2,569 texts · Page 23 of 54
They said: This ark is an instrument of punishment. It smote the men of Beth Shemesh, viz. (I Samuel 6:19) "And He smote the men of Beth Shemesh because they looked into the ark of...
The name "Merivah" comes from the Hebrew root "riv," meaning quarrel or dispute. But what exactly was Israel disputing? The Mekhilta presents two interpretations, and both are auda...
The Mekhilta poses a question about the hierarchy of respect: how much honor should a person show to a friend? The answer comes from one of the most revealing moments between Moses...
"and his hands were steadfast until the sun set": We are hereby apprised that he was (occupied with prayer and) fasting (until sunset). These are the words of R. Yehoshua. R. Eliez...
After every other plea had been rejected, Moses turned to his nephew Elazar — the son of his brother Aaron — and threw himself at his feet. "Elazar, my brother's son," Moses said, ...
R. Yishmael says: What is written at the beginning, viz. (Leviticus 25:1-3) "And the L–rd spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying … then the land shall rest a Sabbath to the L–rd. Si...
He came and revealed Himself to the sons of Ishmael and asked them: Will you accept the Torah? They: What is written in it? He: "You shall not steal." They: But this is the blessin...
The Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael derives the practice of Kiddush, the sanctification of Shabbat (the Sabbath) over wine, from the commandment to "sanctify it." The phrase "to sanctify...
"For this the L–rd blessed the Sabbath day and He sanctified it": He blessed it with the manna (by providing a double portion on the sixth day), and he sanctified it with the manna...
The Mekhilta constructs a powerful a fortiori argument about God's mercy. Within the framework of God's lesser measure — the measure of punishment — even a single individual who cr...
There's this beautiful image tucked away in the Midrash Konen (found in Beit ha-Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) 2:25), this idea that "the wings of heaven are tied to th...
It’s a question that’s tickled the minds of mystics and dreamers for ages. And believe it or not, there are stories—amazing, vivid stories—that claim to know the answer. One of my ...
the story that the Wall itself weeps? On the night of Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the day we mourn the destruction of the Temple, a strange phenomenon is said to occur. Dewdrops f...
The Torah tells us that Isaac eventually married Rebecca. But did you know that, according to some traditions, they faced a long period of infertility? Twenty-two years, to be exac...
Our tradition teaches that wisdom isn't just something you're born with. It's something you actively seek, something you pray for, something you might even… fast for. The Midrash M...
Even King Solomon, the wisest of all men, felt that way. to Midrash Mishlei – a collection of stories and interpretations that unpack the Book of Proverbs. And right at the beginni...
They left us some pretty powerful guidance, hidden in plain sight within the Book of Proverbs. Let’s take a look at a fascinating passage from Midrash Mishlei, a collection of rabb...
It's more than just a nice sentiment; it's a springboard for some incredible midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) interpretations. The Midrash Mishlei, a collection of inte...
We all do. But what if the key to a blessed life was simpler than we think? (Psalm 1:1-2) opens with a powerful image: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the w...
Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives deep into that question. And it might surprise you. One interpretation points directly to Ki...
It all starts with the words, "Happy is the man" (Psalm 1:1). But what makes a person truly happy? The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) offers several beautiful interpret...
Believe it or not, the Book of Psalms, or Tehillim in Hebrew, tackles this very idea! Our journey begins with Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Psal...
It's an age-old question: how can we possibly dedicate ourselves fully to learning when life keeps pulling us in a million different directions? Well, Midrash Tehillim offers some ...
Our exploration begins with a verse from the Song of Songs (7:3): "Your navel is like a round goblet... Your belly is a heap of wheat." The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentar...
Psalm 2, verse 12, gives us pause: "Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." It's a pot...
Even Moses, leading the Israelites out of Egypt, felt that way. He looked at the nations surrounding them, nations far more numerous, and thought, "These nations are more numerous ...
King David knew that feeling. He poured his heart into the Psalms, and within those verses, the ancient rabbis found layers upon layers of meaning – not just for David, but for all...
Midrash, the art of interpreting scripture by filling in the gaps, expanding on hints, and drawing out deeper meanings, wrestles with this very idea. Midrash Tehillim, a collection...
This particular passage, Midrash Tehillim 4, starts by talking about the dedication of a psalm: "To the conductor with musical instruments." But it's not just about the music itsel...
Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives right into this with the verse, "Be angry, but do not sin" (Psalm 4:5). It’s a provocative idea, isn’...
The ancient rabbis certainly thought so. And they found echoes of this idea even in the seemingly simple words of the Psalms. Specifically, in Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rab...
Ever find yourself reading the Psalms and wondering, "What's really going on here?" We do too! to a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretati...
It’s a question that’s echoed through the ages, and one that our tradition wrestles with beautifully. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psal...
To a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, that grapples with this very issue. The midrash (interpretive storytelling) s...
The Book of Psalms certainly does. And the Midrash, the ancient rabbinic commentaries, dives deep into these very questions. Today, we're looking at Midrash Tehillim 5, a fascinati...
Midrash Tehillim, a beautiful collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers a powerful contrast to this feeling. It tells us that while worldly gifts can be lost, the...
We’re going to look at the deeper significance of the eighth day of Passover, and how it connects to the struggles of the Jewish people throughout history. The Midrash (rabbinic in...
Midrash Tehillim, an ancient collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, paints a vivid picture. It’s not just fire and brimstone, or harps and fluffy clouds. It's about p...
The Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, delves into Psalm 7, which begins "A shigayyon of David." Now, a shigayyon is often understood...
The story, as told in Midrash Tehillim, is truly terrifying. Imagine Moses, up on Mount Sinai, receiving the Torah. A moment of ultimate revelation. And down below? The Israelites,...
Even King David, the sweet singer of Israel, knew what that felt like. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, delves deep into David's st...
The ancient rabbis felt it too, especially after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. They saw the world changing, and not for the better. Midrash Tehillim, a collection ...
Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, explores this very idea. It begins with the image of a pit being dug. "A pit is dug and is excavated. All t...
It’s a question that’s plagued humanity for ages, and it’s something the ancient rabbis wrestled with too. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalm...
We often picture them as these serene, obedient beings, but some ancient texts paint a different picture. A picture where angels actually… argue with God. That's exactly what we fi...
That feeling, that confrontation with the vastness of creation, is something Jewish tradition wrestles with too. How do we, tiny humans, fit into this grand cosmic tapestry? Midras...
Jewish tradition has a name for these dueling forces: the yetzer hatov (the good inclination) and the yetzer hara – the inclination to good and the inclination to evil. Midrash Teh...
The ancient sages pondered these very feelings, especially when thinking about the fate of the Jewish people. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalm...
