Holy Land

5,704 texts · Page 97 of 119

The Land of Israel as sacred geography: Jerusalem, Zion, and the spiritual landscape of the Promised Land.

When Angels Ask God About Rosh Hashanah's Date

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A quote from Deuteronomy, saying God is "near it." But who is "it"? The verse itself speaks of a nation that has God near to it. Devarim Rabbah, in its characteristic fashion, find...

God Stays Close Even When Israel Is Enslaved

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how God treats us? Devarim Rabbah, a collection of homilies on the Book of Deuteronomy, offers a powerful contrast. It says, "That has God near it." If a person has a wealthy relat...

The Lone Jew on a Ship Full of Idolaters

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Jewish tradition has some powerful stories that speak to that very idea. Take this tale, recounted in Devarim Rabbah. It’s a quick one, but it packs a punch. Rabbi Tanhuma shares a...

What Moses, David, and Jonah Teach About Timing

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It’s a question that has echoed through generations, a yearning to understand the divine timing of the universe. And while there’s no simple formula, our Sages offer some fascinati...

Moses and the Fires of Gehenna of Rabbis

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It starts with a verse from Deuteronomy (4:25): "When you will beget children, and children’s children, and you will have been long in the land, and you will act corruptly and craf...

The Devastating Consequences of Wicked Deeds

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This is a theme that echoes powerfully through Jewish tradition, and it's something we see vividly in the Devarim Rabbah. This particular passage delves into the profound consequen...

How Israel Sinned With Full Calculation and Intent

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It’s not just about breaking rules, but the intent behind the actions, the chilling calculation of wrongdoing. Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deu...

God Knows What Was and What Is Destined to Be

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Or maybe, as our tradition teaches, there's a pattern, a cycle, that we can learn from. Deuteronomy, the last book of the Torah, isn't just a farewell speech from Moses. It's also ...

Rabbi Elazar's Repentance

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We often hear about the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the mighty hand of God... But what about the internal processes, the spiritual shifts that paved the way for that monum...

The Suspenseful Story of a Sinner's Last Repentance

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Jewish tradition actually has a lot to say about that, especially the power of teshuvah (repentance), or repentance. And let me tell you, some of these stories are wild. Devarim Ra...

Adam and Creation of Elohim

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Devarim Rabbah, in its unique way, uses a verse from Deuteronomy as a springboard to delve into just that. The verse in question is (Deuteronomy 4:39): "You shall know this day and...

Why Loving Silver Never Satisfies the Soul

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Devarim Rabbah, in section 2, uses the verse from (Ecclesiastes 5:9), "One who loves silver will never be satisfied with silver," as a springboard for exploring this very human des...

Rabbi Meir on Suffering That Does Not Match the Sin

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It all starts with the verse from Deuteronomy, "You shall know this day, and restore to your heart" (Deuteronomy 4:39). Rabbi Meir interprets this in a fascinating way. He suggests...

Moses and the Establishment of Cities of Refuge

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Today, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, that explores just that, through the lens o...

Cities of Refuge and the Sun That Shines for the Murderer

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It might seem like a niche legal issue, but within it lies a profound understanding of justice, forgiveness, and even the nature of hope itself. In Deuteronomy, we read, "Then, Mos...

Wonders of Genesis of Shema

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Today, we're diving into a fascinating discussion from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy, focusing on the Shema, Judaism's central...

The Deep Spiritual Meaning Behind Shema Yisrael

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That feeling, that singular connection, is at the heart of Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy. Specifically, the second section, where it...

Hidden Depths of Shema Yisrael

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To a fascinating exploration from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, and see what we can uncover. "Hear, Israel" (Shema Yisrael) – these...

Choosing the Source of All Blessings Over Idols

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We make choices every day about who or what we'll put our faith in. But what if the best choice wasn't about picking the flashiest option, but choosing the source of all blessings ...

Jacob's Struggles Foreshadow Israel's Future Exile

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(Deuteronomy 6:4). It's a question that takes us back to a pivotal moment, a deathbed scene filled with both anxiety and profound unity. Devarim Rabbah 2 paints a vivid picture. Ja...

Moses and the Angels of Baruch

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The passage centers on the most core of Jewish declarations: “Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad” – "Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One" (Deuteronomy 6:...

How to Love God With All Your Heart and Soul

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"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might" (Deuteronomy 6:5). It's a commandment to feel something, to direct the entire fo...

Moses Ascends to Heaven and Overhears the Angels

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The story begins with Moses, our great leader, ascending to the heavens. Imagine the scene: clouds parting, a divine ladder stretching upwards, and Moses, step by step, approaching...

Why Keeping Commandments Brings the Greatest Reward

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Take this passage from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy. It all starts with a verse: "It will be, because you heed these ordinances, an...

Hell and Its Gates of Edom

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We're diving into the word ekev, which means "because" or "in consequence of." But it's not just a simple "A leads to B" kind of situation. It's layered with history, Divine promis...

The Faithful God Who Always Keeps His Ancient Covenant

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It all starts with the verse, “You shall know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God” (Deuteronomy 7:9). Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba uses a parable to unpack this idea. Imagi...

Shmuel — Bilam at the Dawn of Creation

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The Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, wrestles with the verse, "The Lord your God will maintain for you…" What exactly will God maintai...

When All of Creation Is Blessed Through Righteousness

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Not just for people, but for everything around them – the animals, the land, even the trees bursting with fruit. That's the vision we find in the book of Deuteronomy, 7:14: "You wi...

A Parable of God's Love and Israel's Redemption

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Devarim Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, offers a powerful parable about just that – the relationship between God and Israel. It's a story of...

Moses and Joseph of Rabbis

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"Hear, Israel: you are crossing the Jordan today..." It's a powerful opening line from Deuteronomy (9:1), isn't it? A promise, a challenge, a moment of immense transition. But what...

Moses and Joseph of Tanhuma

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It seems Devarim Rabbah, in its own unique way, grapples with this very idea. The passage starts with a verse from Deuteronomy: “Hear, Israel: you are crossing the Jordan today" (D...

Why Moses Cried Hear O Israel at the End

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Our ancestors knew that feeling well. : Moses, standing before the Israelites, about to impart some final, crucial wisdom. He cries out, "Shema Yisrael – Hear, O Israel!" But...why...

Moses Cannot Cross the Jordan With Israel

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It's a poignant moment, and the book of Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, sheds light on the depth of that experience. "You are crossin...

Ark of Salvation of Moses

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There’s a fascinating passage in Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, that sheds light on this very concept. It all starts with a verse we...

Hadrian Before the Flood

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Jewish tradition grapples with this very idea, and it finds a rather poetic expression in Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy. The passage...

Moses Invokes the Patriarchs to Save Israel From God's Wrath

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That’s what I want to talk about today, by diving into a powerful story from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings and interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. This...

Why God Needed to Give Moses Two Sets of Tablets

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We all know the story of the first set, shattered in anger at the sight of the Golden Calf. But why two in the first place? Devarim Rabbah, a collection of homilies on the Book of ...

How to Read the Torah's Harshest Rebukes

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It all revolves around a seemingly simple question: how do we read the really tough parts of the Torah? Specifically, we're talking about the "rebukes," those stern warnings and, f...

Hear and Listen and Do Not Be Haughty Before God

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To a fascinating passage from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, that unpacks the importance of listening, humility, and the consequence...

Does Evil Come From God or From Our Own Choices

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Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, tackles this very question. It starts with a bold statement. Rabbi Elazar says that after God spoke a...

The Law of Covering Blood When Slaughtering on a Festival

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The Rabbis saw so much more. This verse in Devarim, Deuteronomy, becomes a springboard for exploring some fascinating corners of Jewish law, or halakha. Specifically, the question ...

Joseph, Moses, and David Freed from Distress

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That feeling of unexpected liberation and joy is at the heart of our story today, drawn from Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. Th...

What Israel's Desire for Meat Reveals About Freedom

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The ancient rabbis pondered this very idea, using a seemingly simple verse about eating meat to unlock profound insights about freedom, desire, and divine provision. It all starts ...

Will the Land of Israel Expand Like an Unrolled Scroll

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The Book of Deuteronomy promises, "when the Lord your God will expand your border" (Deuteronomy 19:8). But what does that expansion really mean? Is it just about more territory? Th...

Why Justice Matters More to God Than Grand Rituals

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We often think of grand gestures, elaborate rituals, and monumental structures. But what if the most precious thing in God's eyes is something far simpler, something we can practic...

Justice as an Intimate Bond Between Israel and God

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It goes way beyond just being "fair." It's actually about a profound and intimate relationship between us and the Divine. Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the ...

What the Torah Really Says About Choosing a King

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It turns out, the tradition has quite a bit to say on the subject, and it might surprise you. We find ourselves diving into Devarim Rabbah, specifically section 5, which grapples w...

How God Prevents Deceitful Rulers From Reigning

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Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the book of Deuteronomy, dives right into this thorny issue. It all starts with a verse from (Job 34:30): “He prevents a decei...