Prayer

2,569 texts · Page 26 of 54

The power of prayer in Jewish tradition, from the Amidah to the spontaneous cry of the heart before God.

When the Israelites Turned Their Pain into Prayer

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The ancient Israelites knew that feeling well. And in their distress, they turned to the One above, voicing their pain, their hope, and their unwavering faith. In Midrash Tehillim,...

When God's Vengeance Shines Through Seven Heavens

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

(Psalm 94:1) cries out, "God of vengeance, shine forth!" And in Midrash Tehillim, the collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, this verse opens a fascinating door in...

God Is a Great King Above All Gods in Psalm 95

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

You’re not alone. But maybe, just maybe, that feeling can point us toward something truly grand. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings interpreting the Book of Psalm...

The Deeper Meaning of Entering God's Gates with Thanks

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

It's more than just saying "thank you." It's a way of connecting with something bigger than ourselves. Midrash Tehillim, a beautiful collection of interpretations on the Book of Ps...

David Sings of Justice and Mercy in One Breath

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The ancient rabbis wrestled with these ideas too, and left us some incredible insights in a collection called Midrash Tehillim, a deep dive into the Book of Psalms. Let's unpack a ...

The Poor Man's Prayer That Reaches God First

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

We find this tension beautifully explored in Midrash Tehillim, specifically in a section connected to Psalm 102, a psalm often associated with the suffering of the poor. It begins ...

David Compares His Days to Withered Grass

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

It turns out, King David himself might have felt the same way. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, delves into the complexities of Psa...

Why Our Days Vanish Like Smoke Before God

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, grabs us right there. It starts with that very feeling, that fleeting sense of time slipping thro...

Rosh Hashanah Before the Altar

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Our tradition has a lot to say about that, especially when it comes to prayer and redemption. to a powerful passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the...

Where Is the Soul and Where Is God's Place

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Psalms, offers a breathtaking insight into the unknowability of God’s presence. It begins with King David's h...

Rabbi Gamliel Beyond the Firmament

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

As we learn from Midrash Tehillim, it’s a question that might be missing the point entirely. The Midrash, a collection of rabbinic teachings interpreting the Book of Psalms, tells ...

How God Wraps Himself in Light Like a Garment

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

To a passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, to explore this very idea. The passage begins with a powerful statement: "I bless the Lor...

Why David Felt Pursued by Angels and Enemies Alike

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Or maybe, on a less pleasant day, like you're being... pursued? Jewish tradition has a fascinating way of explaining these feelings. It’s not just paranoia, friends. According to M...

Abraham and Creation of Adonai

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

One fascinating interpretation of Psalm 104 connects the birds of the sky to the nations of the world. But not in a peaceful, harmonious way. Instead, the midrash (rabbinic interpr...

The Quiet Everyday Miracles Israel Took for Granted

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

We celebrate the big, splashy ones – the parting of the Red Sea, the manna from heaven. But what about the quiet, everyday miracles that keep us going? The Midrash Tehillim, a coll...

Can Anyone Fathom the Mysteries of God

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

That feeling, that sense of the utterly unknowable, it’s a thread that runs deep through Jewish thought. The Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms...

Moses and Noah of Elazar

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

A collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, there are five key elements that can bring about Israel's – and perhaps our own – salvation. Rabbi Elazar lays it out for ...

Let the Redeemed of God Tell Their Story

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The Psalms, those ancient songs of the soul, speak to this feeling with raw honesty. Psalm 107, in particular, sings of God's goodness, even – or especially – when we're scattered ...

Hezekiah in Heaven

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

We've all been there. But what if there was a secret ingredient, a way to connect more deeply and ensure our prayers actually land? That's the question posed in Midrash Tehillim, a...

David's Harp That Woke Him to Pray at Dawn

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, offers us a fascinating glimpse into the connection between our prayers and the divine response. ...

When God's Praise Meets the Silence of the Wicked

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

That feeling, that tension between adoration and divine quiet, is at the heart of Midrash Tehillim 109, a powerful exploration of Psalm 109. The midrash, a form of Jewish biblical ...

Under My Love They Turned Against Me

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

It’s a universal feeling, but it’s one that’s poignantly echoed in the ancient words of Midrash Tehillim 109. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletic interpretations on the Boo...

The Unseen Forces That Obscure God's Judgment

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The ancient sages certainly did. They grappled with the forces that obscure the divine, and in Midrash Tehillim—a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms—we find a powe...

The Ancient Promises God Made to the Patriarchs

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Midrash Tehillim, an ancient collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives into this very idea. Specifically, it unpacks the verse, "I will give thanks to the...

Great Are the Works of God Who Studies Them

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Why? Because, as Midrash Tehillim (a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms) tells us, "Great are the works of the Lord; they are studied by all who delight i...

Remembering God's Wonders Opens the World to Come

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, offers a surprising answer. It starts with remembering God's wonders. According to the Midrash (rabbinic...

Psalm 113 and the Covenant God Remembers Forever

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Take Psalm 113, which begins with "Hallelujah, praise the servants of the Lord." Sounds straightforward. But the Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletic interpretations of the ...

Aaron — Moses in Joseph's Time

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

That feeling…that’s almost the heart of the story of Hallelujah. But what is Hallelujah, really? It's more than just a word; it's an expression, a moment in time. Midrash Tehillim,...

Who Are the True Servants of God in the Psalms

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The verse "These are the servants of the Lord" might seem simple. But the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) sees something deeper. It connects this phrase directly to the ...

When the Sea Fled and the Mountains Trembled

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

That’s kind of the feeling behind Psalm 114, and the Midrash Tehillim, an ancient collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, dives deep into the joy and gratitude expr...

David Among the Fathers

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, offers some fascinating perspectives on this very question. The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentar...

God's Gracious Call and Our Grateful Response

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The ancient rabbis wrestled with this idea too – this give and take, this call and response between us and the Divine. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on...

Almighty and the Heavenly Realms

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The verse begins, "My voice, my supplication." The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) imagines the entire "assembly of Israel" standing before the Almighty, essentially say...

The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving That Outlasts All Others

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Psalms, explores this very idea. It begins with the verse, "I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving....

Jacob and Noah of Praise

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, offers us a fascinating take on (Psalm 117:1), "Praise the Lord, all nations." It’s not as simple as a univ...

Why Even the Nations Must Praise the God of Israel

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

This particular midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), specifically on Psalm 117, tackles the idea of praising God, but it does so in a way you might not expect. It starts wit...

Abraham and Creation of Amalek

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

The ancient sages certainly did. And they saw this power reflected even in the way we remember the righteous and the wicked. It all starts with the verse, "Praise the Lord, for He ...

Give Thanks to God for His Kindness Is Eternal

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

It's more than just good manners; it's a fundamental connection to something bigger. And it's something the Jewish tradition understands deeply. We find this echoed beautifully in ...

Those Who Fear God Stand Firm When Enemies Attack

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

"Fear of the Lord" – yirat Hashem – it suggests a deep reverence, a profound respect, a commitment to living in accordance with God's will. But who embodies this? Midrash Tehillim,...

Abraham and the Patriarchs of Isaiah

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Our tradition understands that feeling. It even gives voice to it in a powerful, almost defiant way. to a passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book...

The Gate of the Lord and Who Enters Through It

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

They found wisdom, comfort, and even a little humor in stories we call midrashim (rabbinic interpretive commentary) – interpretations that expand on the meaning of the Bible. Let’s...

Jerusalem Blessed in the Name of the Lord

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

That feeling is captured beautifully in a passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms. It focuses on Psalm 118, and it paints a pi...

Job's Song

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

King David certainly did. And in the beautiful words of Psalm 119, he gave voice to that feeling. "Your hands have made me and fashioned me." But what does that really mean? Midras...

When Israel's King Studies Torah the People Rejoice

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, offers a surprising answer. It all boils down to leadership – specifically, a leader’s commitment to Tor...

Samuel's Prophetic Vision

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

To a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms. Here, the Rabbis unpack what it means to read – or, perhaps more acc...

The Song of Ascents and the Pilgrim's Long Journey

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

That feeling of a long, hard journey – that's exactly what's captured in the Psalm of Ascents. But it's not just about the struggle; it's about the song that rises with each step. ...

Esau and Creation of Father

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

They wrestled with those feelings in their writings, seeking solace and understanding. to a passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, sp...

I Rejoiced When They Said Let Us Go to God's House

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Aggadah

It’s a very human feeling, and it’s one that resonates powerfully in a story told in Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms. Psalm 122, "A...