Otzar Midrashim (Eisenstein)

74 texts in Midrash Aggadah

Avraham our Father, The Story of Avraham our Father and Nimrod

Avraham our Father, The Story of Avraham our Father and Nimrod

It was said before Abraham was born. Nimrod was a heretic concerning the truth of the lord blessed be he. He was conceited and he said that he himself was a God. And the people of ...

Divine thronePatriarchsTorahKings

Chapter on Adam HaRishon, Chapter on the First Man

Chapter on Adam HaRishon, Chapter on the First Man (Version 1)

Ten decrees were decreed upon Adam, ten upon Eve, ten upon the serpent, and ten upon the earth: Ten upon man: He was clothed in garments of splendor, but God stripped them from him...

CreationPatriarchsAdam & EvePrayer

Aharon, And These are the Generations of Aharon and Moshe

Aharon, And These are the Generations of Aharon and Moshe

And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses. [Betai Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ot Third Chamber] Our rabbis taught: Brothers who are partners and who increased ...

MosesPatriarchsTorahPrayer

Aharon, Midrash on the Death of Aharon

Aharon, Midrash on the Death of Aharon

Midrash on the death of Aaron "I lost the three shepherds in one month" (Zecharia 11:8); and thus, in one month, Aaron, Miriam, and Moses died. Miriam died on the 1st of the month ...

CreationDivine throneMosesPatriarchs

Sefer HaBahir ("The Book of Brightness")

Sefer HaBahir ("The Book of Brightness")

Sefer HaBahir or Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Rabbi Nehunya ben HaKana, as it is attributed to him, is a profound and wondrous book of Kabbalah, and it is held in gre...

CreationPatriarchsTorahSoul

The Garden of Eden; Gehinnom, The Feast of the Garden of Eden

The Garden of Eden; Gehinnom, The Feast of the Garden of Eden

The Feast of the Garden of Eden [in Seder Rav Amram Gaon 13b, and Beit haMidrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) vol. 5, 45] In the future to come, the Holy Blessed One will rev...

CreationAngelsHeavenAfterlife

The Garden of Eden; Gehinnom, The Book of Gehinnom

The Garden of Eden; Gehinnom, The Book of Gehinnom

The Book of Gehinnom (the place of spiritual purification after death) [Reishit Chochmah: Gate of Fear: Chapter 12; Beit haMidrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary): Section 1] It...

CreationAngelsHeavenAfterlife

Hekhalot, Tractate Hekhalot

Hekhalot, Tractate Hekhalot

The Holy One of Blessing is High and Exalted, His throne is [also] High and Exalted. And from where do we know that the Holy One of Blessing is called "High and Exalted"? From (Isa...

CreationDivine thronePrayerTemple

Chanukah, Megilat Antiochus, Called "The Greek Scroll"

Chanukah, Megilat Antiochus, Called "The Greek Scroll"

It was in the days of Antiochus, king of Greece, he was a great and mighty king, he was powerful in his governance, and all kings listened to him. He conquered many countries and m...

AfterlifeKingsChanukah

Chanukah, Midrash The Tale of Chanukah

Chanukah, Midrash The Tale of Chanukah

It is written (Jeremiah 50:33) "Thus said the LORD of Hosts: The people of Israel are oppressed, And so too the people of Judah etc." and it is written (ibid 34) "Their Redeemer is...

CreationPrayerExileChanukah

Midrash Konen ('He Established')

Midrash Konen ('He Established')

...It is written, "The Lord established the earth with wisdom"—this is the Torah. The Torah, where was it and where will it be? Why is it called Torah? Because a teaching descended...

CreationAngelsAfterlifeDivine throne

The Death of Moses and the Weeping of Heaven

Midrashim on Moses Our Master, Drash on Petirat Moshe

On the last day of his life, Moses did something no prophet had ever done — he dressed his successor in public, with his own hands. He commanded that a golden throne be brought, al...

MosesDeathAngelsTorah

Seventy Names of Metatron

Seventy Names of Metatron

Seventy Names of Metatron: The book "Seventy Names of Metatron", which Rabbi Yishmael revealed, 23 of which he received when he ascended on high. The book was brought to print by R...

CreationAngelsDivine throneMessiah

Midrash Abba Gorion

Midrash Abba Gorion

Abba Gurion: This is also called 'Agadta deMegilta' or 'Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Megillah', as it is based on the Book of Esther. Rabbi Aharon Yellinek published ...

KingsExileEsther

Ethics of the Fathers

Ethics of the Fathers

Pirkei Avot, also known as "Ethics of the Fathers," is one of the most widely studied texts in all of Jewish literature — and one of the most unusual tractates in the Talmud. Unlik...

WisdomAdam & EveMosesLaw

Ethics of The Fathers of Rabbi Nathan

Ethics of The Fathers of Rabbi Nathan

Avot d'Rabbi Natan: One of the minor tractates in the Babylonian Talmud under the order of Nezikin. It serves as a kind of Braitot or Tosefta (supplementary teachings to the Mishna...

WisdomHumorHoly Land

Midrash Avkir

Midrash Avkir

Avkir: This Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) is named so because of the acronym at the end of the teachings: Amen, B'yamenu, Ken, Yehi, Ratzon (in our days, so be it). Th...

KingsAdam & EveWriting

Aggadah

Aggadah

"Aggadah (non-legal rabbinic narrative): A Midrash on the Five Books of the Torah, found in a unique ancient manuscript in the world brought from Aleppo (Aram Tzova). It was publis...

CreationMosesTorah

Aggadata

Aggadata

Agadeta: There are many Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)im called by the name 'Aggadah (non-legal rabbinic narrative)' or 'Agadeta' that were composed by the early schola...

MosesPatriarchsTorah

Agur

Agur

Agur: Rabbi Menachem de Lonzano mentions it in the introduction to his book 'Shtei Yadot' (Venice, 5488 [1728]). He intended to print it in the second part, following the 'Midrash ...

WisdomConversionWriting

Idra Rabba & Idra Zuta

Idra Rabba & Idra Zuta

Idra Raba and Idra Zuta: Two compilations from the Zohar, the first in the portion of Naso and the second in the portion of Ha'azinu. The term "Idra" in Greek means a gathering or ...

TorahPrayerProphecy

Divine Signs

Divine Signs

"Book of Supreme Signs": It is cited in the book "Chag HaPesach (Passover)" by Rabbi Yaakov Kitzingen (Krakow, 5377). In the list of books by Rabbi Moshe David Oppenheim, there's a...

MosesPatriarchsKings

Midrash on Job

Midrash on Job

"Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Job": This is mentioned in the Yalkut Shimoni for Job, reference 997, and in "Matnot Kehuna" on Leviticus, chapter 96. God said to Job, ...

CreationAngelsDemons

Midrash on Lamentations

Midrash on Lamentations

Eikha Rabbah: A midrash (Jewish rabbinic literature) on the Book of Lamentations (Eikha). It is also called Eikha Rabati, Aggadat Eikha, or Midrash Kinot. In the Tosefta (supplemen...

TorahPriesthoodHumorTragedy

Midrash Al Yit'hallel

Midrash Al Yit'hallel

..."Let not the rich person glorify themselves with their wealth (Yirm 9:22)." This [refers to] Korach the Levite, who had three hundred mules just to carry the load of the keys to...

CreationAfterlifeMessiahMoses

Eldad HaDani, The Book of Eldad HaDani, Story 1

Eldad HaDani, The Book of Eldad HaDani, Story 1

Book of Eldad the Danite A Question and Answer between the People of Kairouan and Rabbi Zemach Gaon [Epstein, Eldad the Danite, Story I] Before the chariot of Israel and its horsem...

AngelsDivine throneMosesPatriarchs

Eldad HaDani, The Book of Eldad HaDani, Story 2

Eldad HaDani, The Book of Eldad HaDani, Story 2

Story of Eldad the Danite, Narrative B In the name of the LORD God of Israel, blessed be His name, of our God the King, King of kings, Who chose Israel from among all nations and g...

CreationDemonsAfterlifeMessiah

Midrashim of Rabbi Eliezer, Book of the Ways of Life

Midrashim of Rabbi Eliezer, Book of the Ways of Life

The "Book of the Ways of Life," attributed to Rabbi Eliezer, reads like a father's urgent final letter to his son — a distillation of everything that matters into short, unforgetta...

WisdomAdam & EvePrayerHumor

Lilith Refuses to Lie Beneath Adam in Eden

The Aleph Bet of ben Sira, The Alphabet of ben Sira, (alternative version)

When God created the first man from the dust of the earth, He looked at Adam standing alone and said what the Torah itself records: "It is not good for this man to be alone" (Genes...

LilithAdam & EveDemonsCreation

Midrash Esfah

Midrash Esfah

"Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Esfah": This midrash is based on the verse "Gather for me seventy men" (Numbers 11:16), explaining the names of those seventy individual...

PatriarchsTempleExile

'Resourceful Ways' - Angels and the Divine Throne

'Resourceful Ways'

"Orchot Tushiya": These are the paths that the angel Ezekiel conveyed to our forefather Abraham as part of the covenant traditions. They are cited in the book "HaPliyah", in the in...

AngelsPatriarchsKings

The Order of Arakim - How God Created the World

The Order of Arakim

The Holy One created twenty-two good attributes in His world. All of them were nullified and in the future the Holy One will return them to Israel in the time to come. They are: fo...

CreationAngelsMessiahAdam & Eve

The Book of Trust

The Book of Trust

"Book of Trust": This book is attributed to Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira. Rabbi Hai Gaon (a renowned Jewish sage) mentioned it in his book "The Unity", and it was also referenced by th...

CreationTorahPrayerProphecy

Ben Shua

Ben Shua

"Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Ben Shua": The author of "Seder HaDorot" in Part 3, "Names of the Books", letter Mem, cites a "Midrash Ben Shua" in the name of Mar Rav ...

PatriarchsTorahKings

Midrash Hagadol

Midrash Hagadol

Midrash HaGadol: Several manuscripts of this midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) are found in well-known libraries, and one belonged to Dr. Alexander Kohut, who used it in t...

CreationMosesTorahPrayer

Midrash HaGalui

Midrash HaGalui

And [R. Avraham Saba] also explains the reason for the counting of the omer in Parashat Emor, and these are [his] words: And in the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) HaGal...

MosesPatriarchsTorahPrayer

Devarim Zuta

Devarim Zuta

"Devarim Zuta": This is a midrash on the Book of Deuteronomy that was known to the author of the Yalkut Shimoni, and it appears in the Yalkut Shimoni for the Book of Deuteronomy 31...

PrayerSoulKings

Haggadah

Haggadah

"Haggadah (non-legal rabbinic narrative)": A collection of legends and tales that was available to the ancient scholars. Rashi, of blessed memory, cites it in Sanhedrin (31b): "I f...

PatriarchsTorahPassoverTribes

A Certain Woman From the Wives of the Sons of the Prophets

A Certain Woman From the Wives of the Sons of the Prophets

"And a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets": This midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) is based on the verse, "And a certain woman of the wives of the sons...

PrayerSoulExileElijah

Midrash Vayissu ('And They Journeyed')

Midrash Vayissu ('And They Journeyed')

"Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Vayisu": It is based on the verse "They journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were around them, and they did not pur...

PatriarchsSoulTempleProphecy

Zohar Chadash

Zohar Chadash

"Zohar Chadash": It consists of some esoteric Torah teachings (letters), verses, and Mishnaic teachings with a concealed Midrash on the Torah and the Song of Songs, as well as some...

MosesPatriarchsTorahKings

Zuta

Zuta

"Zuta": "Zuta" is an Aramaic and Arabic word meaning "small" in contrast to "Raba" which means "large" or "great". There are Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic compilatio...

ElijahSolomonMusic & SongPassover

Midrash Chazita

Midrash Chazita

"Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Chazit": It is also called "Aggadat Chazit", and it is a comprehensive midrash on the Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes. These midrashim be...

MosesTorahNoah & Flood

The Wise One of Secrets

The Wise One of Secrets

Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Chacham HaRazim" (The Sage of Secrets): A Midrash regarding angels and gematria (Jewish numerology). According to Stein Schneider, this i...

CreationAngelsAfterlifeDivine throne

Midrashim on Missing and Extra Letters

Midrashim on Missing and Extra Letters

...And in Jonah it is written, "I would rather die than live." Jonah was the son of the woman of Zarfat. He had already died once, and knew that he would have rest, and Elijah did ...

ElijahJonahMusic & SongSin

A Tale of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levy

A Tale of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levy

The deeds of Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi [from the Sefer Ma'asiot of Rabbi Nissim Ga'on; Beit Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)] Rabbi Joshua ben Levi discovered something so ...

CreationTorahPrayerProphecy

Midrash on Yirmiyahu, Aggadah from Midrash Eichah Rabbati

Midrash on Yirmiyahu, Aggadah from Midrash Eichah Rabbati

Legend from "Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Eicha Rabati" [From "Beit Akeid Haggadot" Part 1, 37] God said to Jeremiah, "Go to Anathoth," for as long as Jeremiah was in...

CreationAfterlifePrayerTemple

Midrash Yitbarach ('May He Be Blessed')

Midrash Yitbarach ('May He Be Blessed')

Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) Yitbarach (May He Be Blessed) Blessed be the name of the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, who lives and endures forever and eve...

CreationAfterlifeMosesPatriarchs