Parshat Vayikra

2,614 related texts · 5 related myths · Page 55 of 55

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

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

The Wars of God 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

The Wars of God 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 Center Of The World

Midrash Tanchuma Midrash Tanhuma

Midrash Tanchuma turns to The Center Of The World. Wait, there's one more layer. Before the Ark stands the Foundation Stone, and the entire world, according to tradition, was found...

CreationHeavenTorahPatriarchs

The Creation Of The Temple

Midrash Tanchuma Tanchuma, Vayakhel 7

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 Souls, God, in His infinite wi...

CreationAngelsPatriarchsAdam & Eve

Did God, Fashion Only the Eye and the Ear

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

Jacob Called Unto His Sons

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

Think of the Angels of Glowing Fire Who Are Near Me

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

Thou Shalt Command the Children of Israel

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

Elsewhere So Shalt Thou Find Grace and Favor in the Sight of God

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

See, He Hath Called by Name Bezalel

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

Elsewhere a Faithful Man Shall Abound with Blessings but He

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

These Are the Accounts of the Tabernacle, Even the Tabernacle

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

You Find That While the Israelites Were Making Bricks in Egypt

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

They Brought the Tabernacle Unto Moses

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

Assemble the Whole Congregation. God

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

Speak Unto Aaron and Unto His Children

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

Moses Entered and Heard a Majestic Voice

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

When Israel Stood Before Mount Sinai

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

Take Aaron and Strip Aaron. God on to Moses, See, You May Console Him

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

Then Balaam Went Unto 38 the Masoretic Text Reads

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