Parshat Vayeshev

9,687 related texts · Page 140 of 202

Joseph's dreams and his brothers' jealousy, Joseph sold into slavery, Judah and Tamar, and Joseph in Potiphar's house and prison. Genesis 37:1-40:23.

The Snake Analogy and Why Israel Needed Redemption Now

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:17

And it's a theme that resonates deeply within Jewish tradition, especially when we talk about redemption. One fascinating passage in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpr...

JosephMosesKing DavidDaniel

Abraham — Splitting of the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:18

We often think of it as being solely for the sake of the Israelites, to free them from slavery. But what if there was another, deeper reason? Shemot Rabbah, the collection of Midra...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

God Gave Israel Control Over the Calendar

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:23

We find a powerful idea nestled within its verses, a radical claim about the relationship between God and the Jewish people. It all starts with the verse "This month shall be for y...

MosesSolomonTorahTemple

This Month Shall Be Yours and Why the Calendar Matters

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 15:25

The book of Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the book of Exodus, offers a stunning insight into just how crucial the calendar is. It all begins with the ...

PatriarchsMosesKing DavidTorah

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

Moses Calls the Elders to Slaughter the Passover Lamb

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 16:1

The verse we're looking at is (Exodus 12:21): “Moses called all the elders of Israel, and said to them: Draw, and take for yourselves lambs for your families, and slaughter the pas...

MosesJobMessiahWisdom

The Slaying of the Firstborn at the Stroke of Midnight

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 18:4

That's the scene we find ourselves in, in this passage from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. We're talking about the tenth plague, th...

JosephMosesJobWisdom

Pharaoh Lets the People Go but God Has Other Plans

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:4

to one of those fascinating connections, found within Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The verse we're looking at is: "It was when Ph...

HeavenAdam & EveMosesKing David

The Hidden Orchard Beneath Egypt's Rocky Field

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:5

The verse says, "it was when Pharaoh let the people go," (Exodus 13:17) which leads us to (Song of Songs 4:13): "Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates." Rabbi Levi uses a pa...

PatriarchsJosephMosesKing David

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

Pharaoh's Colossal Blunder in Letting Israel Go

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:9

The sages of the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) felt that way about Pharaoh letting the Israelites go. It wasn't just a political decision; it was a colossal blunder, a...

MosesSolomonHoly LandEgypt

Ephraim at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:11

The book of Exodus tells us, “God did not lead them via the land [derekh eretz]” (Exodus 13:17). But what exactly does that mean? Well, Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbi...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsJoseph

God Detours Israel Away From the Philistine Road

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:14

But the Torah tells us, "God did not lead them [naḥam]..." (Exodus 13:17). The word naḥam here is key, often translated as "by way of" or "directly." So, what's the story behind th...

JosephMosesKing DavidHoly Land

The Heroines Whose Courage Secured the Promised Land

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 20:16

But the Torah tells us, "God did not lead them [naḥam]" that way. (Exodus 13:17). So, what gives? There's more to this story than meets the eye. The Rabbis of the Midrash (rabbinic...

MatriarchsMosesHoly LandEgypt

Were They in the Sea or on Dry Ground at the Crossing

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 21:10

The verse in (Exodus 14:22) tells us, "The children of Israel came into the midst of the sea upon dry ground; and the waters were a wall for them to their right, and to their left....

MosesKing DavidRepentanceHoly Land

The First Song Ever Sung From Creation Until the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:4

It all starts with the verse, "Then Moses…sang" (Exodus 15:1). The Rabbis connect this to (Proverbs 31:26), "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her...

CreationAngelsAdam & EvePatriarchs

I Am Dark but Beautiful Says Israel After the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:10

And they found a surprising way to express it. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating reading of the verse, "Then M...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

The Song at the Sea as a Declaration of Purity

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:12

Shemot Rabbah, a rich collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a powerful reading of the verse "Then Moses…sang [thi...

CreationHell/GehennaNoah & FloodJoseph

Why Everything in Creation Tries to Exalt Itself

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:13

It’s a concept that’s wrestled with beautifully in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The verse "I will sing to the Lord, for He is exal...

HeavenMosesSolomonJob

The Horse and His Rider Cast Into the Sea

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 23:15

We know the story: the Israelites trapped, the Egyptians bearing down, then – miraculously – the waters split, a path appears, and they escape to freedom. But what about the unseen...

AngelsMosesProphecyMysticism

Rabbi Eliezer's Miracle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:2

to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, that really gets to the heart of this question. Rabbi Simon, quoting Ra...

CreationAngelsMosesKing David

There Is None Like God Among All the Powers

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:6

Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash on the book of Exodus, tackles this very question, and the answers are, frankly, . It starts with a verse from Psalms: "There is none...

CreationMosesKing DavidProphecy

Go Out and Gather Each Day's Portion of Manna

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:9

It’s not just about receiving, but about the giving, the engagement, the doing. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTorah

One Perfect Shabbat Could Bring the Messiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 25:12

Rabbi Levi makes a staggering claim in Shemot Rabbah: a single, perfectly observed Shabbat (the Sabbath) could bring about the Messiah. He says, “If Israel observes Shabbat properl...

HeavenPatriarchsMosesKing David

Why Moses Chose Joshua to Fight Against Amalek

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 26:3

Take the story of the war against Amalek in (Exodus 17:9). Moses tells Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out and wage war with Amalek; tomorrow I will be standing on top of the hil...

CreationJosephMosesRepentance

Jethro Hears About the Exodus and Comes to Moses

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 27:1

This week, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, specifically Shemot Rabbah 27. It uses the s...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Jethro the Stranger Who Was Welcomed Into Israel

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 27:5

The verse “Yitro…heard” (Exodus 18:1) sparks a fascinating connection to a seemingly unrelated verse from Job: “The stranger does not stay the night outside” (Job 31:32). What’s th...

CreationHeavenMosesKing David

How God Can Be Warrior and Teacher All at Once

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 28:5

Shemot Rabbah (a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus) offers a mind-bending perspective on this, using God as the ultimate example. It begins with the simp...

MosesJobTorahEgypt

Every Future Prophecy Was Already Given at Sinai

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 28:6

According to Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Exodus, the answer might surprise you. It all goes back to Mount Sinai. Rabbi Yitzḥak makes a bold clai...

CreationAngelsMosesKing David

God Arrives at Sinai Like a King Entering a City

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 29:6

But according to Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, there's a whole world of meaning packed into that single verse. It wasn't just a pro...

CreationProphecyKingsSin

Nebuchadnezzar and the Lawgiver of Israelites

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:1

, shall we? The verse "These are the ordinances that you shall place before them" (Exodus 21:1) seems straightforward enough. But the Rabbis, in their infinite wisdom, saw much mor...

MosesKing DavidDanielProphecy

Why the Ordinances of Exodus Are So Excellent

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:5

Shemot Rabbah, the collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, points this out explicitly. "Come and see," it urges, "how excellent this portion is!" What's so ex...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsJoseph

God's Ordinances Given to Israel and No Other Nation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:9

It's a pretty radical concept, really. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash on the Book of Exodus, dives right into this. It starts with the verse "These are the ordinanc...

CreationHell/GehennaAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Endow the King With Your Justice O God Says the Psalmist

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:15

The text opens with a quote from Psalms: "Endow the king with Your justice, God…May he judge Your people with righteousness" (Psalms 72:1–2). Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, a key figure in t...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

The Sanhedrin Must Examine Every Case With Care

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:18

It’s a question that’s echoed through the ages, one that our sages grappled with deeply. Let’s delve into a fascinating teaching from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic inter...

DanielProphecyHoly LandJudgment

Maintain Justice and Perform Charity Says Isaiah

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 30:24

The Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, dives deep into this question, particularly in section 30. It all starts with a verse from Isaiah...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaPatriarchs

The Three Pilgrimage Festivals and Their Deeper Meaning

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:2

Rabbi Abahu offers a powerful insight into this very question, drawing from the book of Exodus. "Three pilgrimage festivals you shall hold a festival to Me during the year" (Exodus...

MosesKing DavidSolomonJob

Solomon's Prayer

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:5

to a passage from Shemot Rabbah (chapter 31) that grapples with this very issue. The passage begins by referencing the verse, "If you lend money to My people..." (Exodus 22:24). Bu...

HeavenAdam & EveKing DavidSolomon

The Dangers of Lending Money With Interest

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:6

to a passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, and see how shockingly relevant it still is. We're talking about money, lending, an...

Adam & EveMosesKing DavidMessiah

The Newborn Animal Must Stay Seven Days With Its Mother

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:9

In this week's exploration, we turn to Shemot Rabbah 31, a beautiful midrash (rabbinic interpretation) on a seemingly simple verse in Exodus, to unpack this very idea. The verse in...

MosesProphecyHoly LandEgypt

Jeremiah — Messiah at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:10

That feeling, that fear, is something the Jewish people have grappled with throughout our history. And it's right there in Shemot Rabbah 31, a midrash on the book of Exodus. The pa...

CreationPatriarchsMosesTemple

Esau Among the Fathers

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:11

And Jewish tradition, as always, has some fascinating perspectives. The Book of Exodus, Shemot in Hebrew, is rich with laws and ethical guidelines. And within Shemot Rabbah, a clas...

PatriarchsSolomonProphecyHoly Land

God Humbles One and Elevates Another Like a Wheel

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 31:14

Sometimes you're on top, sometimes you're on the bottom. It's a powerful image, and one that resonates deeply in Jewish tradition. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrash (r...

MosesKing DavidSolomonJob

How the Golden Calf Changed Everything for Israel

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 32:1

Jewish tradition is filled with these "what ifs," these pivot points where history teetered. Take the story of the Golden Calf. According to Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic...

CreationHell/GehennaAngelsAdam & Eve

Moses Pleads With God After the Golden Calf

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 32:3

Our story begins after the devastating sin of the Golden Calf. Can you imagine the scene? Moses is up on Mount Sinai, receiving the very word of God, while down below, the Israelit...

AngelsMosesPrayerRepentance

God Reconciles Mercy and Justice for Israel's Sake

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 32:7

It’s a question that takes us to the heart of Jewish thought, and to a fascinating passage in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The pas...

CreationHeavenAngelsPatriarchs

Rod and Serpent of Songs

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 33:3

The congregation of Israel itself has felt that way! Our passage opens with a fascinating connection between the verse "They shall take Me a gift" (Exodus 25:2), which refers to th...

MosesKing DavidSolomonTemple

Behind the Scenes of Building the Tabernacle

Midrash Rabbah Shemot Rabbah 33:8

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, gives us a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes preparations for this monumental task. It a...

CreationPatriarchsMosesTemple