The Golden Calf. How exactly did Aaron make it? Our medieval commentators liked precision. This is their kind of question.…
Tag: Midrash
How Jews Read the Hebrew Bible: Introduction to Rabbinic Midrash
Fall term graduate course at VST, open to auditors, beginning September 15 2022, taught by Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan-Kaplan Midrash…
This Donkey is No Bystander
Bystander or upstander? Which word best describes the donkey who guides Abraham? You may know the Biblical story of the…
What is Midrash?
What is midrash? Simply, it means “interpretation.” But it’s not just any old interpretation. Specifically, midrash is Biblical interpretation in…
(Don)key to Redemption
The Biblical donkey is here, to talk about redemption. Especially about our role in it. So, let’s hear what the…
Torah Code: Talking Politics
The Bible Code. No, not the secret number pattern. Or a special message from aliens. But a way of talking…
Vashti: Rome Personified
Vashti. In the Book of Esther, she’s a dignified character. But in rabbinic midrash (commentary), she’s an evil villain. Why?…
Ego Insatiable: Who can teach you that you are enough?
Jealousy. Greed. Ego. So pervasive. Sometimes I feel like a failure as a spiritual teacher. “Be happy for your friends’…
Moses: In Death, He's Larger than Life
Moses dies. People grieve. Writers praise. That’s how the Torah ends. “No other prophet arose in Israel, as great as…