patriarchs' Merit

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 17:3

Our story comes from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Exodus. We’re looking at chapter 17, which delves into the symbolism of the Passover of...

PatriarchsJosephMosesProphecy

Moses and the Dreamer of Meeting

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 19:3

Our tradition suggests he did, and in a fascinating way: it reveals moments where Moses' own reasoning aligned perfectly with the divine will. The Shemot Rabbah, a collection of ra...

JosephMosesTorahProphecy

Pharaoh and the Lawgiver of Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:2

The Rabbis of the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) thought Pharaoh knew exactly how that felt when he finally let the Israelites leave Egypt. Shemot Rabbah, a compilation...

MosesSolomonProphecyWisdom

Did Pharaoh Himself Weep When Israel Left

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:7

We often think of the Israelites, finally free after generations of slavery. But what if Pharaoh himself was the one shedding tears? That's the surprising question raised in Shemot...

JosephMosesHoly LandEgypt