Patriarchs

3,059 texts · Page 241 of 340

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

Moses in Battle and Adam

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

The very first verse of the Book of Leviticus – Vayikra in Hebrew – begins with God calling out to Moses. It seems straightforward enough. But the Rabbis of the Midrash, those anci...

Bilam's Legacy

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

Rabbi Yitzchak, a sage of old, had an interesting take on this. He taught that before the Mishkan – the Tabernacle – was built, prophecy wasn't confined to the Israelites. It was, ...

Angels at the Throne and Yisakhar

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

Our sages grappled with this very question, particularly when considering the difference between how God communicates with the prophets of Israel and the prophets of other nations....

Ephraim: Adam and Eve in Eden

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

Our exploration begins with a seemingly simple verse from Leviticus (1:2): "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When a man among you sacrifices an offering to the Lor...

Ephraim's Legacy

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

to a story about the name Ephraim, and how it’s so much more than just a name. The Midrash, specifically Vayikra Rabbah, that treasure trove of rabbinic interpretations, offers us ...

Abraham: Adam at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

It’s a question that has puzzled scholars and storytellers for centuries. The Vayikra Rabbah, a Midrashic text focusing on the Book of Leviticus, tackles this very question. It beg...

Akeidat Yitzchak and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

to Vayikra Rabbah, specifically section 2, to uncover some fascinating layers within the verses describing the offerings. We begin with Leviticus 1:5: “He shall slaughter the young...

Antoninus in Heaven

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

We start with the verse, "When a person presents a meal offering to the Lord" (Leviticus 2:1). But the Rabbis cleverly link this to Psalm 22:24: "Those who fear the Lord, praise Hi...

Day of Atonement and Isaiah

Midrash Rabbah Midrash Rabbah

The prophet Isaiah offers a powerful message of hope in such moments: "Let the wicked forsake his way and the man of iniquity his thoughts" (Isaiah 55:7). But what does that actual...