Egypt

3,053 texts · Page 55 of 64

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

Lending Money and the Hidden Cosmic Debt We Owe

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More importantly, there's a way out. The verse in Exodus (22:24) says, "If you lend money to My people, to the poor who is with you, you shall not be as a creditor to him; you shal...

The Three Pilgrimage Festivals and Their Deeper Meaning

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Rabbi Abahu offers a powerful insight into this very question, drawing from the book of Exodus. "Three pilgrimage festivals you shall hold a festival to Me during the year" (Exodus...

The Dangers of Lending Money With Interest

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To a passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, and see how shockingly relevant it still is. We're talking about money, lending, an...

Return a Borrowed Garment Before the Sun Sets

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To a passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, and see how it pulses with a very human heart. It's a passage all about lending, bo...

Do Our Opinions of Judges Have Divine Consequences

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One minute someone is a hero, the next... well, not so much. It's human nature. But what about those in positions of authority, like judges? Do our shifting opinions of them have c...

The Newborn Animal Must Stay Seven Days With Its Mother

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In this week's exploration, we turn to Shemot Rabbah 31, a beautiful midrash (rabbinic interpretation) on a seemingly simple verse in Exodus, to unpack this very idea. The verse in...

How We Treat the Poor Reveals Who We Are

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Jewish tradition has a powerful answer to that feeling, and it all revolves around how we treat the poor and vulnerable among us. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilie...

God Humbles One and Elevates Another Like a Wheel

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Sometimes you're on top, sometimes you're on the bottom. It's a powerful image, and one that resonates deeply in Jewish tradition. Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrashic ...

You Shall Not Be as a Creditor to Him

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It’s all about how we interact, how we support each other, and what happens when that balance is disrupted. Consider this: the Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Rabbinic comme...

Korah in Paradise

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It's not just about power, but about the very fabric of society and our relationship with the Divine. The book of Exodus, specifically 22:27, lays down a firm rule: "You shall not ...

Cain and the Greed That Rushes After Wealth

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Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Exodus, dives deep into this idea, using the verse "If you lend money to My people" (Exodus 22:24) as a springboard ...

How the Golden Calf Changed Everything for Israel

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Jewish tradition is filled with these "what ifs," these pivot points where history teetered. Take the story of the Golden Calf. According to Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic...

God Sends an Angel After Israel's Betrayal

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In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exploration of this very question. It begins with a verse: "Behold, I am sen...

Moses Pleads With God After the Golden Calf

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Our story begins after the devastating sin of the Golden Calf. Can you imagine the scene? Moses is up on Mount Sinai, receiving the very word of God, while down below, the Israelit...

The Angel Whose Name Is in Him Cannot Pardon

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These questions bubble to the surface when we delve into a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Exodus. It centers on a v...

A Woman Betrayed Her Lover and So Did Israel

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To Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Exodus. Specifically, we're looking at section 32, where Rabbi Yitzchak opens with a verse from Jeremiah ...

One Good Deed Earns You a Guardian Angel

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It hinges on the verse, "Behold, I am sending an angel before you" (Exodus 23:20). But it doesn't stop there. It connects it beautifully with a passage from Psalms: "The angel of t...

God Reconciles Mercy and Justice for Israel's Sake

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It’s a question that takes us to the heart of Jewish thought, and to a fascinating passage in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. The pas...

God Almost Destroyed Israel for the Golden Calf

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It happened. And the story, found in Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, is It all starts after the Golden Calf incident. Moses, understa...

Divine Presence of Isaac

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The Jewish tradition is rich with stories of angels, not just as winged figures, but as manifestations of the Divine Presence itself. And their role? To safeguard and redeem. to on...

Take Me as a Gift - Torah as God's Own Presence

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It all starts with the verse, "Speak to the children of Israel, and they shall take Me a gift; from every man whose heart pledges, you shall collect My gift" (Exodus 25:2). But ins...

Moses Ascended Sinai and Took Torah as Captive Gift

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Our story begins with the verse, "They shall take Me a gift" (Exodus 25:2). But where does this gift come from? Shemot Rabbah dives into this, connecting it to a verse in Psalms: "...

Rod and Serpent of Songs

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The congregation of Israel itself has felt that way! Our passage opens with a fascinating connection between the verse "They shall take Me a gift" (Exodus 25:2), which refers to th...

Yours O Lord Is the Greatness and the Might

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The ancient rabbis grappled with this, and in Shemot Rabbah (that's the Book of Exodus explained and expanded upon by the Rabbis) we find a fascinating exploration of this very ide...

Moses and Adam of Zimri

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Our tradition teaches us that something else holds even greater worth: a good name. And it's not just about reputation, but about the power and blessing inherent in a name earned t...

All 613 Commandments Given Through Moses

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It’s a question that has captivated scholars and everyday folks for centuries. Where did they all come from? The Book of Deuteronomy (33:4) tells us, "Moses commanded us the Torah....

Behind the Scenes of Building the Tabernacle

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Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, gives us a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes preparations for this monumental task. It a...

Why the Ark of the Covenant Was Made of Acacia Wood

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It’s a question that's plagued philosophers and theologians for centuries, and it all starts, strangely enough, with a box. A very special box, mind you – the Ark of the Covenant. ...

Build Me a Sanctuary and I Will Dwell Among You

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The answer, according to our Sages, might surprise you. In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating discussion about the Ark, ...

Building a Dwelling Place for the Divine Presence on Earth

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It all starts with this idea of building a home – not just for ourselves, but for the Divine. We find this idea beautifully illustrated in Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic ...

Enosh and Creation of Eden

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Jewish tradition certainly has. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, that explores just that. The text open...

Moses and the Holy Sanctuary of Betzalel

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It's more than just readily available lumber in the desert. According to Shemot Rabbah, it’s a lesson in mindful living, a gentle nudge towards respecting the natural world. Imagin...

Edom Among the Fathers

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It wasn't just about aesthetics or availability. According to Shemot Rabbah, it was a symbolic statement about history, power, and ultimately, redemption. We read in (Exodus 25:3),...

Moses and the Heavenly Realms and the Tabernacle

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The ancient rabbis certainly understood that feeling. a fascinating Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) that speaks directly to that sense of inadequacy, and how we can over...

Temple and the Dreamer of Songs

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It's more than just a source of delicious oil; it's a metaphor for the Jewish people themselves. to a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah 36 and unpack its rich layers of meanin...

God Does Not Need Our Light but Asks for It Anyway

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It's not that God needs our light, the text insists. As it says, it’s not that I need the light of the candelabra." But why then does God command us to bring light? Here's the beau...

Aaron and His Sons Chosen to Lead Israel in Service

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We find a powerful idea tucked within Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus. It centers around the verse: "And you, draw Aaron your brother ...

How Aaron Reacted When Moses Smashed the Tablets

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We find one of those moments in the story of the Golden Calf, and how Aaron, brother of Moses, reacted to it. The scene: Moses is descending from Mount Sinai, clutching the tablets...

Aaron at the Dawn of Creation

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Shemot Rabbah, that incredible collection of Midrashim (rabbinic interpretive commentary) (interpretive stories) on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating insight into just this ...

Take Words Not Sacrifices and Return to God

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The ancient rabbis wrestled with this, too, and their insights, preserved in Shemot Rabbah, are surprisingly relevant today. The verse from Hosea (14:3) says, "Take words with you ...

The Secret Power Hidden in Prayer and Repentance

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The ancient rabbis, plumbing the depths of the Torah, had a different take, and it’s one that resonates even today. We find a fascinating discussion in Shemot Rabbah, a collection ...

Abraham and the Word That Created Everything

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In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exploration of this very idea. The verse "This is the matter [hadavar]" (Exo...

Why Aaron Was Called Holy Among All the Priests

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It’s a fascinating subject, and one that the ancient Rabbis pondered deeply. In fact, Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) interpreta...

What Gave Aaron the Right to Enter the Holy of Holies

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What allowed him, a human, to step into the most sacred space? Shemot Rabbah, a treasure trove of biblical interpretations, explores this very question. "This is the matter," it sa...

Abraham and the Patriarchs of Jacob

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We often think of it as just a structure, but according to Jewish tradition, every single element, every color, every placement, held profound meaning. Take the Hoshen, the breastp...

Moses and Solomon of Songs

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In Jewish tradition, a census wasn't just a matter of logistics. It was a delicate, even potentially dangerous, undertaking. Shemot Rabbah, a rich collection of midrashic (rabbinic...

Betzalel's Transgression and the Tabernacle

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This week, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Exodus. It all starts with God choosing Betzalel to b...

How Betzalel Got His Name and His Divine Wisdom

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It centers around Betzalel, the incredibly skilled artisan chosen to build the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary that accompanied the Israelites in the desert. The To...