Parshat Vayeshev

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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 Hidden Origins of the Eighteen Benedictions

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 11:46

It turns out, some pretty incredible stories lie behind even the most familiar phrases. Let's talk about the Shmoneh Esrei (שמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵי), the Eighteen Benedictions, also known ...

HeavenAngelsPatriarchsJoseph

Benjamin — Mordecai and the Patriarchs

Ginzberg Legends of the Jews 12:98

The story of Mordecai, as told in Legends of the Jews, presents us with just such a moment of unwavering defiance. It's a powerful scene, crackling with tension. The court official...

PatriarchsJosephEstherTemple

Rabbi Ishmael's Day of Dread When Rome Seized Four Sages

Kabbalah Heikhalot Rabbati 5:5

That's the atmosphere that hangs heavy in the opening of Heikhalot (the heavenly palaces) Rabbati, a mystical text describing heavenly ascents and divine secrets. Rabbi Ishmael, a ...

CreationDemonsPatriarchsJoseph

Metatron and the Angels

Kabbalah Tikkunei Zohar 41:14

Jewish mysticism touches on this feeling in some incredibly profound ways, and it all connects to… a bird's nest. Sounds strange. But bear with me. In Tikkun (spiritual repair)ei Z...

AngelsMatriarchsJosephHoly Land

Heavenly Realms of Isaiah

Kabbalah Tikkunei Zohar 44:8

The Tikkun (spiritual repair)ei Zohar, a central text of Kabbalah, delves deep into the mystical significance of sight, and what it reveals about our connection to the Divine. It p...

HeavenNoah & FloodJosephMoses

A Young Man Trailing a Donkey Meets Rabbi Shimon

Kabbalah Tikkunei Zohar 84:9

Not in a creepy way, but in a... spiritually significant way? The Tikkun (spiritual repair)ei Zohar, a profound and mystical extension of the Zohar, gives us a glimpse into just su...

JosephHoly LandEgypt

A Soul Dragged Down Beneath Its Own Feet

Kabbalah Tikkunei Zohar 99:3

The mystical text, Tikkun (spiritual repair)ei Zohar, has some pretty powerful words for that feeling. It warns, "Woe to the person, whose soul has descended to beneath his feet." ...

Noah & FloodJosephMosesTorah

The Name of Forty-Two Hidden in the Word for Heart

Kabbalah Tikkunei Zohar 100:15

The Tikkun (spiritual repair)ei Zohar, a central work of Kabbalah, is absolutely brimming with that feeling. a particularly intriguing passage. It begins with a seemingly simple st...

CreationHeavenJosephMessiah

Jonah and the Great Fish of Egypt

Kabbalah Tikkunei Zohar 106:6

The Tikkun (spiritual repair)ei Zohar, a central work of Kabbalah, uses the story of Jonah to explore just that feeling. You know, Jonah, the prophet who tried to run away from God...

HeavenJosephRepentanceHoly Land

Pharaoh — Jonah and the Great Fish

Kabbalah Tikkunei Zohar 106:8

It begins with a pretty stark claim: when the actions of the people of Israel became corrupt, a new king arose over Egypt – Pharaoh. Sound familiar? But here's where it gets really...

JosephMosesTorahHoly Land

The Exodus and the Deaths That Followed It

Kabbalah Tikkunei Zohar 106:14

The Tikkun (spiritual repair)ei Zohar, a cornerstone of Kabbalistic literature, speaks to just such a feeling. It delves into the secrets hidden within the Torah, offering interpre...

JosephTorahHoly LandExile

Jacob — Moses and the Patriarchs

Kabbalah Tikkunei Zohar 109:7

The Tikkun (spiritual repair)ei Zohar, a mystical expansion on the Zohar itself, gives us a glimpse into just that – a cosmic tapestry woven with the threads of our festivals. In T...

PatriarchsJosephMosesTorah

The Shema Calls to Israel as Husband Morning and Evening

Kabbalah Tikkunei Zohar 114:15

It might be more true than you think. The Tikkun (spiritual repair)ei Zohar, a profound and expansive companion to the Zohar, unlocks some truly beautiful, and sometimes challengin...

JosephHoly LandShekhinah

Three Lost Treasures That Returned to Their Place

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Mishlei 23:1

(Proverbs 23:5) speaks to this feeling, saying, "When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings." But what does this really mean? One fascinating...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Samuel — Kingdom of David

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 1:2

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives deep into that question. And it might surprise you. One interpretation points directly to Ki...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsJoseph

Isaiah — Nimrod at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 2:2

The ancient sages did. And in Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, they grapple with this very question, particularly in relation to th...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsJoseph

Why Pharaoh and Esau Failed to Defeat God's Plan

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 2:4

In fact, it's a theme that echoes through Jewish tradition, especially when we talk about the relationship between God, Moshiach (the Messiah), and the enemies of Israel. The Midra...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsJoseph

How Song of Songs Reveals Torah's Hidden Meaning

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 2:12

Our exploration begins with a verse from the Song of Songs (7:3): "Your navel is like a round goblet... Your belly is a heap of wheat." The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentar...

JosephMosesKing DavidSolomon

David — Absalom's Transgression

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 3:3

King David knew that feeling well. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives deep into the context and meaning behind David's songs. A...

PatriarchsJosephMosesKing David

How Near Is God When We Call Upon Him

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 4:3

Midrash, the art of interpreting scripture by filling in the gaps, expanding on hints, and drawing out deeper meanings, wrestles with this very idea. Midrash Tehillim, a collection...

CreationHeavenAngelsPatriarchs

What Sinai Reveals About the Purpose of Creation

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 8:3

It’s not just about remembering a historical event; it’s about something far more profound. Midrash Tehillim 8, a commentary on the Book of Psalms, delves into the very heart of th...

CreationHeavenAdam & EveNoah & Flood

God Rebukes the Nations Who Attacked Israel

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 9:8

" This verse, seemingly simple, becomes a springboard for a deep dive into themes of good and evil, destiny, and the very nature of creation. The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive com...

CreationAngelsAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Lashon Hara Is Worse Than the Three Cardinal Sins

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 12:2

They can build bridges, offer comfort, and inspire hope. But they can also tear down, inflict pain, and sow seeds of discord. Today, let’s delve into a particularly destructive use...

CreationHell/GehennaJosephMoses

Death of David

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 13:7

King David knew that feeling well. Psalm 13, a cry for help, is raw with that vulnerability: "Lord, my God, look upon me and enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death..." ...

JosephKing DavidSolomonTorah

The Heavens Declare God's Glory Day and Night

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 19:1

It's no wonder that the Psalmist David, gazing up at that same sky millennia ago, wrote, "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1). But what does that declaration actuall...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

God Himself at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 20:1

They're thousands of years old, yet they speak to our struggles, our joys, our fears as if they were written yesterday. Today, we're diving into Midrash Tehillim 20, a fascinating ...

CreationAngelsAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Why Moses Alone Could Ascend God's Mountain

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 24:5

But the Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, doesn’t leave us hanging with just the question. It gives us an answer, and it might surp...

JosephMosesSoulEgypt

What Happens to Our Souls When Justice Comes

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 26:7

But it's a question that ancient Jewish texts grapple with, revealing profound insights into justice, repentance, and the ultimate fate of our souls. to a passage from Midrash Tehi...

CreationHeavenNoah & FloodPatriarchs

The Lord Is My Light in Psalm 27

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 27:1

In Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 27, "The Lord is my light and my salvation," becomes a springboard for exploring just that. But...

CreationJosephMosesKing David

David — Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 34:1

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletic interpretations of the Psalms, offers a fascinating perspective, suggesting that everything, absolutely everything, has its perfect, div...

CreationCreaturesAdam & EveNoah & Flood

The Ancient Grief That Echoes from Noah to David

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 60:1

That feeling isn't new. In fact, according to Midrash Tehillim 60, it goes way back. This particular midrash (a method of interpreting biblical stories beyond their literal meaning...

CreationNoah & FloodPatriarchsJoseph

You Have Shown Your People a Hard Time

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 61:1

The ancient rabbis grappled with this too. They looked at Psalm 61, and from it, they wove a powerful message about suffering, redemption, and the ever-present possibility of conne...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaJoseph

How Solomon Sought Righteousness to Rule Justly

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 72:1

In Jewish tradition, these questions lead us straight to the Source of all righteousness, the Holy One, blessed be He. And surprisingly, also to King Solomon. Midrash Tehillim, a c...

CreationPatriarchsJosephMoses

Did the Egyptians Get a Chance to Repent

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 78:11

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives right into that question when it grapples with the plagues visited upon Egypt. Specifically...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesRepentance

Israel as a Vine Torn from Its Roots in Exile

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 80:5

Midrash Tehillim, an ancient collection of homiletical interpretations of the Book of Psalms, uses a striking image to describe just such a predicament, and it's one that resonates...

JosephKing DavidProphecyHoly Land

Why Moses Is Called the Man of God in the Psalms

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 90:5

It seems like a simple title, but Midrash Tehillim 90, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, dives deep into what that name really means. It's not just ab...

AngelsNoah & FloodJosephMoses

The Hidden Secrets of Creation Revealed on Shabbat

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 92:1

It's more than just a day off; it's a cornerstone of Jewish life, a sacred pause in the week. But why Shabbat (the Sabbath)? What makes it so special? Midrash Tehillim, a collectio...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaPatriarchs

When God's Vengeance Shines Through Seven Heavens

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 94:1

(Psalm 94:1) cries out, "God of vengeance, shine forth!" And in Midrash Tehillim, the collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, this verse opens a fascinating door in...

HeavenJosephSolomonJob

Moses and Creation of Haggai

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 103:13

We often think of ethereal beings, wings and halos and all that. But what if the term encompasses more than we initially imagine? Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations ...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsJoseph

Sarah — Kingdom of Abraham

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 105:4

The ancient rabbis certainly did. And they found evidence of it woven throughout the stories of our ancestors. to a fascinating little gem from Midrash Tehillim (a collection of ra...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

The Plagues That Struck Egypt from the Inside Out

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 105:7

"His name is in their words." What a powerful opening! Rabbi Yudan bar Rabbi Simon suggests something quite striking: the plagues weren't just external events, but were written dir...

JosephMosesKing DavidEgypt

Kingdom of Mordechai

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 106:4

King David knew the feeling. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, opens a window into David's heart – and perhaps our own. The verse we’re di...

JosephMosesKing DavidMiracles

God Redeems Israel for His Own Name's Sake

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 107:1

The answer, according to ancient Jewish wisdom, might be more about God's reputation than our own merit. to Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms,...

JosephMosesKing DavidSolomon

Egypt — Humility of Moses

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 107:4

That image, that feeling of utter powerlessness, resonates deeply in Jewish tradition. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, uses it to describe ...

JosephMosesProphecyHoly Land

When God's Praise Meets the Silence of the Wicked

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 109:1

That feeling, that tension between adoration and divine quiet, is at the heart of Midrash Tehillim 109, a powerful exploration of Psalm 109. The midrash, a form of Jewish biblical ...

CreationHell/GehennaPatriarchsJoseph

When the Sea Fled and the Mountains Trembled

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 114:1

That’s kind of the feeling behind Psalm 114, and the Midrash Tehillim, an ancient collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, dives deep into the joy and gratitude expr...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaJoseph

Pharaoh Among the Heavenly Host

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 114:3

We often hear the story, but sometimes the sheer impossibility of it all gets lost. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, gives us some ...

AngelsJosephMosesProphecy

The Tribe of Benjamin Leapt First Into the Sea

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 114:4

We all know the story: Moses raises his staff, the waters part, and the Israelites walk through on dry land to escape Pharaoh. But Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), that ...

CreationJosephMosesDaniel