12 texts
Take the gifts of the twelve princes, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, as described in the Torah (Numbers 7). It's easy to skim over those lists of offerings – chargers of...
We all know the story of Ahasuerus, the king, and his ill-fated wife Vashti. But Ahasuerus didn't rule in a vacuum. He had advisors, powerful princes, whispering in his ear. And wh...
An emperor and a king—both childless—met by chance at an inn. Neither recognized the other at first, but each noticed royal mannerisms in his companion. They confessed their identi...
The Mekhilta asks a question about Kazbi (also known as Cozbi), the Midianite woman who played a central role in the sin at Baal Peor. The verse calls her "the daughter of a prince...
We find him mentioned in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval text filled with biblical narratives and expansions. And the picture it paints of Ahab? Well, let's ju...
The Romans had issued evil decrees against the Jewish people — banning Torah study, forbidding circumcision, outlawing the observance of the Sabbath. The sages were desperate. Some...
Frog Princess. Eisenstein, Oser, p. 344. Maase Buch No. 143. Helvicus, Historien I, ch. 14, p. 64. Eisenmenger, I, p. 399. Tendlau, Fellmeier, No. 1. Griinbaum, Jiid. Dtsch. Chrest...
We stumble upon one such instance in Bamidbar Rabbah, specifically in chapter 6. It concerns the census of the Kehatites, a clan within the Leviim (Levites). The text points out so...
He says that God declares "I am the Lord your God" precisely because He took us out of Egypt. It's the foundation. He freed us so that we would, in turn, accept His divinity upon o...
“Princes were hanged by their hand; the elders were not shown deference” (Lamentations 5:12).“Princes were hanged by their hand.” There was a government steward who entered the cit...
“He made a banquet for all his princes and his servants.” Antoninus made a feast for Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, who said to him: Perhaps you have not fulfilled your obligation to the lam...
(Numb. 7:2:) “Now the princes of Israel drew near (to make an offering).” You find that when Moses proclaimed and said (in Exod. 35:5), “Take from among you an offering [for the Lo...
