What Is Pesikta Rabbati?

Greater Teaching (Pesikta rabbati) is a medieval midrashic collection of approximately fifty sections (piska’ot, sing. piska), organized around the festivals, special Sabbaths, and the haftarot (readings from the biblical prophets). The text survives in many medieval manuscripts, an indication of its popularity. Much of the content derives from earlier collections, particularly the Yelammdenu and Tanḥuma midrash traditions. The word pesikta also probably means “section,” and this text is designated rabbati (great) to distinguish it from the earlier Pesikta de-Rav Kahana.