Guide
What Is Sifre Deuteronomy?
3rd or 4th Century
Restricted
Predominantly a halakhic (legal) midrash on the book of Deuteronomy, Sifre Deuteronomy reflects the traditions and interpretations of R. Akiva’s school and is generally dated to the third or fourth century CE. It also contains aggadic (nonlegal) material at the beginning and end, which may have been added later and is attributed by some scholars to the school of R. Ishmael. As is typical of R. Akiva’s school, the legal portions of Sifre Deuteronomy often derive new laws from as few as one or two words in the biblical text. Sifre Deuteronomy and Sifre Numbers are often joined together and known as Sifre Rabbah.
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Establishing a Text of the Torah
Sifre Deuteronomy 356:1
The Primordial God is a refuge [me‘onah] (Deuteronomy 33:27). Three scrolls [of the Torah] were kept in the Courtyard [to ensure accurate versions of the text]. One transmitted [variant readings of] m…
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A Jewish Perspective on the Temple in Ruins
Sifre Deuteronomy 43
Another time, [Rabban Gamaliel, R. Joshua, R. Eleazar ben Azariah, and R. Akiva] were ascending to Jerusalem. On reaching Mount Scopus, they tore their garments. When they reached the Temple Mount and…
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The Requirement of Prayer
Sifre Deuteronomy 41
Another interpretation of and to serve Him: This refers to prayer. You might say, “This refers to prayer [according to you], but might it not refer to [Temple] service?” [The answer is no,] since…
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The Martyrdom of R. Ḥaninah ben Teradyon
Sifre Deuteronomy 307
When they captured R. Ḥaninah ben Teradyon, it was decreed that he should be burned together with his [Torah] scroll. They said to him, “It is decreed that you should be burned together with your…
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Gender Differences in Torah Education
Sifre Deuteronomy 46
And teach them to your children (Deuteronomy 11:19–21): your sons and not your daughters, the words of R. Yosi b. Akiva. On the basis of the verse at hand they [the rabbis] have said: When a child…
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Commerce Is Less Worthy than Agriculture
Sifre Deuteronomy 315
And no alien god is bound to him (Deuteronomy 32:12)—there shall not be among you any who engage in commerce of any sort.For it is stated: Let there be hands-full of grain in the Land (Psalm 72:16)…
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Rising from Merchant Status
Sifre Deuteronomy 357
And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old [when he died] (Deuteronomy 34:7). He was one of four who died at the age of one hundred and twenty, and these were Moses, Hillel the Elder, Rabban Yoḥanan…
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Biblical Prooftexts for Resurrection
Sifre Deuteronomy 47
So that your days will be increased (Deuteronomy 11:21)—in this world—and the days of your children (ibid.)—in the days of the Messiah—as the days of the heavens upon the earth (ibid.)—in the world to…
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Sifre Deuteronomy
Sifre Deuteronomy 32, 152–154, 343
Furthermore, one should rejoice more in chastisement than in prosperity. For if one is prosperous all his life, no sin of his will be forgiven. What brings…
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The Rains of Shelamzion’s Reign
Sifre Deuteronomy 42 | Sifra Beḥukotay 1:1
If you will obey my commandments which I command you this day, . . . I will give the rain of your land in its season (Deuteronomy 11:13–14). This refers to the way rains fell in…
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Sifre Deuteronomy on Spelling in a Torah Scroll
Sifre Deuteronomy 36:1
And inscribe them [ketavtam] (Deuteronomy 6:9)—with perfectly formed letters [ktav shalem]. On this basis they taught: If the copyist of a Torah-scroll wrote alephs as ayins or ayins as alephs; or bet…
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Transmission of Torah Learning
Sifre Deuteronomy 41:4
Which I command you today (Deuteronomy 11:13). On what basis can you claim that if a person hears a word of Torah from the mouth of the least of Israel, he should regard it as if he’d heard it…
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Sifre Deuteronomy on the Importance of Torah Study
Sifre Deuteronomy 41:3
One time, R. Tarfon, R. Akiva, and R. Yose the Galilean were reclining to dine at Beit Aris, near Lod. A question was raised before them: Which is greater—study [of Torah] or deeds [of Torah]? Said R…
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Sifre Deuteronomy on Studying Torah out of Love
Sifre Deuteronomy 49:2–3
2. And clinging to Him (Deuteronomy 11:22)—Now, how is it possible for a person to ascend the heights and cling to fire? Isn’t it already stated: hashem your God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24)…
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Torah Teaching for Everyone
Sifre Deuteronomy 48
Just as water is free to the entire world, so teachings of the Torah are free to the entire world, as it is said: Behold, everyone who is thirsty come for water, and he who has no money, come and buy…
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Martha as Paradigm of Wealth
Sifre Deuteronomy 281
You shall not take a widow’s garment in pledge (Deuteronomy 24:17), whether rich or poor, and even if she were [as rich as] Martha bat Boethus.
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Robbery as the Essence of Ishmael
Sifre Deuteronomy 343
Another thing: And he said, The Lord came from Sinai (Deuteronomy 33:2). When the Holy One revealed Himself to give the Torah to Israel, He revealed Himself not in one language but in four languages.…
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Sifre on Oral and Written Torahs
Sifre Deuteronomy 351, 313
They [the descendants of Levi] shall teach your statutes to Jacob, [ . . . ] your instructions [toratekha] to Israel (Deuteronomy 33:10): This teaches that…
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Rabbinic Halakhah in Sifre Deuteronomy
Sifre Deuteronomy 41, 48
That you may learn them, and observe to do them (Deuteronomy 5:1). This indicates that deeds are dependent upon learning, but learning is not dependent upon…
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Tannaitic Midrash
1st–3rd Centuries