God

4 texts

The nature of God in Jewish theology: infinite, unknowable, merciful, just, and present in every corner of creation.

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...

What God Does During the Twelve Hours of Day

Talmud Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

What does God do all day? The Talmud in Tractate Avodah Zarah takes this question seriously. The rabbis laid out a detailed twelve-hour schedule. During the first three hours, God ...

God Plays With Leviathan Every Afternoon

Talmud Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The Talmud in Tractate Avodah Zarah says that every afternoon, God plays with Leviathan—the colossal sea creature described in (Job 41:1) and (Psalms 104:26). The fourth quarter of...