What’s In a House? (Shemot)
As you may know, I love midrash. Midrash is a type of Jewish text that simultaneously pays close attention to…
Tag: Parashah
Ibn Ezra: Isaac’s Blessing (Toldot)
Isaac offers apparently prophetic blessing to Jacob, who he thinks is Esau, and then to Esau when the latter cries. How could blessing flow from deceit?
Rashbam: The Meaning of Mussar (Eikev)
The word “mussar” appears only once in that form in the Torah. What does it mean in context? How does that connect to the later meaning of mussar?
Prayer and Proximity (D’var Torah Matot-Masei)
As Numbers winds its way to a close, a war breaks out against Midian. According to midrash, Moses drafts 12,000 to fight and 12,000 to pray – in proximity.
Rashbam: The One Mitzvah (Sh’lach Lecha)
Numbers 15:22-25 describe the ritual atonement for accidental transgression of kol hamitzvot. Can it really be a ritual only for breaking every single rule?