Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer

508 texts in Midrash Aggadah

Kingdom of Rabbi Eliezer

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42:5

Rabbi Eliezer, in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating work of Jewish aggadah (non-legal rabbinic narrative) and folklore, paints a breathtaking picture. It's more than just a sim...

TorahKingsTribesAdam & Eve

Who Was Brave Enough to Step Into the Sea First

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42:6

We all know the story of the Exodus, of course. Moses, the pillar of cloud, the parting waters… But who was brave enough to actually take the first step into the unknown? According...

MosesTempleHoly LandEgypt

The Egyptians Drowned and God Did Not Celebrate

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42:8

We're going to look at a passage from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 42. This work, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, is a beautiful, almost dreamlike, retelling of biblical na...

MosesEgyptJudgment

The Nile Spat the Hebrew Babies Back to Shore

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42:9

The desperation, the cruelty… it’s almost too much to bear. But what if I told you that Jewish tradition offers a surprising, even comforting, twist on that horrific decree? Accord...

JosephPrayerHoly LandEgypt

What Israel Found on the Shore After Egypt Drowned

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42:10

We read about it every year during Passover, the triumphant moment of freedom. But have you ever paused to imagine the aftermath? The Book of Exodus tells us, "And Israel saw the E...

MosesHoly LandEgypt

Kingdom of Jeroboam

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42:11

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...

JosephMosesRepentanceHoly Land

Pharaoh and the Angels

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42:13

The Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating and often poetic work of Midrash (Jewish Biblical exegesis), gives us a glimpse into the hearts and minds of the Israelites at that pivota...

AngelsMosesTorahPrayer

Sisera and the Dreamer

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42:14

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and elaborations on Biblical narratives, gives us a glimpse. In Chapter 42, we find a surprising dialogue between God an...

JosephEgyptAdam & EveExodus

Moses Pleads with God to Enter the Promised Land

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 42:16

to a fascinating moment from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 42, where Moses himself is in conversation with the Holy One, blessed be He. The Israelites are on the cus...

MosesMessiahHoly Land

Ahab and Divine Judgment

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 43:1

Jewish tradition grapples with this question constantly, and one of the most powerful answers lies in the concept of teshuvah (repentance) – repentance. But is it really that power...

Hell/GehennaPatriarchsElijahPrayer

David and Goliath of Abishai

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 43:2

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 ...

Noah & FloodKing DavidTorahTemple

David Among the Heavenly Host

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 43:3

This story comes to us from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating text filled with tales and legends. It tells of a moment when someone – and the text doesn't explicitly name names...

AngelsKing DavidRepentanceHoly Land

Wisdom of Manasseh

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 43:4

Jewish tradition, in its infinite wisdom, offers a resounding "No!" Let's talk about Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, King of Judah. This isn't your average "sinned a little" kind of guy...

HeavenPrayerRepentanceHoly Land

Death of Simeon

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 43:5

The Jewish tradition wrestles with this question all the time, especially through the concept of teshuvah (repentance) – repentance, return. And there's a powerful story in Pirkei ...

Hell/GehennaTorahPrayerRepentance

The Thief Who Repented Versus the One Who Did Not

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 43:7

Two dead companions stand before the Holy One, blessed be He, and they have a complaint. A serious one. "Sovereign of the universe!" they exclaim, "There's favoritism here! This gu...

Hell/GehennaRepentanceDeath

Did Pharaoh Actually Repent Before He Drowned

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 43:8

The Jewish tradition is full of surprising answers, and today we're diving into one of the most unexpected: the story of Pharaoh's repentance. Now, when we think of Pharaoh, images...

Hell/GehennaJosephMosesJob

Mount Sinai and the Lawgiver of Hosea

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 43:10

The prophets of Israel knew that feeling all too well. They saw their people straying, falling, losing their way. And they weren't afraid to call it out. But more importantly, they...

MosesHoly LandSinaiSacrifice

Elijah Warns Without Repentance There Is No Redemption

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 43:12

Rabbi Jehudah, a voice of wisdom in this ancient text, puts it rather bluntly: If Israel doesn't repent, there will be no redemption. Pretty straightforward. But then comes the kic...

ElijahProphecyRepentanceHoly Land

Israel's Doubts in the Wilderness Invited Amalek's Attack

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 44:1

The Israelites certainly did, wandering in the wilderness after the incredible Exodus from Egypt. And their doubts, as we'll see, had serious consequences. Rabbi Jochanan, son of N...

HeavenJosephHoly LandEgypt

Amalek Attacked Israel Right After the Sea Parted

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 44:2

Yeah, the Israelites knew that feeling all too well. We find ourselves in the Book of Exodus, chapter 17. The Israelites have escaped Egypt, they’ve crossed the Red Sea, and they’r...

JobEgyptDivine justiceSacrifice

Pillars of Fire and Cloud of Amalek

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 44:3

The Israelites are wandering in the desert, fresh from their miraculous escape from Egypt. They’re under divine protection. A pillar of cloud surrounds their camp, shielding them. ...

PatriarchsHoly LandProtectionFire

When Moses Raised His Hands Israel Defeated Amalek

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 44:5

That feeling, that connection, it's at the heart of this story from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, Chapter 44. The Israelites are facing a fearsome foe: Amalek. Moses, wise and divinely c...

HeavenMosesHoly Land

Death of Amalek

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 44:7

In Jewish tradition, there's one enemy that embodies that more than any other: Amalek. We all know the story of the Exodus. The Israelites, fresh out of slavery in Egypt, wandering...

EgyptWarDivine justiceDeath

Why Moses Carried Joseph's Bones Out of Egypt

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 44:9

One that even Moses, the great lawgiver, wrestled with. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, in chapter 44, tells a story that illuminates this very struggle. Rabbi Phineas shares a fascinating...

JosephMosesMessiahHoly Land

The Sabbath Question That Stumped Moses in the Desert

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 44:10

The ancient Israelites certainly did. They came to Moses with a real head-scratcher. "Moses!" they asked, according to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval midrash ...

MosesTorahHoly LandShabbat

Saul in Battle of Amalekites

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 44:11

The scene is set: Saul, the first king of Israel, is preparing for battle against the Amalekites. This wasn't just any battle. The Amalekites, as we read elsewhere in Torah, held a...

MosesHoly LandWarLove

Kingdom of Sennacherib

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 44:12

Sometimes, you tug on one thread and suddenly a whole forgotten drama unfolds. Take, for instance, the story of Sennacherib, the Assyrian king who shook the ancient world. Accordin...

PatriarchsKing DavidMessiahHoly Land

The Burning Bush of Israelites

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45:1

But what if there's more to the story than we usually hear? to a fascinating piece of Jewish lore found in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, chapter 45, which offers a unique perspective. Th...

JosephMosesHoly LandEgypt

Aaron and Moses of Ephrath

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45:2

It wasn't exactly a quiet retreat for the Israelites down below, that's for sure! According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations, thin...

MosesKing DavidHoly LandWomen of the Bible

Aaron's Impossible Choice and the Golden Calf

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45:4

We all know the story: Moses is up on Mount Sinai, receiving the Torah, and the Israelites, feeling abandoned, demand a new god. But what was going on behind the scenes? What choic...

MosesTempleMessiahHoly Land

Aaron and the Golden Calf While Moses Was on Sinai

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45:5

We all know the story from Exodus 32 – Moses is up on Mount Sinai, receiving the Ten Commandments, and the Israelites, feeling abandoned, demand that Aaron make them a god. But how...

MosesDanielPriesthoodSin

The Fallen Angel Who Tricked Israel into Idolatry

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45:7

A story found woven into the ancient text of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer. The scene: Mount Sinai. Moses is up there receiving the Torah, the ultimate gift, the very blueprint for a just...

JosephMosesHoly LandEgypt

The Ten Commandments of Aaron

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45:9

The luchot, as they're known in Hebrew. The Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations, paints a vivid picture of this moment. Initially, the t...

MosesTorahPriesthoodAdam & Eve

The Tribe of Levi Stood Firm While Israel Sinned

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45:11

The text from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, chapter 45, sheds some light. The Rabbi points out that "All the princes were not associated in the affair of the calf." Where do we see this?...

HeavenMosesHoly LandShekhinah

Abraham — Moses and the Angels

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45:12

That's the situation Moses faced in a powerful story found in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (chapter 45). The story opens with a terrifying decree: God, in his anger, sends not one, but f...

HeavenPatriarchsMosesMessiah

God Nearly Destroyed Israel After the Golden Calf

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 45:13

The ancient texts are full of these brushes with oblivion, and the forces, both divine and human, that intervene. to a fascinating passage from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a collection...

AngelsMosesHoly LandExile

The Ten Commandments of Sabbath

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:1

We know the big story: God, Moses, the Ten Commandments... but what about the details? to a fascinating passage from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a beautiful and often imaginative work ...

MosesTorahMiraclesHoly Land

Moses — Oral Torah

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:2

It's more than just a tradition; it's a sonic echo of a pivotal moment in our history, a chance to realign ourselves before the Days of Awe. Rabbi Joshua, son of Ḳorchah, gives us ...

MosesTorahPrayerHoly Land

The Sapphire Tablets Were Not Made by Human Hands

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:3

Rabbi Tachanah, quoted in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (chapter 46), gives us a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain. He says the tablets weren't some earthly creation, dug up from the...

MosesTorahEgyptExodus

Angels Tried to Keep the Torah for Themselves

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:5

It’s a story filled with divine drama, a bit of celestial squabbling, and Moses, our ever-persistent leader, standing his ground. , shall we? The scene: Moses is up in the heavenly...

AngelsMosesTorahWisdom

Moses Spent Forty Days on Sinai Seeking Atonement

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:7

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...

MosesTorahMessiahRepentance

Blessing of Sammael

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:8

Jewish tradition wrestles with these questions constantly, and one particularly fascinating perspective comes from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a collection of stories and interpretatio...

DemonsRepentanceHoly LandHolidays

How Yom Kippur Tricks the Accuser into Silence

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:9

We all know it's a time of intense reflection, fasting, and prayer. But according to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval text, there's a cosmic drama unfolding alo...

HeavenAngelsDemonsTemple

Moses Learns the Thirteen Attributes of God's Mercy

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:10

Our ancestors felt that too, especially when seeking connection with the Divine. The scene is set in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (chapter 46), a fascinating text that expands on biblica...

MosesRepentanceHoly Land

Moses Wanted to See God's Glory and Even Angels Couldn't

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:12

It's a story of intense longing, divine protection, and a glimpse into the unknowable. Imagine Moses, up on Mount Sinai. He's already had quite the encounter with the Almighty, rec...

HeavenAngelsMosesSoul

God Forgives Israel After the Sin of the Golden Calf

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 46:13

to a fascinating moment between Moses and the Holy One, blessed be He, from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, chapter 46. The scene is intense. The Israelites have committed the grave sin of...

MosesHoly LandSinPrayer

Elazar — Giving of the Torah

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 47:1

Like you're almost superhuman, and then…bam! Reality hits. That feeling, that tension between the ideal and the real, is at the heart of a fascinating passage from Pirkei DeRabbi E...

AngelsMosesTorahDivine Names

The Angelic Wings That Once Sheltered All of Israel

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 47:2

The Israelites, fresh from the Exodus, experienced just that, according to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations of Jewish tradition. Rabb...

AngelsHoly LandHeresyHumor