Midrashic Monologues

This midrash first appeared on Rabbi Bearman's website which can be accessed by clicking here. “They combined against Moses and Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and the Eternal is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above the Eternal’s congregation?” (Numbers 16:3) I stand firm, inches from Moses, and watch as his face falls in response to my shouted challenge. Over Moses’ shoulder, I can see Aaron, shak

I will forever remember the moment when forgiveness flowed, compassion triumphed, and holiness showered me like an unexpected rainstorm. I was transformed the instant that the Holy One laid my guilt to rest and raised me up with the promise of blessing. My sons and I had been doing the most mundane of our holy work: assigning roles to the various clans and determining responsibilities as we prepared to build and move the Mishkan, our traveling sanctuary. Everyone in our tribe

The ceremony that gave Aaron and his sons the responsibilities and power of the priesthood required each man to wear an elaborate garment. In this #MidrashicMonologue, we join Miriam, the sister of Aaron and Moses, as she sits with her mother (Yocheved), sister-in-law (Elisheva), and cousins (Nepheg and Elzaphan), as they prepare the priests’ decorative clothing. We explore what Miriam, who is so often described as exuberant and confident, might have been thinking as she help

I could tell my brother was furious. His nostrils flared as he stood on the mountain, looking down on the crowd dancing around a golden calf. Jaw clenched, arms shaking, he lifted the two tablets up high. His eyes seemed to pick me out from amongst the multitudes. I could feel his gaze boring a hole through my head. Then, anger consuming him, he threw down those tablets and flew toward our people, destroying the golden calf, meting out punishment to those who danced for the

In this Midrashic Monologue, we meet Zipporah, wife of Moses and mother to Gershom and Eliezar, as she and her family travel toward Egypt. As they make camp, she considers and struggles with how her life has changed now that Moses has learned of his destiny as God’s prophet. As the sun arrived at its tallest point, we reached the crest of a particularly large dune and were stunned to find a small oasis directly in our path. We decided to make camp, luxuriating in the shade an