Talmud Bavli, Bava

15 texts in Midrash Aggadah

God's Oath

Bava Batra 73a

The Talmud tells us a wild story about Rabbah bar Bar Hannah, a figure whose legendary travels are filled with unbelievable encounters (B. Bava Batra 73a). On one of these journeys...

HeavenTorahMosesExile

The Rabbis Overrule God

Bava Metzia 59b

Bava Metzia 59b), a story about rabbinic authority and, surprisingly, God's good-natured acceptance of it. It all starts with a disagreement. Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, a renowned...

CreationDemonsHeavenTorah

The Fiery Waves

Bava Batra 73a

Jewish tradition understands that feeling, and even gives it a name: fiery waves. These aren't just any ordinary ocean waves, mind you. These are the ones, we're told in the Talmud...

MosesAdam & EveHoly Land

Behemoth

Bava Batra 74b

This isn't your average garden-variety beast. We're talking colossal, legendary. According to some accounts, Behemoth is so massive it's the size of a thousand mountains! Can you e...

CreationHeavenMessiahCreatures

The Ziz

Bava Batra 73a

I'm not talking about some sci-fi creature, but a being from Jewish lore: the Ziz. Imagine this: a colossal bird, its feet planted in the ocean, the water only reaching its ankles....

CreationHeavenMessiahTorah

The Re'em

Bava Batra 73a

It’s about a creature that is the size of a mountain... at least when it’s a baby! We're talking about the re'em. Now, the re'em is a fascinating beast. Think unicorn, or maybe rhi...

CreationHeavenCreaturesExile

The Celestial Academy

Bava Metzia 85b

We often think of it as a place of eternal rest, but Jewish tradition paints a far more dynamic picture, especially when it comes to the Celestial Academy. Imagine a place where Go...

CreationAngelsHeavenMessiah

The Punishment Of Korah

Bava Batra 74a

The story centers around Rabbah bar Bar Hannah, a figure known for his… let’s just say, colorful travel stories. One day, as recounted in Bava Batra 74a, a Bedouin approached Rabba...

AngelsHeavenHell/GehennaTorah

Abraham's Glowing Stone

Bava Batra 16b

According to some fascinating old stories, Abraham wore a glowing stone around his neck. What was it? A pearl, some say. Others claim it was a magnificent jewel. But whatever its c...

HeavenPatriarchsAdam & EveNoah & Flood

Abraham's Name

Bava Batra 16b

Our tale begins with Abram, a skilled astrologer. Now, picture this: Abram gazes up at the night sky, charting the constellations, mapping the movements of the planets. But what he...

DemonsHeavenTorahPatriarchs

The Mystery Of The Cherubim

Bava Batra 99a

We hear whispers of incredible things, and today, let's focus on one of the most intriguing: the cherubim. These weren't your chubby, winged babies from Renaissance art. These cher...

CreationAngelsDemonsAdam & Eve

God's Mourning

Bava Batra 74a

Jewish tradition isn't afraid to explore that question. And when we do, we find a God who isn't detached from our pain, but deeply, profoundly moved by it. Take the destruction of ...

HeavenTorahMosesAdam & Eve

The Dead Of The Desert

Bava Batra 73b

And the Talmud, specifically Bava Batra 73b, offers a startling, almost unbelievable answer through a story featuring the sage Rabbah bar Bar Hannah. Rabbah, a well-known figure in...

DemonsHeavenTorahMoses

Fat Geese For The World To Come

Bava Batra 73b

According to the Babylonian Talmud (B. Bava Batra 73b), Rabbah stumbled upon a sight that would make any foodie's jaw drop: two geese. But these weren't your average farmyard fowl....

MessiahWomen of the BibleHeavenEnd Times

A Tabernacle For The Righteous

Bava Batra 75 a

We get glimpses, whispers, from our tradition. And some of them are Take this one, about the skin of the Leviathan... So, picture this: the World to Come, Olam Ha-Ba (the World to ...

MessiahAdam & EveCreaturesTemple