What's the Point of the Midrash? - Rabbi Josh Yuter

In which we compare opinions in Bereishit Rabbah 59:8 and Bava Batra 16b regarding what it means to be blessed with “everything”

The post Chayei Sarah 2021 – Blessed with Everything first appeared on YUTOPIA.

In Genesis Rabba 38:14 we learn the difference between giving birth and making a person

The post Lech Lecha 2021 – How to Make a Life first appeared on YUTOPIA.

Gen. Rabbah 32:3 discusses testing the righteous and praising people to their faces. Is there a connection?

The post Noah 2021 – Of Tests and Praises first appeared on YUTOPIA.

In Gen. Rabba 1:15 Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel debate if heaven or earth was created first, but does it even matter?

The post Bereishit 2021 – Which Came First: Heaven or Earth? first appeared on YUTOPIA.

We conclude our first complete year of midrash study with Devarim Rabba 9:3, in which we find Moses facing off against Biblical heroes for supremacy

The post VeZot Haberacha 2021 – Moses vs. Everyone first appeared on YUTOPIA.

In which Kohelet / Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:25 warns about being more righteous than God

The post Sukkot 2021 – Frummer than God first appeared on YUTOPIA.

If Torah seems “empty” to us, does the fault lie with the Torah or ourselves?

The post Ha’azinu 2021 – Empty Things first appeared on YUTOPIA.

In which we find an variant of “original sin” in rabbinic literature

The post Vayeilech 2021 – Original Sin first appeared on YUTOPIA.

In one of the most important midrashim relating to learning and development, we see how fools remain foolish and how the insightful can overcome.

The post Nitzavim 2021 – Foolish Pride first appeared on YUTOPIA.