“The tongue of the suckling sticks to its palate from

Midrash Rabbah Eikhah Rabbah 4:7

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 1, 2025

“The tongue of the suckling sticks to its palate from thirst; infants request bread, and no one breaks it with them” (Lamentations 4:4).“The tongue of the suckling sticks.” Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: The stream of water that flowed from the shops,19These shops were located near the Temple Mount. the tormentors destroyed it and emptied it. A person was leading his son to the stream, but did not find water. His tongue would stick to his palate from thirst.“Infants request bread [and no one breaks it [pores] with them]” Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yehuda said: If there is no one to give it to them, who will comfort them? Just as it says: “They will not break bread [yifresu] for them in mourning” (Jeremiah 16:7). Rabbi Neḥemya said: There is no one who will give them a slice of bread, just as it says: “Is it not to slice [paros] your bread for the hungry” (Isaiah 58:7). The Rabbis say: They have no one to stand in the line,20The customary lines of comforters between whom the mourner passes at the conclusion of the burial. just as it says: “Everything…that has split hooves [mafreset parsa]” (Leviticus 11:3).

Themes

Prophecy Temple Mourning Divine justice Death

Biblical References

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