A poignant Midrash in Ruth Rabba (5:6) argues that had Reuven, Aharon and Boaz known that certain minor kindnesses they performed would be recorded in the Bible for posterity, they might have done things differently. more

Towards the end of the conversation Yaakov has with Eisav about their future, Yaakov’s final insistence that he cannot accompany Eisav to Seir puts the blame where most of us might put it. more

The Torah never addresses when a newborn is to be named. Just about every Biblical figure introduced at birth is named right away. This would not come as much of a shock in a pre-Avraham and pre-bris era. But the fact that Yitzchak, Yaakov, Eisav, and all of Yaakov’s sons (perhaps with the exception of Binyamin’s second name) are named the moment they are born (or so it seems) stands to leave open the idea that in Biblical times, boys were named before the bris. more

This may seem trivial. And to be honest, I may be completely wrong. But I can’t help thinking there’s something deeper behind the names Avraham and Yitzchak seem to give to the city where they each forge a treaty with Avimelech. more

I’ve heard it said a number of times that were Yitzchak and Rivkah alive today, there is no way they’d get married. more

The prophet Malachi presents a scenario when the G-d-fearing public presents its goodness to G-d, in contrast to the wicked who felt it was worthless to serve G-d. “At that time, the God-fearing people spoke to one another. G-d listened and heard, and a scroll of remembrance was written at His command concerning those who fear God and those who meditate on His Name.” (Malachi 3:16) more

The first of the two significant covenants that were forged between Avraham and G-d was the Brit Bein Habtarim (Covenant Between the Pieces). In exchange for a promise that he’ll have children, that they’ll be enslaved for 400 years, but that they’ll ultimately inherit the land of Canaan, G-d asks of Avraham (still Avram at that time) to “Bring for Me a prime heifer, a prime goat, a prime ram, a dove and a young pigeon.” more

The Tower of Babel story teaches many lessons. Arguably the most blatant problem in the story is that the goal of the people involved was to “make for ourselves a name.” (Bereishit 11:4) more

In the context of a discussion about what materials could be used for building a sukkah, the Gemara Sukkah (11b) raises a debate between Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Akiva regarding of what material the original sukkah G-d described in Vayikra 23:43 was made. The verse says “[You will sit in the sukkah because] I had the Israelites live in huts (sukkahs) when I brought them out of Egypt.” more

In our tradition, the High Holidays are viewed as a time period when all of humanity, not just its Jews, are judged for the coming year. more