Prophecy

3,491 texts · Page 65 of 73

The gift of prophecy in Israel, from Moses at Sinai to the last prophets, and the divine voice that still echoes.

The Tabernacle as a Mirror of Creation Itself

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Jewish tradition is full of that – layers upon layers of interpretation, waiting to be uncovered. Today, we're diving into Shemot Rabbah, specifically section 52, which takes a ver...

David's Diligence From Shepherd Boy to King

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The Book of Proverbs asks, "Have you seen a man diligent in his labor?" (Proverbs 22:29). But Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the classic rabbinic commentary on the Song of Songs, takes this...

Your Sons Will Replace Your Fathers Says the Psalmist

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A verse from Psalms (45:17): “Your sons will be in the stead of your fathers.” This seemingly simple statement kicks off a fascinating exploration of legacy and lineage, asking: Wh...

Elijah and Creation of Alacrity

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You turned the house upside down. You lit every lamp, peered into every corner. Why? Because the reward – finding that lost treasure – was worth the effort. Well, Shir HaShirim Rab...

Moses and the Torah of Yehuda

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It’s a deeply human experience, and it’s one that our ancestors grappled with too, especially at Sinai. The ancient collection of rabbinic teachings known as Shir HaShirim Rabbah, ...

Elazar — Adam at the Dawn of Creation

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It’s a question that bubbles up from the depths of Jewish tradition, and Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of Rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs, offers some fascinatin...

Torah as a Tapestry Where Every Thread Connects

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It's like a beautiful tapestry, where each thread, each color, contributes to the overall picture. Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the commentary on Song of Songs, delves into this very idea...

Isaiah — Abraham and the Patriarchs

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In Shir HaShirim Rabbah – that’s the collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs – we find a beautiful exploration of just that. It's all about unpacking the verse ...

Anointing Oil for Priests and Kings in Israel

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We see it used for anointing, for lighting, for cooking... but what's the deeper symbolism? to a fascinating exploration from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpr...

Abraham's Fragrance Released When God Said Go

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Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) commentary on the Song of Songs, dives deep into the verse where God tells Abraham, “Go you from your land, fro...

Israel's Children Became the Guarantors for the Torah

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It wasn't just handed to us on a silver platter, so to speak. According to the ancient rabbis, receiving the Torah at Sinai was contingent on something quite surprising: finding su...

Why Some Nations Face Judgment and Others Do Not

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The ancient rabbis grappled with this very feeling, this sense that some groups seem to get away with things that others don't. And they found surprising answers in the stories of ...

Why the Torah Starts With Creation Not Commandments

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Rabbi Yanai had a similar thought. He pointed out that the Torah truly needed to begin only with the verse "This month shall be for you" (Exodus 12:2), marking the start of the Jew...

The Many Shades of Joy in the Song of Songs

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The ancient rabbis certainly did. They explored every facet of joy, dissecting its many shades and flavors. And in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the commentary on the Song of Songs, they g...

Rabbi Shimon's Legacy

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It's not just a love poem; it's a wellspring of teachings, and today we're diving into Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4 to explore a fascinating story about marriage, devotion, and the power...

I Am Dark but Lovely Says the Community of Israel

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Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on the Song of Songs, captures this beautifully in its interpretation of the verse: "I am black but lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, li...

What the Daughters of Jerusalem Really Represent

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It's like peeling back an onion, only instead of tears, you find profound insights. Let's take a dive into a fascinating passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic...

Kedar in Battle

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Jewish tradition teaches us this is a dangerous habit, a lesson beautifully illustrated in the interpretation of the verse, "Like the tents of Kedar" (Song of Songs 1:5) found in S...

How We Speak About Israel Matters to God

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The ancient rabbis certainly thought about this, especially when it came to how we talk about each other – and about the Jewish people as a whole. We find ourselves in Shir HaShiri...

The Sun Has Tanned Me - Israel's Sins in Song of Songs

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The ancient rabbis wrestled with this tension, too, especially when thinking about moments in Jewish history when the people faltered. to a passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a col...

My Own Mother's Sons Were Angry With Me Says Israel

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That feeling, that sting of inner circle treachery, echoes through the ancient words of Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the collection of Rabbinic teachings on the Song of Songs. Today, we'r...

Israel in Exile Asks God Where He Has Gone

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It’s a surprisingly ancient feeling. And it's at the heart of a fascinating passage in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs. The pass...

Moses Asks God Where He Should Lead the Flock

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I can't possibly do that!" Well, Moses felt that way too. to a fascinating interpretation of the Song of Songs that reveals Moses's very human anxieties. The verse we're looking at...

Go Out in the Footsteps of the Flock Says the Beloved

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It's a feeling, according to our sages, that even Moses himself grappled with. to a fascinating passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a Midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) co...

The Heavenly Court Where Truth and Mercy Argue

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The book of Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs, delves into this very question. It uses vivid imagery and insightful debates to pai...

Rabbi Akiva Rebukes the Sages Over Psalm Interpretation

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We all know the story from Exodus, but the Rabbis in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the collection of rabbinic commentary on the Song of Songs, really dig into the depths of that betrayal. ...

Seeing the Exodus Through a Deeply Human and Moral Lens

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The ancient rabbis certainly did. And they found ways to see even the most epic struggles, like the Exodus from Egypt, through a deeply human lens. They weren't just interested in ...

God Likens Israel to His Love at the Red Sea

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Today, we’re diving into Shir HaShirim Rabbah 9, a section of the rabbinic commentary on the Song of Songs, and trust me, it’s not always what you’d expect. The verse under discuss...

The Mystical Joy and Intensity of Deep Torah Study

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That, my friends, is a glimpse into the mystical world of Torah study as described in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a beautiful, poetic exploration of the Song of Songs. We’re diving into ...

The Gifts of Gold That Adorned Israel Like a Bride

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It's not just a love poem, but a lens through which to view the most precious gifts given to the Jewish people. to one fascinating interpretation from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a colle...

Songs — Mikhael at the Dawn of Creation

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Today, we’re diving into a fascinating interpretation of a verse from the Song of Songs – Shir HaShirim – that explores just this idea: the contrast between foul odor and sweet fra...

Songs — Giving of the Torah

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"While the king was at his feast..." (Song of Songs 1:12). Rabbi Pinḥas, quoting Rabbi Hoshaya, connects this verse to the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, and His "feas...

The Temple Incense as a Direct Line to the Divine

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Ever catch a whiff of something amazing and wonder, "What is that?" Our senses are powerful doorways to memory and meaning. And in ancient Jewish tradition, few things were as powe...

Sanhedrin and the Dreamer

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Take the line, "Your eyes are like doves." What could that possibly mean? Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a classical midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary) commentary on the Song of S...

Rabbi's Song

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The rabbis of old knew that struggle all too well. And they had some pretty creative ways to wake people up! There’s a story told in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the commentary on the Son...

Noah and Creation of Land

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We see it everywhere, from synagogue art to holiday decorations. But have you ever stopped to consider why? Well, let’s dive into a fascinating passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah – ...

Ephraim — Him in the Days of Moses

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It might sound strange, but even the type of tree can hold a profound lesson. to a passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Song of Songs,...

Betzalel Before the Flood

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That’s the feeling at the heart of a beautiful passage from Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on the Song of Songs. It starts with the line, "I am a rose of Sharon, a l...

Where Was the Song of Songs Originally Sung

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The Rabbis certainly did, and their answers, as found in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, are…well, they're Rabbi Berekhya offers us one possibility: the wilderness itself! Can you imagine? T...

The Rose of Sharon and the Flowers of the Field

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They found surprising insights in the most unexpected places – like the flowers of the field. We're diving into Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on th...

A Lily Among Thorns Is Israel Among the Nations

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That image, that feeling, is captured beautifully in the ancient interpretations of the Shir HaShirim, the Song of Songs. Rabbi Huna uses the image of a lily among thorns to descri...

Avun — Esau at the Dawn of Creation

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In the ancient wisdom of Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the Song of Songs commentary, we find just that: the humble lily as a powerful metaphor for the enduring spirit of Israel. Rabbi Avun...

God Gives Israel the Torah Like Priceless Gems

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What was God's response? According to Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, it was like a king with priceless gems being asked for a treasure by his son. The king doesn't...

Abraham and Creation of Shir

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It's a book filled with passionate love poetry, and this verse, 2:5, is especially intriguing: "Support me with raisin cakes, cushion me with apples, for I am lovesick." Simple eno...

Death of Hadrian

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That’s how I feel diving into the pages of Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of Rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs. Today, we're looking at a fascinating passage from s...

Moses and the Heavenly Realms of Shir

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In the beautiful, multi-layered world of Jewish interpretation, this verse opens up into a world of meaning far beyond the literal. Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a classic midrashic (rabbi...

Hanina — Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

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In Shir HaShirim Rabbah 7, the Rabbis unpack a seemingly simple verse – (Song of Songs 2:7): “I administer an oath to you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles, and by the hinds...

Messiah — Moses at the Dawn of Creation

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Jewish tradition understands that feeling, and offers a powerful image to overcome it: God leaping over mountains. We find this image in Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the commentary on the...