Parshat Vayikra

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The laws of burnt offerings, meal offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings brought in the Tabernacle. Leviticus 1:1-5:26.

“Their countenance is blacker than coal, they are not

Midrash Rabbah Eikhah Rabbah 4:11

“Their countenance is blacker than coal, they are not recognized in the streets; their skin is shriveled on their bones, it has become dry as wood” (Lamentations 4:8).“Their counte...

ExileTemplePovertyTragedy

“The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the

Midrash Rabbah Eikhah Rabbah 4:15

“The kings of the earth and all the inhabitants of the world did not believe that an adversary and enemy would enter the gates of Jerusalem” (Lamentations 4:12).“The kings of the e...

ExileProphecyAngelsPrayer

It is written — “You have seen, for You behold mischief and

Midrash Rabbah Esther Rabbah 3:5

It is written: “You have seen, for You behold mischief and spite; to requite is in Your hand: the helpless man commits himself to You; You are the helper of the orphans” (Psalms 10...

ExilePatriarchsProphecyDivine justice

“The seven princes of Persia and Media” – Rav and Shmuel

Midrash Rabbah Esther Rabbah 4:3

“The seven princes of Persia and Media” – Rav and Shmuel, Rav said: Scripture is referring to the kingdom of Aḥashverosh, and Shmuel said: Scripture is referring to the kingdom of ...

ExileTempleHoly LandKings

“This day, the ladies of Persia and Media, who have heard

Midrash Rabbah Esther Rabbah 4:8

“This day, the ladies of Persia and Media, who have heard of the queen’s deed, will tell it to all the king’s princes, and there will be no end [kedaiy] of humiliation and wrath” (...

TempleEstherAnger

Kissing as Worship - From Idolatry to Devotion

Other Texts The Wars of God 2:21

Yes, kissing! We often think of kissing as a sign of affection, love, or respect. But in ancient times, it could also be a form of worship. Strange. The Bible itself gives us a gli...

Noah & FloodTorahTemplePrayer

The Obligation to Question and Investigate Torah

Other Texts The Wars of God 3:2

Jewish thought is FULL of those moments. Let’s unpack one, shall we? Our journey starts with what some might call "foolishness and evil folly." Strong words. The text we're looking...

TorahTempleMysticismRepentance

The Zohar's Layered Vision of God's Cosmic Kingship

Other Texts The Wars of God 4:11

The Zohar, that mystical cornerstone of Kabbalah, gives us a glimpse into their inner world. In Parashat Bereshit, 34a, it speaks of God’s reign in layered terms: "The Lord is King...

TempleMysticismPrayerDivine Names

The Kabbalistic System That Took Root in the 13th Century

Other Texts The Wars of God 4:20

It's a system that has been unfolding for centuries, really taking root around the start of the sixth millennium – that's roughly the 13th century CE. It all started with a handful...

CreationAdam & EveTempleMysticism

Philo Sees Layers of Allegory Woven Into Torah

Philo The Midrash of Philo 9:2

Sometimes, it feels like there's a whole hidden world waiting to be unlocked. Philo of Alexandria, a Jewish philosopher who lived in the first century CE, was absolutely convinced ...

CreationHeavenTorahTemple

What Abraham Was Really Sitting On in Genesis 15

Philo The Midrash of Philo 11:7

It all starts with the verse: "Abraham passed over and sat upon them" (Genesis 15:11). Simple enough. But what does it mean? What is Abraham sitting on? Some interpret this verse a...

CreationPatriarchsMosesTemple

The Creation Of The Temple

Midrash Tanchuma Tanchuma, Vayakhel 7

According to Jewish tradition, the very concept of the Temple in Jerusalem, that sacred place, was envisioned at the dawn of creation itself. As Howard Schwartz recounts in Tree of...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsAdam & Eve

Midrash Tanchuma, Toldot 12

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Toldot 12

And Isaac trembled exceedingly (Gen. 27:33). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them (Prov. ...

SacrificeDeathAdam & EveBlessing

Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 7

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Vayechi 7

And Jacob called unto his sons (Gen. 49:1). May it please our master to teach us whether the one who leads the congregation in prayer may respond “Amen” after the priests. Thus did...

PatriarchsTemplePrayer

Midrash Tanchuma, Terumah 11

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Terumah 11

And thou shalt overlay it with brass (Exod. 27:2). R. Judah the son of Shalum stated: Moses had said to the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the Universe, You told me to make an ...

SacrificeTempleMosesAdam & Eve

Midrash Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 1

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 1

And thou shalt command the children of Israel (Exod. 27:20). May it please our masters to teach us: At what age must an infant be circumcised? So do our masters teach us: An infant...

CovenantHumorPriesthoodTribes

Midrash Tanchuma, Vayakhel 3

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Vayakhel 3

And Moses said unto the children of Israel: “See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel” (Exod. 35:30). Scripture states elsewhere: So shalt thou find grace and favor in the sight o...

MosesCommandmentsPriesthoodAdam & Eve

Midrash Tanchuma, Vayakhel 5

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Vayakhel 5

See, he hath called by name Bezalel (Exod. 35:30). Observe what He did for Bezalel. The Holy One, blessed be He, instilled wisdom in his heart, as it is said: And he hath filled hi...

WisdomSupernaturalHumorTribes

Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 5

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 5

These are the accounts of the Tabernacle (Exod. 38:21). Scripture states elsewhere: A faithful man shall abound with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unp...

MosesPrayerTempleFaith

Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 6

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 6

These are the accounts of the tabernacle, even the tabernacle of the testimony (Exod. 38:21). The Tabernacle bears testimony to the entire world that He forgave them for the episod...

TempleAdam & EveKingsHumor

Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 9

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 9

These are the accounts of the tabernacle … and the bronze of the offering (Exod. 38:21, 29). The bronze of the offering (tenufah) refers to the bronze vessels given to a bride, for...

SacrificeMosesHumorAdam & Eve

Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 10

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Pekudei 10

And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses (Exod. 39:32). May it please our masters to teach us: What things were instituted for the sake of peace? Thus do our masters teach us: Th...

MosesTemplePriesthoodBlessing

Midrash Tanchuma, Tzav 11

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Tzav 11

(Lev. 8:3:) “And assemble the whole congregation.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “Pay him honor in front of all Israel, in order that they may see him today when he e...

MosesTemplePriesthoodRebellion

Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 8

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 8

(Numb. 6:22–23:) “Then the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, “Speak unto Aaron and unto his children, saying, ‘Thus shall you bless the Children of Israel.’” Let our master instruct u...

MosesTemplePriesthoodBlessing

Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 25

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 25

(Numb. 7:1:) “So it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished.” R. Judah bar Simon said, “On the day that the Tabernacle was erected, Moses entered and heard a majestic voice...

MosesTempleKing DavidKings

Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 26

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 26

(Numb. 7:1:) “So it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished.” R. Berekhyah the Priest Berabbi said,101Similarly Numb. R. 12:2. “Before the Tabernacle was erected, when Isra...

MosesTempleSinai

Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 27

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 27

(Numb. 7:2:) “Now the princes of Israel drew near (to make an offering).” You find that when Moses proclaimed and said (in Exod. 35:5), “Take from among you an offering [for the Lo...

MosesSacrificeBlessingTemple

Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 17

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 17

(Numb. 20:25-26:) “Take Aaron [and his son Elazar] […,] And strip Aaron.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “See, you may console him that he is bequeathing his crown to ...

DeathPriesthoodMosesTemple

Midrash Tanchuma, Balak 11

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanchuma, Balak 11

(Numb. 22:39:) “Then Balaam went unto38The Masoretic text reads both this and the following UNTO as WITH. Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-Huzoth (literally: city of markets),” wh...

SacrificeAdam & EveTempleHumor