- Torah and Jewish Thought
- General Questions
Midrash - literal or not
Question
Thank you Rabbi for your previous reply! One last question I have is with regards the following. In Midrash Tanhuma we can find the following: "After Cain slew Abel, the body laid outstretched upon the earth, since Cain did not know how to dispose of it. Thereupon the Holy One, blessed be he, selected two clean birds and caused one of them to kill the other. The surviving bird dug the earth with its talons and buried its victim. Cain learned from this what to do. He dug a grave and buried Abel. It is because of this that birds are privileged to cover their blood." From what I can understand, this is a fictional story, but it is nevertheless beneficial for us to ponder, pray, and discuss its deeper meaning. I found the following text describing it: Midrash Tanhuma although bearing the name of R. Tan?uma, must not be regarded as having been written or edited by him. They were so named merely because they consist partly of homilies originating with him and partly of homilies by aggadic teachers who followed the style of R. Tanchuma. Does the fact that these are homilies indicate that the passage regarding Cain and the Bird is a fictional account meant for us to pray and think deeply over and discover the meaning? I am hoping you can provide an answer that is specific to this particular midrash. I understand that whether it is based on reality or not is besides the point, but I am nevertheless very curious to know if it is a real event that truly occurred. Thank you!!!
Answer
You are correct that this midrash is probably not meant to be taken literally or historically, but rather to teach deeper ideas, and perhaps to answer the question why we must only cover the blood of slaughtered fowl but not cattle blood. There's no difference between Midrash Tanchuma or other midrashim in this regard, they all have some factual and some not. The fact that some modern person chose to use the word "homilies" doesn't have any significance.

Hebrew language
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 8, 5773

Vilna gaon
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 10, 5782

Erev rav
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Av 29, 5769

Torah study and reciting in the night
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 1, 5782

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

baruch hamavdil
Adar I 23, 5771

Ayin hara and Rambam
Tevet 28, 5771

Bircat baalat habayit
Shevat 7, 5771

Orlah fruit trees
Adar I 5, 5771

Non jew touch a mezuzah entering jewish home?
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 13, 5781
Genesis 24: 2-9 – Put your hand under my thigh
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 26, 5770

Kashering a dishwasher
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 23, 5778

Bracha on water
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | Cheshvan 16, 5769

fruit tree
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 10, 5783
rafael or refael
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Iyyar 27, 5783
Sifrei kodesh in a married couples room
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Sivan 15, 5783
