Egypt

3,053 texts · Page 33 of 64

The bondage in Egypt, the ten plagues, the Exodus, and the birth of Israel as a people.

Do Not Cause the Land to Become Deceptive

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

As it says in the Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 788, "Do not deceive the land." Now, this might sound strange. How can we deceive the land? One interpretation offered is a straightforwar...

Hidden Layers in the Law of Holy Things and Tithes

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Today, we’re going to explore just a tiny piece of that world, focusing on a passage from Sifrei Bamidbar, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar in...

Avram and Divine Judgment

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

There's a fascinating passage in Sifrei Bamidbar, a collection of ancient rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Numbers, that dives deep into this very idea. It uses the st...

Who Were the Tribal Chiefs That Brought Offerings

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It describes the offerings brought by the leaders of Israel: "And the chiefs of Israel presented (their offerings)." Now, who were these chiefs? Were they just some random people a...

Yissachar's Offering

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

We're in the Book of Numbers, Bamidbar (7:18), where the heads of the tribes are bringing offerings to the Tabernacle. It says, "On the second day, Nethanel ben Tzuar, the chief of...

Where Did God Speak to Moses - the Tent or the Ark

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

We read in the Torah that God spoke to Moses from the Tent of Meeting, the Ohel Moed (אוהל מועד). But we also read that God spoke to him from above the kaporet (כפורת), the ark cov...

Israel Camped Twelve Months at Sinai Without Complaint

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

We're diving into Sifrei Bamidbar, a fascinating commentary on the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar in Hebrew). And right off the bat, verse 9:1 hits us with something intriguing: "And th...

Temple and the Dreamer of Egypt

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It’s a question that’s resonated throughout Jewish history, and the answer, surprisingly, is all about perspective. Our tradition teaches us that the way we count time is intimatel...

Can the Paschal Lamb Override the Sabbath Laws

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

The Rabbis of the Talmud never take anything at face value. They immediately ask: Why does the Torah even need to say this? Isn't it obvious? R. Yoshiyah starts with a powerful que...

Why the Torah Repeats the Command for Passover Offerings

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

The passage focuses on a seemingly redundant verse, Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:4: "And Moses spoke to the children of Israel to offer the Pesach (Passover)" – the Passover sacrifice. The...

Pillars of Fire and Cloud of Levites

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Seems like a prime opportunity for spiritual growth. But Sifrei Bamidbar, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Numbers, pulls no punches. It points out a rather gla...

Joseph and the First Humans

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Our ancestors certainly did. Today we're diving into a fascinating story from Sifrei Bamidbar, a legal commentary on the Book of Numbers, that grapples with just that feeling of ex...

Moses and the Holy Sanctuary of Passover

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It's all about Pesach (Passover) Sheni, the "Second Passover," and it raises some fascinating questions about intention, distance, and second chances. In the Book of Numbers (Bamid...

Mysterious Dots Above the Torah Text and Their Meaning

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

They might seem like scribal errors, or maybe even decorative flourishes. But in Jewish tradition, these dots – called nekudot – are anything but accidental. They're whispers, secr...

The Second Passover for Those Who Missed the First

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Jewish tradition understands that feeling, and, in a way, provides a "second chance" in the form of Pesach (Passover) Sheni. But what exactly is Pesach Sheni, the "Second Passover"...

Written and Oral Law of Pesach

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It explores the obligations of a ger (גר), a proselyte or convert, specifically concerning the observance of Pesach (Passover), Passover. The verse in question is (Numbers 9:14): "...

Moses and Joseph of Reuel

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It can be surprisingly complicated! Today, we're diving deep into a seemingly simple question: Who exactly was Moses' father-in-law? Was it Chovav, or Reuel, or maybe someone else ...

Moses and the Dreamer of Yitro

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Today, we're diving into a fascinating moment from the book of Bamidbar (Numbers), chapter 10, verse 29, where Moses makes a heartfelt plea to his father-in-law, Yitro (Jethro). Th...

Yithro's Journey

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It’s a theme that echoes even in the most ancient texts, like the story of Yithro, Moses’ father-in-law. In the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar) 10:30, we find a fascinating exchange. Mo...

Yitro in Joseph's Time

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Take Yitro, Moses' father-in-law. He gave Moses invaluable advice on leadership, and his descendants, well, their story is In the Book of Numbers, Bamidbar, chapter 10, verse 32, M...

Those Who Hate the Righteous Hate the Holy One

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

all who hate the righteous are, in effect, haters of the Holy One, blessed be He. Think of it like this: when we strike out against goodness, against justice, against those who emb...

Rabbi Shimon in Joseph's Time

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It seems the Israelites did just that after their exodus from Egypt. In the book of Bamidbar (Numbers), chapter 11, verse 5, we hear them complaining, "We remember the fish that we...

Shimon — Manna from Heaven

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

The Israelites, fresh out of Egypt and sustained by miraculous manna in the desert, certainly did. And their grumbling, as recorded in Sifrei Bamidbar, offers a fascinating glimpse...

Moses at His Breaking Point Leading a Hungry Nation

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

That feeling, that intense pressure, isn't new. Moses, the great leader of the Israelites, felt it too. And the Torah, in its unflinching honesty, doesn't shy away from showing us ...

Moses Doubts God Can Feed Six Hundred Thousand

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

The Book of Numbers, or Bamidbar in Hebrew, gives us a fascinating glimpse into this very question, and the struggles between Moses and the Israelites during their desert wandering...

The Quail That Came with Devastating Consequences

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

The Torah, in the book of Bamidbar (Numbers), gives us a pretty stark example of that. We’re talking about the story of the mann, the miraculous food from heaven that sustained the...

Kingdom of Miriam of Moses

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

The Torah portion of Bamidbar (Numbers) opens a fascinating window into exactly that, with a story about Miriam and Aaron speaking against their brother, Moses. The verse in (Numbe...

Miriam Struck with Leprosy After Challenging Moses

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Today, let’s dive into a fascinating story from the book of Bamidbar (Numbers), specifically chapter 12, verse 10, and explore the moment Miriam, Moses' sister, is struck with tzar...

When Did Libation Offerings Become Obligatory

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

We’re going to dive into one of those today, all about offerings, libations, and when they truly became obligatory for the Israelites. Our journey starts in Bamidbar (Numbers 15:2)...

Sweet Savor Offerings from the Herd and the Flock

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It might seem like a dry topic, but hidden within those details are fascinating glimpses into their world, their understanding of God, and how they expressed devotion. Today, we're...

Welcoming the Stranger Who Sojourns Among Israel

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It’s a question that’s been wrestled with for centuries, and the answers are surprisingly nuanced. Today, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Sifrei Bamidbar, a collection...

Who Must Wear Tzitzit and Why Women Are Exempt

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

They might seem like a minor detail, but within those knotted threads lies a whole world of meaning. Today, we're diving into Sifrei Bamidbar, a collection of ancient rabbinic lega...

Aaron and the Fires of Gehenna of Kohanim

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Today, we’re diving into the book of Bamidbar (Numbers), specifically chapter 18 in Sifrei Bamidbar, to unpack the intense responsibilities placed on the Kohanim and Levi'im (Levit...

Firstborn Redemption for Humans and Blemished Animals

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It all starts with the verse, "All that opens the womb of all flesh" (Numbers 18:15). Right away, the text asks a crucial question: does this include animals? The answer, as often ...

The Levites' Tithe and the Tithe Within the Tithe

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It's more than just giving ten percent, it's a deeply nuanced system. to a passage from Sifrei Bamidbar, specifically section 120, to unpack some of the details. The verse in quest...

Abraham Isaac and Jacob of Yochanan

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

In the Book of Bamidbar (Numbers 19:1-2), we read: "And the L-rd spoke to Aaron and to Moses saying: This is the statute of the Torah, which the L-rd has commanded, saying: Speak t...

Who Gets a Share of the Promised Land and Who Does Not

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

In the book of Bamidbar (Numbers), we find ourselves wrestling with just that: Who gets a share of the Promised Land? The verse in Bamidbar 26:53 states: "To these shall the land b...

How the Land Was Divided by Population and by Lot

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It wasn't as simple as drawing lines on a map. Oh no, it involved divine guidance, population counts, and even a bit of negotiation! to the fascinating details. The verse in Bamidb...

Tzelofchad and the Dreamer

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It’s not as simple as drawing lines on a map! Sifrei Bamidbar, a collection of rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Numbers, sheds some light on this. We learn that when t...

Kingdom of Tzelofchad

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Let’s take a look at a fascinating little puzzle from Sifrei Bamidbar, a midrash – a Jewish interpretive work – on the Book of Numbers. We’re talking about (Numbers 27:2), where it...

Inheritance Passes to Daughters When No Sons Exist

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Today, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Sifrei Bamidbar, a collection of legal interpretations on the Book of Numbers, to unpack some of the intricate rules of inherita...

Moses Begs God to Reveal If He Will Cross the Jordan

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

The passage opens with the verse from Devarim (Deuteronomy) 3:23: "And I supplicated (va'ethchanan) the L-rd." Va'ethchanan, the text tells us, is a term loaded with entreaty, a he...

Moses Asks God to Appoint a Worthy Successor

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It’s a question the Torah touches upon in subtle, yet profound ways. We find a beautiful example in the book of Bamidbar, Numbers, chapter 27, verse 15. "And Moses spoke to the L-r...

Joshua — Moses's Transgression

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

Our tradition teaches us it's something far more profound, something deeply connected to the well-being of the people. We find a fascinating insight in Sifrei Bamidbar, a collectio...

Eve Before the Altar

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It's really. Take, for instance, a seemingly straightforward verse about offerings in the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar). and see what the Sifrei Bamidbar, an ancient rabbinic commenta...

First Days of Existence and the Altar

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

It wasn't just about following rules; it was about timing, intention, and connecting with something far greater than ourselves. Our journey begins with a verse from Bamidbar (Numbe...

The Goat That Atoned for Impurity Discovered Too Late

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

In Jewish law, this creates a state of ritual impurity, or tumah. It's a pretty unsettling thought, isn’t it? So, how do we atone for this accidental transgression? Well, Sifrei Ba...

Seven Days of Passover Offerings Without Interruption

Other Texts Midrash Aggadah

That's where today’s little gem from Sifrei Bamidbar (a legal commentary on the Book of Numbers) comes in. The verse we're focusing on is from Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:24: "As these s...