Patriarchs

3,059 texts · Page 218 of 340

Explore 3,059 Jewish texts related to the theme of Patriarchs, drawn from Midrash, Kabbalah, Apocrypha, and classical Jewish literature.

Joseph and Creation of Akiva

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

The book of Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet as it's known in Hebrew, certainly did. It observes, "I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants" (Eccle...

Dina: Pharaoh at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

Take the verse from Ecclesiastes (10:8): “One who digs a pit will fall into it; and one who breaches a fence, a serpent will bite him.” It's a powerful image. But what does it real...

Abraham's Legacy

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

It’s a book known for its wisdom, but sometimes couched in rather…opaque language. Take this verse from Ecclesiastes 10:9: "One who transports stones will be saddened by them; and ...

Rabbi Beivai and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

Today, we’re diving into a passage from Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Ecclesiastes, that explores this very idea through the verse: “Cast ...

Rabbi Eliezer and the Patriarchs

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

"Distribute a portion to seven, and also to eight, as you do not know what evil will be upon the earth" (Ecclesiastes 11:2). Simple enough. But what does it mean? That’s where Kohe...

Abraham: Ishmael and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

"These are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; each came with his household" – that’s how the Book of Exodus begins. But what does that have to do wit...

Jacob and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

It's rarely just repetition. Often, it's about adding layers of meaning, offering a deeper appreciation for what came before. Take the very beginning of the Book of Exodus. We’re i...

Joseph and the Patriarchs of Jacob

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

It's like, bam, out of nowhere, you're bearing a load you didn't even see coming. Well, the ancient Israelites knew that feeling all too well when they found themselves in Egypt. W...

Levi's Legacy and Yehoshua

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

It’s not a typo, and it’s definitely not random! There’s a beautiful lesson tucked away in that apparent inconsistency. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin, quoting Rabbi Levi, offered a pow...