1,227 texts · Page 13 of 26
We often think of grand, cosmic forces, but sometimes the most profound answers are hidden in the details, in the specific places we call home. Take the Land of Israel, for example...
Midrash Tehillim, in its commentary on Psalm 36, offers a fascinating insight. It all boils down to fear – or rather, the lack of it, in the right place. The psalm begins, "To the ...
It’s like your body is telling you it has all the nourishment it needs, just from the sheer act of weeping. Well, Jewish tradition actually speaks to this very experience. Midrash ...
to a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, specifically Midrash Tehillim 45, which wrestles with the meaning of the verse, "My heart whispers good things." The rabbis suggest ...
Midrash Tehillim 51, a commentary on Psalm 51, dives headfirst into this very idea, using the story of King David and the prophet Nathan to illustrate just how potent our speech ca...
It sounds strange, I know. But stick with me, because the ancient rabbis saw a profound truth in even the deepest remorse. We find this idea beautifully illustrated in Midrash Tehi...
Words, once spoken, can’t be unsaid. But what about the spiritual consequences? Today, we’re diving into Midrash Tehillim, specifically psalm 52, to explore the power – and the pot...
We’ve all been there. It’s a feeling as old as time, and it's something that the ancient sages grappled with too. Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of P...
Today's story from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Psalms, is all about how seemingly small acts of courage and confession can have enormo...
Specifically, it grapples with the story of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, and its eventual abandonment in Shiloh. "And he brought them to his holy mountain," Midrash Tehillim tells ...
The passage, attributed to both Rabbi Judah and Rabbi Nehemiah, wrestles with a very specific question: who should be appointed as a priest? It begins with God telling Moses, “Appo...
We often take the everyday wonders around us for granted, don't we? Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings that illuminate the Book of Psalms, encourages us to do jus...
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. ...
King David, the shepherd boy who became Israel’s greatest king, certainly did. And it's a sentiment beautifully captured in the Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpret...
That’s the feeling at the heart of our exploration today, straight from the ancient wisdom of Midrash Tehillim, a collection of teachings on the Book of Psalms. We're diving into P...
Well, you're not alone. The ancient rabbis pondered this very feeling, this need to unburden ourselves before the Divine. And they found echoes of it in the Psalms, specifically in...
The mystics did, and they connected it directly to the Divine. : how do we respond to new beginnings? With joy, with song, with dance! And according to the Midrash Tehillim, a coll...
The Pesikta DeRav Kahana, a collection of Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary)ic teachings, gives us a glimpse, almost a first-hand account. Rabbi Yochanan, a prominent sage,...
We get a glimpse into that mystery in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval text that delves into the stories of the Torah with a unique perspective. Forget the simp...
Our sages certainly thought so, and they had some amazing stories to illustrate just that. to one, found in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 16. It tells of Eliezer, Ab...
The story picks up with Abraham's servant, often identified as Eliezer, returning from Haran with Rebecca. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer tells us that he took Rebecca and Deborah, her nur...
It's a portal, a time set apart. And according to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a beautiful, almost novelistic Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), keeping Shabbat (the Sabbath) b...
Sometimes, what seems straightforward holds a deeper, more symbolic truth. Take, for instance, the story of Cain and Abel and that deceptively simple line from (Genesis 3:3): "But ...
We all know the story of Cain and Abel, their offerings, and the tragic outcome. But what if there was more to it than just a simple case of sibling rivalry? Rabbi Joshua ben Ḳorch...
We all know the story of Noah, the flood, and the animals saved two-by-two. But have you ever stopped to consider the logistics? How did Noah manage all those creatures for over a ...
This particular passage, from Chapter 26, gives us a glimpse into Sarah's encounters with powerful rulers and the surprising twists that shaped her journey. It all starts with Phar...
Our journey begins with Isaac. According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 29, Isaac himself circumcised his twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Now, here's where the plot thickens. The text sugges...
The patriarch Abraham certainly did. The story begins with Sarah, Abraham's wife, making a demand. She tells Abraham to write a get, a bill of divorce, and send away his handmaid H...
Sometimes, those hidden depths hold the most fascinating secrets. Take the story of Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael. We all know the basics, but what about the details? The Torah tells...
to one such moment, a poignant scene involving Hagar and her son Ishmael in the wilderness. We all remember the story: Hagar, cast out into the desert with her son, Ishmael, their ...
The text recounts Hagar's desperate wanderings with her son. "And she departed and wandered," the passage begins, referencing (Genesis 21:14). But Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer interprets...
Sometimes, those threads are stronger than we imagine, woven with love and a touch of the divine. Our story today comes from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating work of Jewish li...
We meet her after the death of Sarah, when Abraham – yes, that Abraham – takes her as his wife. But who was she, really? Some traditions identify her with Hagar, the mother of Ishm...
We're talking about Abraham, and the agonizing moment when he was commanded to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Now, we all know the basic story. But the beauty of Jewish tradition lies i...
Jewish tradition teaches us that names hold prophetic power, hinting at a person's destiny, their very purpose. And sometimes, the reason behind a name isn't clear until long after...
That's the weight hanging over Abraham as our story begins. The Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations from around the 8th century, tells u...
The Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating ancient text filled with stories and interpretations, brings us a wild tale about the prophet Elisha. Specifically, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer...
We find ourselves with the story of the Shunammite woman. Remember her? She showed incredible kindness to the prophet Elisha, always offering him food and lodging. In return, Elish...
It turns out, that feeling might be more ancient and profound than you think. Jewish tradition actually has something pretty amazing to say about it. to a fascinating little teachi...
We’re diving into some fascinating details from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, specifically chapter 36, a text brimming with tantalizing tidbits. Rabbi Eliezer paints a vivid picture of J...
That’s the unsettling image painted in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38, a fascinating and often overlooked passage in Jewish tradition. It all begins with a cryptic verse from the prophe...
The story of Simeon and Levi, found in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 38, explores just that kind of fiery zeal. It all starts with the violation of their sister, Dinah, by Shechem. The te...
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), dives right into this question. It presents a somewhat… unusual… perspective on how...
Take the story of Moses and the staff. It all starts with a garden, a simple rod, and a curious shepherd-to-be. According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval te...
He paints a picture, a truly awe-inspiring one, of Moses standing on the mountain. But here's the thing: only his feet were actually on the ground. The rest of him? According to Ra...
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early medieval text, dives deep into this very idea, exploring the profound impact leaders have on their communities. Rabbi Reuben puts it qui...
It wasn't exactly a quiet retreat for the Israelites down below, that's for sure! According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations, thin...
It’s a powerful feeling. But what happens when that zeal, that kinah, turns inward, corrupting the very people who sought to uphold justice? Let's turn to a fascinating passage in ...
