4,614 related texts · Page 67 of 97
The Mekhilta unpacks a subtle but powerful argument that God makes to Israel. The verse reads: "As the deeds of the land of Egypt in which you dwelt you shall not do" (Leviticus 18...
R. Akiva says: What is the intent of "And these are the judgments"? From (Leviticus 1:2) "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them," I would think, only once. Whence do I de...
"Six years shall he serve": I might think (that he performs) both demeaning and non-demeaning service. It is, therefore, written (Leviticus 25:39) "Do not have him work the service...
The Torah specifies that a Hebrew maidservant does not go free through the loss of "organ prominences" — external body parts like teeth or eyes that, if knocked out by the master, ...
The Torah grants freedom to a bondservant whose master knocks out a tooth or blinds an eye. But does this apply only to adult bondservants? What about a minor — a child bondservant...
Rabbi Yishmael taught a sobering principle about Canaanite bondservants: a Canaanite bondservant can never be redeemed by an outside party. The only path to freedom is the master's...
"Mahor yimharenah — to himself as a wife" — the Mekhilta reads this phrase as a limitation: the seducer may take the woman "as a wife that is permitted to him." This means the marr...
Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai posed a question that cuts to the heart of the relationship between God and the stranger. He placed two verses side by side and let the contrast speak for i...
Specifically, the scapegoat for Azazel. The book of Leviticus (16:5-10) describes a fascinating, and frankly bizarre, ritual performed by Aaron, the High Priest, on Yom Kippur, the...
The story of Moses begins with an act of unimaginable cruelty. Pharaoh, fearing the growing number of Israelites, issued a horrifying decree: "Every boy that is born you shall thro...
We all do. But what if the key to a blessed life was simpler than we think? (Psalm 1:1-2) opens with a powerful image: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the w...
Our sages explored this very feeling, using the image of the harvest and the vintage to understand the delicate timing of redemption. It's all there in Midrash Tehillim, a collecti...
The story of Amalek is one such echo. Amalek, that ancient nemesis of the Israelites, wasn't just a tribe; they represented something far more sinister: the embodiment of unprovoke...
Rabbi Levi suggests a difference in timing. When the Holy One, blessed be He, judges the nations of the world, it happens at night, a time when they are asleep, supposedly free fro...
The ancient rabbis wrestled with fear too. They found layers of meaning in the words of Psalm 14, specifically the phrase, "There they feared with fear...there was no fear." (Psalm...
Like the rules just... don't apply the same way? That's a question King David wrestles with in a powerful passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletic interpretations o...
And down below? The Israelites, impatient, scared, and feeling abandoned, decide to build themselves a new god – a golden calf. Talk about a betrayal. The Midrash (rabbinic interpr...
King David knew that feeling well. And it's his story, illuminated by the ancient wisdom of Midrash Tehillim (a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms), that offers...
The verse "day by day he utters speech" (Psalm 19:3) isn't just about the sun rising and setting. It's about each day possessing its own individual character, its own set of wonder...
The mystics of old knew that feeling, and they had something profound to say about it, especially when it comes to finding our place in the world and our connection to something bi...
The ancient rabbis grappled with this too. They felt it on a national level, in their relationship with God. And they didn't shy away from the tough questions. They wrestled with t...
Today's story from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, is all about how seemingly small acts of courage and confession can have enormo...
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...
The verse "These are the servants of the Lord" might seem simple. But the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) sees something deeper. It connects this phrase directly to the ...
It’s a very human feeling, and it’s one that resonates powerfully in a story told in Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms. Psalm 122, "A...
It’s a question that's echoed through generations, and today we're diving into a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of ...
Sometimes, the connection isn’t immediately obvious. Take, for instance, the verses about atonement and taking a census in the book of Exodus. What’s the link? The Pesikta DeRav Ka...
And they found fascinating ways to resolve those tensions within the sacred texts. Take, for instance, the perplexing case of Amalek. Who was Amalek? A biblical nation known for it...
The Pesikta deRav Kahana, a collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic teachings, offers a fascinating glimpse into that moment. In Pesikta deRav Kahana 12, we find...
The ancient text Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations, suggests that there just might be. The text draws our attention to the fifth day. ...
Take (Psalm 60:8), for instance: "Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe;...
Our tradition explores this feeling in a powerful way, connecting it to the very land we inhabit. Let's look into it. The text we're diving into comes from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, ...
Rabbi Zadok offers us a glimpse into the origins of the Anakim. These weren't just big people; they were giants born of arrogance, their hearts filled with pride. And what did this...
We all know the basic outline – wickedness, angels, fire and brimstone – but some of the details tucked away in Jewish tradition add layers of complexity and, frankly, a lot of hea...
It's more than just a physical act; it’s a profound covenant, a connection stretching back to Abraham himself. And within this ancient ritual, there's a curious detail, a specific ...
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval text, dives deep into this very idea, exploring the profound impact leaders have on their communities. Rabbi Reuben puts it qui...
Rabbi Abbahu, a sage from the Amoraic period, tells us to look at the story of King David to understand this power. Now, you probably know the story of David. Shepherd boy, slayer ...
According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations, Moses spent forty days atop Mount Sinai. Imagine him there, not just receiving the Tor...
The story of Israel in the wilderness offers a stark, and frankly, heartbreaking answer. Fresh from the miracle of the Exodus, having witnessed God's power firsthand, the Israelite...
It paints a picture of a young Moses deeply connected to his people, even while living in Pharaoh's palace. The text tells us that everyone in Pharaoh's household was involved in M...
The Jewish tradition has never shied away from asking the big questions, and when it comes to the end of days, well, let's just say things get pretty interesting. One fascinating g...
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, ...
What would it look like? What would it feel like? The ancient sages, wrestling with these questions, painted a vivid picture, one brimming with hope, justice, and a touch of the mi...
The Book of Ruth, a tiny scroll nestled within the Hebrew Bible, grapples with this very feeling. And the Yalkut Shimoni, a medieval collection of rabbinic commentary, offers some ...
It’s a theme that echoes throughout Jewish history, a bittersweet dance between redemption and exile. that a bit. The Yalkut Shimoni, a compilation of Midrash (rabbinic interpretiv...
The Jewish tradition is filled with these echoes, these comparative moments that help us understand not just where we've been, but who we are. One of the most fascinating collectio...
But our sages, drawing on ancient traditions, offer us some truly mind-bending glimpses. R' Levi, in the Yalkut Shimoni (a compilation of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)...
It’s a story richer than you might think, and it all starts as the Israelites journeyed from Elim. Imagine the scene: the newly freed Israelites, fresh from the miracle of the Red ...
