Bereishit Rabbah 88:4. The midrash discusses the meaning of ben zekunim “son of old age”; favoritism; and various meanings of ketonet passim “coat of passim”.
22. Jacob Prays
Bereishit Rabbah 75:13 Jacob prays to God as he fearfully anticipates meeting his estranged brother Esau after decades apart.
21. Place and Prayer (feat. Rabbi Laura Rumpf)
Bereishit Rabbah 68:9. Jacob encounters The Place. Also three opinions on where the daily prayers come from. We welcome guest Rabbi Laura Rumpf (and our son Ami giggles in the background.)
20. A Fair Enough Reward
Bereishit Rabbah 64:10 This midrash begins with a problem in the biblical text, solves it with a technical maneuver, and then illustrates the broader point with a story that is summed up by a parable.
18. Sitting Under the Shekhinah
Bereishit Rabbah 48:7 God visits Abraham while the patriarch sits. Should he have stood up in order to acknowledge the Divine Presence?
17. Fame and Fortune
Bereishit Rabbah 39:11. Four biblical figures circulate coinage, according to the midrash.
16. The Wisdom of “Was”
Bereishit Rabbah 30:8 Noah was perfect in his generation. What’s the most interesting word in this sentence? Well, this midrash opts for “was”, leading us to surprising wisdom.
15. Genesis in Every Generation (Bereishit Rabbah 2:3)
Bereishit Rabbah 2:3 “The earth was formless and void…” (Genesis 1:2-5). Rabbi Yehudah bar Simone interpreted this reading as applying to [future] generations. This midrash explores references to later generations within the first few lines of Genesis.
14. The Merit of Meager Offerings
Vayikra Rabbah 3:5. The sacrifice of those with little means takes precedence over the sacrifice of the wealthy. Three stories teach the theme, include dream messages, and leave us wondering how to offer our souls in the world today.