Divine justice

1,478 texts · Page 25 of 31

How the rabbis wrestled with the problem of suffering, the prosperity of the wicked, and the justice of God.

Avot DeRabbi Natan 8

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

JOSHUA B. PERAḤIAH AND NITTAI THE ARBELITE RECEIVED THE TRADITION FROM THE PRECEDING. JOSHUA B. PERAḤIAH SAID: PROVIDE YOURSELF WITH A TEACHER, AND GET YOURSELF A COMPANION, AND JU...

Avot DeRabbi Natan 30

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

R. NATHAN1Aboth 4:11 (Sonc. ed., IV, 9, pp. 48f) where the dictum is given in reverse order in the name of R. Jonathan. GRA emends to R. Jonathan b. Joseph, a disciple of R. ‘Aḳiba...

Avot DeRabbi Natan 32

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

THERE WERE TEN GENERATIONS FROM ADAM TO NOAH. What need is there for mankind to [know] this? It is to teach you that although those generations provoked Him continually, the Holy O...

Avot DeRabbi Natan 40

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

There are four acts that a man performs, the fruits of which he enjoys in this world, while the capital is laid up for him in the world to come. They are: honouring father and moth...

Jethro Begged Moses to Accept Him as a Convert

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

In the Hebrew Bible, Jethro visits Moses in the wilderness, gives advice about delegating judges, and leaves. The Targum Jonathan on (Exodus 18) transforms this administrative visi...

Worms Devoured the Spies' Tongues as Punishment

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The punishment of the ten faithless spies in the Hebrew Bible is a single verse. The Targum Jonathan turns it into body horror: worms emerging from their navels and consuming their...

God Chose Israel for Humility, Not Greatness

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The Targum Jonathan on (Deuteronomy 7) contains one of the most theologically radical statements in all of ancient Aramaic literature. God did not choose Israel because they were t...

Pesikta Rabbati 5

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

… it is written there “Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You…” (Melachim I 8:27) and here it is written “…the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” (Sh...

Yalkut Shimoni 745

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

[Ed.: "Menorah" down below should probably be Menuda. "Chazar l'Suro", is the only time in Chazal that that form appears. It appears frequently, also in regard to converts, as Chaz...

The High Priest's Mother Fed the Man Who Killed

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

In ancient Israel, a person who killed someone by accident did not go free. Neither was he executed. He ran for his life to one of six cities of refuge, and the roads that led ther...

Why God Mourns When the Wicked Are Destroyed

Talmud Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

A Roman emperor once told Rabban Gamliel: "Your God is a thief. He put Adam to sleep and stole one of his ribs." Before Rabban Gamliel could answer, his daughter interrupted. Accor...

The Roman Who Challenged the Rabbis About God

Talmud Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The Roman emperor challenged Rabban Gamliel with a direct theological question: if your God is everywhere, why can He not be seen? According to Sanhedrin 39b, the conversation expo...

A husband inherits from his wife

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

"A husband inherits from his wife." From where do we learn this? Learn it from “And he shall inherit it,” (Numbers 27:11) with the word “it” written in the feminine “otah,” which c...

As I live, declares the Lord God, I will reign over you

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

As I live, declares the Lord God, I will reign over you with a strong hand, etc., and with overflowing fury: It is taught—we do not have less than ten [verses about God's] kingship...

Our Rabbis taught — At the time that the anointed king

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Our Rabbis taught: At the time that the anointed king comes, he [will] stand on the roof of the temple and announce to Israel and say "Humble ones! The time of your redemption has ...

As if a man flees from the lion and the bear meets him, and

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

...As if a man flees from the lion and the bear meets him, and he comes to the house and leans his hand on the wall, and a serpent bites him. (Amos 5:19) ‘As if a man flees from th...

But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back" (Ruth

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back" (Ruth 1:8): Why did she send them back? In order not to be embarrassed by them. For so did we find that in Jerusalem there wer...

And he will be like a planted tree — Rabbi Yose expounded

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

And he will be like a planted tree: Rabbi Yose expounded, "To what is the matter similar? To a man that was walking in an arid land and his soul was dismayed with thirst. He [then]...

See [Hen], God is beyond reach in His power (Job 36 — 22)

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

See [Hen], God is beyond reach in His power (Job 36:22): Rav Berakhiah said, "It is in the Greek language [as hen means one]. It is as you say, One is our God: Exalted in His power...

Tithes and Offerings - When do the priests enter to eat the

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(Gemara) Let us see: when do the priests enter to eat the Terumah? Is it not when the stars appear? Let then the Mishnah (the earliest code of rabbinic law) say: "From the time the...

Reciting the Shema - However, he applies his signs to the

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

How does R. Eliezer arrive at these conclusions? Does he apply the signs to the beginning or to the end of each watch? If he applies his signs to the beginning of each watch, then ...

Samuel in the name of Rab said - "Three watches has the night

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

R. Isaac b. Samuel in the name of Rab said: "Three watches has the night and at the beginning of every watch the Holy One, praised be He! sits and roars like a lion and says 'Woe t...

Elijah Why did you enter this ruin?' 'To

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

We are taught that R. Jose says: "once upon a time I was walking on a road and I entered one of the ruins of Jerusalem to pray. Elijah, blessed be his memory! came and watched me a...

Rabbi Yochanan in Berakhot

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

[It is written] (Ps. 66:1) A prayer of David, preserve my soul, for I am pious. R. Levi and R. Isaac both explain this passage. One said : "Thus said David before the Holy One, pra...

The World to Come - He whole night without having read

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(Ib. b) We are taught: The sages made a fence to their words [to protect their ordinances], lest a man coming from the field in the evening, would say: "I will go home, eat a littl...

The World to Come - He who recites Te-hila l' David (Ps.

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

R. Elazar b. Abina said : "He who recites Te-hila l' David (Ps. 145) three times a day may be sure of an inheritance in the world to come." What is the reason? Shall I say because ...

The Evil Inclination in Berakhot

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(Fol. 5a) R. Levi b. Chama, in the name of Simon b. Lakish said: "At all times let man stir up his good inclination against the evil inclination), for it is said (Ps. 4:5) Tremble,...

Rabbi Yochanan Whence we infer that—all were

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Furthermore, said R. Levi b. Chama, in the name of Resh Lakish : "What is meant by the passage (Ex. 24:12) And I will give thee the tablets of stone, with the law and the Commandme...

Rabbi Yochanan Whoever occupies himself with the

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

A disciple recited before R. Jochanan: "Whoever occupies himself with the study of the Torah and with the practice of loving kindness and (Ib. b.) buries his children [during his l...

How does one invite [others to recite a blessing]?

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

How does one invite [others to recite a blessing]? With three [people], one says "let us bless [God]". With three and himself, he says "bless [God]". Gemara (the rabbinic commentar...

Translation - What is the law regarding the blessings of a

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Translation: What is the law regarding the blessings of a non-Jew, whether he is a Torah scholar or not? Rabbi says: "If he blesses with enthusiasm, he is a Torah scholar, and if n...

The World to Come - Whoever blesses over a full cup is

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Rabbi Yochanan made a promise that sounds almost too good to be true: "Whoever blesses over a full cup is granted an inheritance without boundaries." The teaching, preserved in Ein...

Resh Lakish When Aaron died, Sichon was still

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(1) ROSH HASHANAH (Fol. 2b) "When Aaron died, Sichon was still living (Fol. 3), as it is written (Num. 21, 1) And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, heard. What did he hear? He heard...

King Solomon How can we assume that Cyrus became

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(2) (Fol. 3b) R. Abahu said: "Cyrus was a worthy king, and therefore were his royal years counted in accordance with those of the kings of Israel [beginning with Nissan]." R. Josep...

Passover - However, they were redeemed from

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(3) (Fol. 10b) We have been taught that R. Eliezer says: "In the month of Tishri the world was created; in the month of Tishri the Patriarchs [Abraham and Jacob], were born, and in...

Passover - However, says Whence do we know that

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(4) R. Joshua, however, says: "Whence do we know that the Patriarchs were born in the month of Nissan? It is said (I Kings 6, 1) In the fourth year, in the month Ziv (glory), which...

Yom Kippur - He who hath fashioned all their

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(7) (Fol. 16) MISHNAH (the earliest code of rabbinic law): At four periods in each year the world is judged; on Passover, in respect to the growth of grain; on Pentecost, in respec...

Rabbi Joshua in Rosh Hashanah

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(8) With whose opinion does our Mishnah (the earliest code of rabbinic law) agree? Neither with that of R. Maier, nor with that of R. Juda, nor with that of R. Jose, nor with that ...

Passover - Why does the Torah command (Lev.

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(9) We are taught in a Baraitha: R. Juda taught in the name of R. Akiba: "Why does the Torah command (Lev. 23, 10) a sheaf of the first fruits to be brought on the Passover? Becaus...

Isaac said - "A year which is poor (Israel appears humble) in

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(10) R. Isaac said: "A year which is poor (Israel appears humble) in the beginning, will be rich in the end (Israel's request will be granted). What is the reason for it? For it is...

Yom Kippur - Whence do we infer this?

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(11) R. Kruspedai said in the name of R. Jochanan: "Three books are opened on New Year's Day: one for the grossly wicked, one for the perfectly righteous, and one for the intermedi...

Raba expounded what is meant by the passage (Ps.

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(13) Raba expounded what is meant by the passage (Ps. 116, 1) It is lovely to me that the Lord heareth my voice. Thus said the congregation of Israel unto the Holy One, praised be ...

Rabbi Eliezer How does He do it?

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(15) It is said above that the school of Hillel said: "He who abounds in kindness inclines [the scale of justice] towards the side of kindness." How does He do it? R. Eliezer said:...

Rabbi Joshua He who overlooks retaliation does

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

It was taught in the school of R. Ishmael that He pardons one sin after the other before they are put on the scales; and this is the divine custom." "Nevertheless," remarked Raba, ...

Rabbi Yochanan Whenever Israel sins, let them do

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(16) (Ib. b) (Ex. 34, 6), And the Lord passed by before him and proclaimed. R. Jochanan said: "Had this passage not been written, it would have been impossible to think of it, for ...

Yom Kippur - He who repents during the interval

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(17) R. Jochanan said: "Repentance, is a great thing, for it tears (cancels) the [evil] decree against man; as it is said (Isa. 6, 10) Obdurate will remain the heart of this people...

Rabbi Meir in Rosh Hashanah

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Come, listen. The proselyte Beluria asked Rabban Gamaliel: "It is written in your Torah (Deut. 17) The Lord who forgiveth no persons and taketh no bribe; and it is also written (Nu...

Yom Kippur - Whence do we know that a decree

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(18) R. Samuel b. lnya said in the name of Rab: "Whence do we know that a decree against a community is not confirmed." Is that true? Behold, it is written (Jer. 2, 22) The stain o...