Tanakh Commentary

Classical and modern commentaries on the Hebrew Bible.

78 questions answered

What is jewish red string prayer?

The red string (chut adom) practice in Judaism involves tying a red string around the left wrist as a protective amulet against the ayin hara (evil eye), o...

KabbalahZoharMishnah Commentary33 views

How many wives did Shlomo HaMelech have?

King Solomon (Shlomo HaMelech) had 700 wives and 300 concubines, for a total of 1,000 women in his household. This is stated explicitly in the Book of King...

Modern Commentary on TanakhSteinsaltzWritings12 views

What is the stance on homosexuality in the torah

The Torah explicitly prohibits male homosexual intercourse in two verses in Leviticus, classifying it as to'evah (תּוֹעֵבָה — abomination/abhorrence). This...

Rishonim on TanakhRashiTorah11 views

Proves that god exists

The question of God's existence is one of the most profound in all of human thought. Jewish tradition does not rely on a single "proof" but offers a rich c...

MishnahSeder NezikinTalmud10 views

Was Water Created Before Heaven and Earth

Was Water Created Before Heaven and Earth? This is one of the most profound and ancient questions in Torah commentary. The verse in Genesis 1:2 seems to imply t

TanakhTorahRishonim on Tanakh9 views

What does the Talmud say about honesty?

The Talmud presents honesty — particularly emet (truth) — as one of the most foundational values in Jewish life, so central that Hillel summarized the enti...

MishnahSeder NezikinTalmud9 views

How many animals offered in sukkot feast?

The Torah prescribes a detailed and elaborate sacrificial schedule for Sukkot, making it the most sacrifice-intensive holiday in the entire Jewish calendar. Ove

Rishonim on TanakhAbarbanelProphets8 views

What is jewish blessing may the lord bless you?

The blessing you are referring to is Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing), one of the most ancient and sacred blessings in all of Judaism. It consists of...

TanakhTorahMishnah7 views

What is psalm 130 in hebrew?

Psalm 130 in Hebrew is Shir HaMa'alot (שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת), "A Song of Ascents." It is one of the most beloved tehillim (psalms) in Jewish tradition, expres...

MishnahSeder MoedTanakh7 views

Explain the hidden meaning of the three opinions of what was the etz hadaat (wheat, grapevine, fig)

The identity of the Etz HaDa'at (Tree of Knowledge) is one of the most fascinating aggadic debates in the Talmud, and the three opinions — wheat, grapevine, and

TanakhTorahRishonim on Tanakh6 views

What is the summary of Parshat Behaalotecha?

Parshat Behaalotecha — Summary and Overview Parshat Behaalotecha (Numbers 8–12) is one of the richest and most varied portions in the Torah, covering a wid...

MishnahSeder MoedRishonim on Tanakh5 views

What is the summary of Parshat Chukat?

Parshat Chukat: Summary and Overview Parshat Chukat (Numbers 19–21) is one of the most dramatic portions in the Torah, covering the enigmatic law of the Re...

TanakhTorahTalmud5 views

What is jewish davening?

What is Jewish Davening? Davening is the Yiddish term for Jewish prayer (tefillah), referring to the structured practice of communicating with God through...

Jewish ThoughtModernHalakhah4 views

Simcha Bunim

Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa was one of the most influential and distinctive Hasidic masters of the early 19th century, known

Modern Commentary on TanakhChasidutOther Chasidut Works4 views

What is the Shema prayer and what does it mean?

The Shema (שְׁמַע) is Judaism's central declaration of faith, consisting of three biblical passages recited twice daily. Its opening verse — "Shema Yisrael...

LiturgyHaggadahTalmud4 views

Unidad de Dios, Panteismo, Israel, Dios para la creacion?

La Unidad de Dios en el Judaísmo: Monoteísmo vs. Panteísmo La Torah enseña que Dios es absolutamente Uno — no como una unidad numérica simple, sino como una uni

TanakhTorahProphets4 views

Give me all the places the phrase ויאמרו לאמור appears in the Torah

ויאמרו לאמור — "They Said, Saying" in the Torah Excellent question! This is a fascinating grammatical construction. Let me provide you with the occurrences...

TanakhTorahProphets4 views

Can you please summarize the life of Eliyakim ben Chilkiya with sources

Eliyakim ben Chilkiya: A Summary of His Life Eliyakim ben Chilkiya was a senior royal official in the court of King Hezekiah (Chizkiyahu) of Judah, serving...

TanakhProphetsRishonim on Tanakh4 views

What is the summary of Parshat Vayakhel?

Parshat Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1–38:20) describes Moses gathering the entire Israelite nation to transmit God's commands regarding Shabbat and the constructio...

Rishonim on TanakhRambanTorah4 views

Can you tell me all the interpretations of "Justice, justice shall you pursue."

"Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue" — Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof (צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף) The verse Deuteronomy 16:20 — "Tzedek tzedek tirdof" — "Justice, justice shal

TanakhTorahRishonim on Tanakh4 views

What are the 613 commandments?

The 613 commandments (taryag mitzvot — תרי"ג מצוות) are the full body of biblical commandments given by God to Israel through the Torah. They consist of 248 pos

HalakhahSifrei MitzvotSefer HaMitzvot3 views

Where in the torah is the requirement if universal peace that the meshiah will bring?

The concept of universal peace in the Messianic era is not found in a single verse but is woven throughout the prophetic books of Tanakh and developed extensive

TanakhProphetsTorah3 views

What does Genesis 1:1 mean?

Genesis 1:1 — "Bereishit bara Elohim et hashamayim v'et ha'aretz" — "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" — is the foundational verse o...

TanakhTorahTalmud3 views

What is jewish psalm 91?

Psalm 91 is one of the most beloved and powerful chapters in the entire Book of Psalms (Tehillim), known as the great psalm of divine protection and securi...

TalmudBavliSeder Nezikin3 views

What is the summary of Parshat Chayei Sarah?

Parshat Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1–25:18) narrates the final chapters of Sarah's life and the transitional period of the Patriarchal era, covering Sarah's...

TanakhTorahRishonim on Tanakh3 views

What is the summary of Parshat Vayechi?

Parshat Vayechi is the final portion of Sefer Bereishit (the Book of Genesis), narrating the last days of Yaakov (Jacob) in Egypt, his blessings to his son...

Rishonim on TanakhRambanTorah3 views

What is jewish psalm?

The Book of Psalms, known in Hebrew as Tehillim (תְּהִלִּים, meaning "praises"), is one of the most beloved and central books of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)....

TanakhWritingsRishonim on Tanakh3 views

What is psalm 145 hebrew?

Psalm 145 in Hebrew is the famous Ashrei prayer — an acrostic poem by King David praising God's greatness, kingship, and compassion. It is one of the most...

KabbalahZoharTanakh3 views

What is jewish psalm 121?

Psalm 121 is one of the fifteen Psalms of Ascent (Shir HaMa'alot), a collection of psalms (120–134) traditionally sung by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem a...

MishnahSeder MoedHalakhah3 views

What is parashat hashavua chabad?

Parashat HaShavua — Chabad Perspective The Parashat HaShavua (פָּרָשַׁת הַשָּׁבוּעַ, literally "the portion of the week") refers to the weekly Torah portio...

TalmudBavliSeder Nashim3 views
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