"For Instruction shall come forth from Zion, The word of the L-rd from Jerusalem." -- Isaiah 2:3

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Are you more of an "I'll dive right in and figure it out" person, or a "Show Me How This Thing Works" person?  If the former, go right ahead and try the excerpts browers on the right side of this page and/or scroll through the excerpts that start below the following information -- although we still suggest reading the information first.  If you are the latter, click here for a video demonstrating the Excerpts Browser. Either way (or both), enjoy! 

This page is recommended for searches limited to specific Torah books, weekly portions (parshiot), chapters, verses, and/or sources (authors). For keyword and/or for exact phrase (including verse and source) searches of the entire excerpts database, we recommend using the Search Engine page.  For broadest results, use both pages and alternative search strategies. 

This page displays the full text of all or "sorted" (filtered) excerpts in the database.  Use the "Torah Verses" and/or "Excerpt Sources" browsers at the right to locate the excerpts associated with your desired Torah book, portion, chapter. verse, or author.  Or, simply scroll through the excerpts, using the "boxes" at the bottom of any page displaying excerpts to "jump" ahead or back. 

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GENESIS — 1:4 good

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Genesis, Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8), Source Book Keys, TEMIMAH-GEN
Page(s): (See end of excerpt)
GEN20 R. Elazar said: “With the light that the Holy One Blessed be He created on the first day man could look from one end of the world to the other.  But when the Holy One Blessed be He envisioned the perverse deeds of the generation of the flood and of the generation of the Tower of Babel, He arose and secreted it for the righteous in time to come, as it is written: ‘And God saw the light that it was good,’ and “good” is nothing other than a righteous man, as it is written Isaiah 3:10: ‘Say of the righteous one that he is good’” Chagigah 12. TEMIMAH-GEN 4

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GENESIS — 1:12 grass

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Genesis, Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8), Source Book Keys, TEMIMAH-GEN
Page(s): (See end of excerpt)
GEN28 R. Assi asked: “In respect to the third day it is written: ‘And the earth brought forth grass,’ and yet, in respect to the sixth day it is written Genesis 2:5: ‘And no plant of the field was yet in the earth!’ This teaches us that the grass rose up to the surface of the earth, where it remained until Adam came and implored mercy upon it, so that it rained, and it spouted – this, to teach us that the Holy One Blessed be He longs for the prayers of the righteous” Chullin 60b TEMIMAH-GEN 8

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GENESIS — 1:20 life

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Genesis, Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8), Source Book Keys, TEMIMAH-GEN
Page(s): (See end of excerpt)
GEN32 It was taught: “The men of the watch [in the Temple] would fast every day.  On the fifth day they would fast that pregnant women not miscarry and that nursing infants not die [it being written of that day]: ‘And God said: “Let the waters swarm abundantly with all moving creatures that have life.’” Yerushalmi, Ta’anith 4:3 TEMIMAH-GEN 9

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GENESIS — 1:29 food

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Genesis, Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8), Source Book Keys, TEMIMAH-GEN
Page(s): (See end of excerpt)
GEN179 R. Yehudah said in the name of Rav: “Animal flesh was not permitted to Adam, as it is written: ‘It [vegetation] will be for you to eat and for all the animals of the earth’ – but the animals of the earth will not be food for you.  And though it is written Genesis 1:28: ‘And have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth,’ the “dominion” in question is in respect to work” Sanhedrin 59b. TEMIMAH-GEN 12

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GENESIS — 2:7 formed

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Genesis, Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8), Source Book Keys, TEMIMAH-GEN
Page(s): (See end of excerpt)
GEN236 Why is “Vayitzer” written with two yods?  As R. Shimon b. Pazzi says: “Woe is me by virtue of my Creator [“Yotzri” – if I violate His will]; woe is me by virtue of my evil inclination [yitzri” – which it is painful to suppress.]”  Or, as R. Yirmiah b. Elazar says: “The Holy One Blessed be He created Adam with two visages, as it is written Psalms 139:4: ‘You formed me behind and before’” Berachot 61a. TEMIMAH-GEN 15

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GENESIS — 2:7 living

Torah Book & Portion, Book of Genesis, Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8), Source Book Keys, TEMIMAH-GEN
Page(s): (See end of excerpt)
GEN243 R. Yossi said: “An individual is not permitted to mortify himself with fasting, lest he be cast upon the mercies of others, and they not have mercy upon him.  R. Yehudah said in the name of Rav: “Whence does R. Yossi derive this? From the verse: ‘And man became a living soul’ – the soul that I gave you, keep it in life.” Ta’anith 22b  TEMIMAH-GEN 16

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