Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer

508 texts in Midrash Aggadah

Why Burial in the Holy Land Matters for the Soul

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 34:7

Rab Huna, a prominent Amoraic Sage of the 3rd century, has something quite striking to say about it, preserved for us in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer. He suggests that the location of ou...

JobSoulHoly Land

Rabbi Eliezer Studies Torah

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 34:8

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, in chapter 34, paints a stark, yet ultimately hopeful, picture of this very moment. The text tells us that a person has three friends in their lifetime: the...

TorahMessiahSoulDeath

Where the Soul Goes During the Seven Days of Shiva

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 34:9

It’s a question that’s haunted humanity for, oh, about as long as there have been humans. And while no one has a definitive answer, Jewish tradition offers some beautiful, and even...

HeavenSoulDeath

Lord God Among the Fathers

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 34:10

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...

PatriarchsHumorAdam & EveNoah & Flood

The Journey of the Soul After It Leaves the Body

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 34:11

It’s a question that’s haunted humanity for millennia, and Jewish tradition offers some pretty fascinating answers. Rabbi Azariah, whose wisdom is preserved in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliez...

JobSoulAdam & EveSouls

How the Soul Returns to Its Source After Death

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 34:13

And one of the most poetic comes from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a collection of stories and teachings that many scholars believe comes from around the 8th century. It paints a pictur...

TempleSoulHoly Land

His at the Dawn of Creation

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 34:14

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a collection of stories and interpretations from the early medieval period, paints a vivid picture of the future, a time when the Holy One, blessed be He, w...

CreationDeathRainRighteousness

The Souls That Wait for the Final Resurrection

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 34:15

One particularly evocative image comes from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 34. This text, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations, delves into all sor...

SoulEnd TimesDeath

Jacob's Vision at Bethel and the Messiah to Come

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 35:1

Jewish tradition is full of stories that remind us that endings can be far more significant than beginnings. Take the tale of Jacob's vision at Bethel, for instance, a moment forev...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsMessiah

Death of Abel

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 35:2

Take lentils, for example. They might seem like just another legume, but in Jewish tradition, they carry a heavy weight of sorrow and mourning. Why is that? Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer,...

PatriarchsTempleMiraclesHoly Land

The Miraculous Well That Followed Israel in the Desert

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 35:3

We all know the story of the manna, the miraculous bread from heaven. But what about water? How did they quench their thirst in that desolate landscape? Well, according to Rabbi Ak...

PatriarchsHoly LandMiraclesSupernatural

Jacob's Journey of Beersheba

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 35:4

Maybe the story of Jacob's journey to Haran can shed some light. According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating text filled with aggadic expansions of biblical narratives, Jaco...

PatriarchsJacobAdam & EveHumor

Jacob's Ladder Stretched from Earth to the Throne of God

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 35:6

Tonight, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 35, that does just that. It centers on Jacob, later known as Israel, and a pivota...

CreationHeavenHell/GehennaAngels

Why Jacob Woke in Terror After Dreaming of Heaven

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 35:7

Jacob certainly did. We find him waking up, not with a stretch and a yawn, but in sheer terror. Why? Because of a dream, of course. A dream of a ladder stretching to the heavens, a...

HeavenPatriarchsHoly LandDreams & Visions

Jacob's Pillow Stones Fused Into One Overnight

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 35:8

And Jewish tradition offers a stunning, almost unbelievable, answer. We all know the story of Jacob's dream. Fleeing his brother Esau, he rests his head on a pile of stones and dre...

CreationHeavenPatriarchsTemple

Jacob's Journey of Haran

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 35:9

Our ancestor Jacob knew that feeling well. He was a man on the run, with a destiny he couldn’t fully grasp. Let's rewind a bit. Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau's wrath, finds ...

PatriarchsTempleDreams & Visions

How Laban Deceived Jacob on His Wedding Night

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:1

This ancient text, a treasure trove of Jewish legend and lore, offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of our ancestors. Here, the verse from (Proverbs 4:12), "When thou goest,...

PatriarchsJacobAdam & EveWisdom

Jacob Follows in Abraham's Footsteps Against All Odds

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:3

We find this tale in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations from the early Middle Ages. It paints a vivid picture: Jacob arrives at a well....

PatriarchsJacobAbrahamHeresy

The Meeting at the Well That Changed Israel's Destiny

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:4

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), offers a beautiful, almost poetic, pattern recognition. It points out a recurring m...

PatriarchsMatriarchsJosephMoses

Jacob and the Patriarchs of Laban

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:5

The sages pondered this question deeply, and stories like this one from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (chapter 36) offer a glimpse into the intricate workings of Providence. Rab Huna tell...

PatriarchsMatriarchsMiraclesShabbat

Birth of Laban

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:6

Sometimes, it's not as straightforward as you might think. to a curious passage from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 36, and see what we can uncover about how our ance...

PatriarchsJosephJacobAbraham

Why Jacob Blessed Ephraim Over the Firstborn Manasseh

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:7

It turns out, that feeling might be more ancient and profound than you think. Jewish tradition actually has something pretty amazing to say about it. to a fascinating little teachi...

PatriarchsTribesJacobWomen of the Bible

Marriage of Jacob

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:9

Let’s turn the pages of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 36, and immerse ourselves in the story of Jacob, Rachel, and a wedding that’s more than just a wedding. Jacob, ...

PatriarchsMatriarchsJudgment

The Family Drama of Jacob Leah Rachel and the Sons

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:11

Take the story of Laban, Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, for instance. It's a family drama, yes, but also a window into ancient customs and divine compassion. We read in Pirkei DeRabbi El...

PatriarchsMatriarchsJobTorah

Jacob in Heaven

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:13

We’re diving into some fascinating details from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 36, a text brimming with tantalizing tidbits. Rabbi Eliezer paints a vivid picture of J...

HeavenAngelsPatriarchsMatriarchs

Rachel and the Fires of Gehenna

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:14

What were the Teraphim? The very description from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations, sends chills down my spine. We're told they invol...

Hell/GehennaPatriarchsMatriarchsSoul

Why Rachel Stole Her Father's Household Idols

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:16

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 ...

AngelsAdam & EvePatriarchsMatriarchs

Abraham and the Ark of Cave

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:17

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, by the way, is a beautiful and somewhat enigmatic work of Jewish literature from around the 8th century CE that retells and expands upon biblical narratives...

Noah & FloodPatriarchsTorahCovenant

Abraham's Covenant That Protected the City of Jebus

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:18

The people of Jebus, knowing the Israelites were coming, weren't about to just roll out the welcome mat. But how could they possibly hold off the Israelites, especially knowing abo...

Noah & FloodPatriarchsKing DavidTorah

Covenant of David

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:19

The story we find in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, Chapter 36, about King David and the conquest of Jerusalem, reveals just that. It's a fascinating glimpse into how deeply the covenant ...

HeavenNoah & FloodPatriarchsKing David

How David Conquered the Jebusites Against All Odds

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:20

The scene: King David, poised to capture the city of the Jebusites. But this wasn't just any siege. The Jebusites, confident in their defenses, had placed idols upon their walls – ...

Noah & FloodPatriarchsKing DavidTorah

Isaac and the Philistines Battle Over Abraham's Wells

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:21

That's the pickle Isaac found himself in with the Philistines. We find the story in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (Chapter 36), a fascinating text that retells and expands upon biblical n...

Noah & FloodPatriarchsTorahMiracles

The Covenants That Shaped Israel from Laban to David

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 36:23

Our guide today is a passage from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a captivating work of Jewish legend and lore. Specifically, we're looking at Chapter 36, which touches on some pretty sign...

Noah & FloodPatriarchsKing DavidTorah

David's Ambitious Campaign to Conquer the Land of Edom

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 37:1

It all starts with King David, and his ambition to conquer the land of Edom. According to this ancient text, David really wanted to come into the land of Edom, but he couldn't. Why...

AngelsNoah & FloodPatriarchsKing David

Birth of Esau

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 37:3

Jacob certainly did. Imagine this: He's returning home after years away, and he knows his brother Esau – the very brother he tricked out of his birthright – is coming to meet him. ...

HeavenAngelsPatriarchs

The Exhausted Angel Who Begged Jacob to Let Go

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 37:4

We all know the story: Jacob, preparing to face his estranged brother Esau, finds himself grappling with a mysterious figure in the dead of night. The Torah tells us "a man" wrestl...

AngelsAdam & EvePatriarchsHoly Land

Jacob Among the Heavenly Host

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 37:5

Our ancestor Jacob had that experience, big time, at the ford of the Jabbok (יַבֹּק), a river mentioned in Genesis. The story, as told in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (chapter 37), a fas...

AngelsPatriarchsTribesJacob

Jacob's Image Engraved on the Throne of Glory

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 37:7

It’s a fascinating story that takes us from the biblical Jacob to the very Throne of Glory, with a little help from the angel Michael. According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascin...

HeavenAngelsPatriarchsTorah

Esau's Kiss and the Hidden Bite Mark

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 37:8

The ancient texts are full of such moments, and they often reveal hidden truths about human nature. to one of those stories, a fascinating take on the reunion of Jacob and Esau. Re...

PatriarchsTorahHoly Land

Jacob Sends Tithes as Tribute to Esau

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 37:9

to a fascinating passage from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 37, that wrestles with this very issue, focusing on the complex relationship between Jacob and Esau. The ...

PatriarchsMessiahWisdom

The Dark History of Shechem from Adam to Jacob

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38:1

That’s the unsettling image painted in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38, a fascinating and often overlooked passage in Jewish tradition. It all begins with a cryptic verse from the prophe...

Adam & EvePatriarchsJosephHoly Land

Marriage of Asenath of Joseph

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38:2

Her story, as told in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (chapter 38), takes a turn you might not expect. So, what happened to Asenath before she met Joseph? According to this tradition, Jacob...

AngelsPatriarchsMatriarchsJoseph

Simeon Among the Fathers

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38:3

The story of Simeon and Levi, found in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38, explores just that kind of fiery zeal. It all starts with the violation of their sister, Dinah, by Shechem. The te...

PatriarchsWomen of the BibleTribesSimeon

Jacob's Family Journeys Back to Isaac in Hebron

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38:5

The story in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer paints a pretty vivid picture. Imagine the scene: Jacob, with his sons, grandsons, wives, the whole shebang, journeys to Kirjath Arba, wanting t...

PatriarchsTorahHoly Land

Kingdom of Isaac of Esau

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38:6

We know the story of their fraught relationship, the birthright, the blessing... but what about the inheritance? It's a question that takes us deep into the heart of sibling rivalr...

PatriarchsHoly LandJacobKings

How Esau and Jacob Divided Their Father's Inheritance

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38:7

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...

PatriarchsHoly LandJacobAdam & Eve

Joseph — Gabriel and the Angels

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38:9

That’s definitely not a new phenomenon. to a story from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38, a text filled with midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic interpretations and expansions of...

AngelsPatriarchsJosephProphecy

Reuben Faces Judgment

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38:10

We all know the story: jealous brothers, a colorful coat, a treacherous sale. But sometimes, the details we gloss over hold the most fascinating secrets. to one particular version ...

Hell/GehennaAngelsPatriarchsJoseph