2,285 related texts · Page 23 of 48
Jewish tradition has a lot to say on the matter, and some of it is Let's talk about the fate of the soul, particularly what happens to those who, well, weren't so righteous in life...
It all comes down to water… and a really old cavern. Let's journey back to the time when the Temple in Jerusalem stood in all its glory. During Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, a ...
The Binding of Isaac, or Akedat Yitzhak as it's known in Hebrew, is one of those stories. It’s right there in the book of Genesis, chapter 22, verses 1 through 19. It's a cornersto...
The story goes that after the Temple was torn down and Jerusalem was ablaze, God, in His infinite compassion, sought to soothe the city’s pain. As Pesikta Rabbati 30:3 tells us, Go...
According to the Babylonian Talmud (B. Bava Batra 73b), Rabbah stumbled upon a sight that would make any foodie's jaw drop: two geese. But these weren't your average farmyard fowl....
According to Jewish tradition, it's not just about who gets in, but who gets to wake up first. Why are our patriarchs, the Avot – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – said to be buried in t...
It’s a question that’s captivated Jewish thinkers for centuries. And Jewish tradition actually gives us a glimpse, a stunning vision of just such an encounter. Imagine this: it's t...
It's not just a simple story of good versus evil, or the righteous youth triumphing over the jealous king. It's a nuanced dance of fate, faith, and free will. And a passage in Midr...
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...
Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), for those unfamiliar, is a way of interpreting the Hebrew Bible, digging deep to uncover hidden meanings and moral lessons. And in Midra...
The ancient sages felt that way too. And they looked to the future, to a time when things would be set right. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalm...
The story we're about to explore from Midrash Tehillim, specifically Midrash Tehillim 52, plunges us right into such a scenario, revolving around King Saul, David, and the priest A...
We’ve all been there. It’s a feeling as old as time, and it's something that the ancient sages grappled with too. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of P...
We're about to dive into a fascinating slice of Jewish tradition from Midrash Tehillim, specifically Psalm 78, that does just that, exploring the story of the Israelites in the des...
But the story of David, the shepherd who became the king of Israel, is far more complex and inspiring than any simple rags-to-riches story. The Book of Psalms, traditionally attrib...
And the Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, really digs into the raw pain and frustration expressed in that particular psalm. It’s a p...
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...
He taught that if the Israelites—and by extension, maybe even us—were to observe just one Shabbat (the Sabbath), that day of rest, according to all its intricate laws, redemption w...
We know Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, received the Torah, and guided them through the wilderness. But did you know some traditions suggest he also served as High Priest? I...
It's more than just saying "thank you." It's a way of connecting with something bigger than ourselves. Midrash Tehillim, a beautiful collection of interpretations on the Book of Ps...
And it's an image that's explored beautifully in the Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms. (Psalm 103:13) says, "As a father has compass...
That feeling, that sense of the utterly unknowable, it’s a thread that runs deep through Jewish thought. The Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms...
That feeling, that image, is something the ancient rabbis explored deeply in their interpretations of the Psalms. to one particularly vivid passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collect...
The ancient rabbis certainly did, and they poured those feelings, along with their hopes and fears, into their interpretations of scripture. to one such interpretation found in Mid...
Our tradition teaches that even then, sacred work continues. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, sheds light on Psalm 134, "A Song of Ascents: ...
Jewish tradition certainly has stories like that, moments where knowledge transcends mere information and becomes something almost…divine. Let’s turn to the Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer,...
The story of Jonah is a powerful exploration of just that feeling, and how sometimes, sacrifice – even unwilling sacrifice – can bring calm to the storm. We all know the basic stor...
We all know the story of Cain and Abel, their offerings, and the tragic outcome. But what if there was more to it than just a simple case of sibling rivalry? Rabbi Joshua ben Ḳorch...
Lead with something positive before diving into the difficult stuff. It turns out, this isn't just good manners; it's a lesson we learn from God Himself! Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a ...
to a fascinating passage from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a non-canonical yet beloved collection of stories and interpretations of the Torah. Here, Rabbi Joshua offers a powerful insig...
We read about the Akeidah, the Binding of Isaac, every year, but the details… they can be truly chilling. One of the most striking accounts comes from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fas...
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations, gives us a glimpse. Rabbi Judah paints a stark picture: "When the blade touched his neck, the soul ...
Rabbi Ẓe'era, a sage of the Talmudic era, shared a powerful image: When we pass from this world, our souls don't simply float off into the void. Instead, they gather together, "eac...
Jewish tradition, rich with layers of meaning and metaphor, grapples with this in some fascinating ways. to one particularly vivid description found in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fa...
Our story begins with Jacob, completely unaware of the drama unfolding within his own family. Remember when Rachel, his beloved wife, stole her father Laban’s Teraphim – household ...
It paints a picture of a final transaction, a division of inheritance, that has echoes even today. The story goes that Esau took all that his father, Isaac, had left. But then – an...
According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating and somewhat enigmatic text of Jewish tradition, fire isn't just fire. It’s something… else. Rabbi Judah paints a vivid picture, ...
The Yalkut Shimoni, a compilation of rabbinic commentary on the Bible, offers us fascinating glimpses into these connections. Let's look at one small piece, specifically Yalkut Shi...
The ancient texts of Judaism grapple with these questions in profound ways, and today we're going to dive into a fascinating passage from the Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 787 that explo...
Jewish tradition has some pretty strong feelings about collective responsibility, and it's not always who you'd expect who bears the weight. The Yalkut Shimoni, a fascinating compi...
We're diving into a fascinating passage from the Yalkut Shimoni on Torah, specifically section 787, which grapples with the nuances of homicide and the concept of the "redeemer of ...
This passage from Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 787 delves into the complexities of culpability, specifically focusing on scenarios involving fathers and sons, intent, and the role of th...
The Talmud and Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) are FULL of debates about how justice should be applied, especially when dealing with something as serious as accidental d...
Specifically, something stolen from a ger, a proselyte, who then died without any heirs. Who gets the loot? Does the Kohein get to keep it, especially if he's the one who already h...
Today, we’re going to explore just a tiny piece of that world, focusing on a passage from Sifrei Bamidbar, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar in...
We often think of religious laws as strict commandments, but sometimes, the texts reveal a surprising amount of individual agency. Take, for instance, this passage from Sifrei Bami...
It deals with the rules surrounding a Nazir – a Nazirite. What exactly is a Nazirite? A person who takes a vow to abstain from certain things, most notably wine, cutting their hair...
Sifrei Bamidbar, an ancient commentary on the Book of Numbers, unpacks this seemingly simple phrase in a multitude of beautiful and insightful ways. The most straightforward unders...
