Fire
Rabbinic texts describe how the first humans discovered fire, and fire plays a role in many biblical stories, like that of the burning bush. Fire features both physically and metaphorically in Jewish sources; fire serves, for example, as a metaphor for Torah in some rabbinic texts.
Notable Sources
All Sources
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The Torah as FireMIDRASH
The Torah as Fire
MIDRASH
The closing portion of the Torah mentions a "fiery law" given to the Israelites. The Sifrei, an ancient midrash on the book of Deuteronomy, discusses this phrase and uses the metaphor of fire to describe the Torah's transformative power and lasting impact.
The Consuming Fire of God's ZealTANAKH
The Consuming Fire of God's Zeal
TANAKH
Fire can be a metaphor for the power of God's anger. At the end of the Torah, Moses warns the Israelites about the consequences of forgetting their covenant with God.
The Nature of FireHALAKHAH
The Nature of Fire
HALAKHAH
According to Aristotle, all matter is made up of four elements. Rambam, in his 12th-century legal code, the Mishneh Torah, echoes Aristotle in his explanations of the four elements.
The Eternal FlameMUSAR
The Eternal Flame
MUSAR
Jewish texts describe how, in the ancient Temples, there was a flame on the altar that was never extinguished, as long as the Temple stood. Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horowitz, in his 17th-century Shenei Luchot HaBerit, writes that all of God's world and creations only exist because of of this fire.
The Parts of the FlameKABBALAH
The Parts of the Flame
KABBALAH
A candle flame has different parts that can appear to be different colors. The Zohar, a foundational text of Jewish mysticism, uses the metaphor of the different parts of the flame to illuminate the relationship between God and Israel.
The Prohibition of Fire on ShabbatTANAKH
The Prohibition of Fire on Shabbat
TANAKH
Rabbinic literature elaborates on different kinds of creative activities prohibited on Shabbat. The Torah, in the book of Exodus, explicitly prohibits the kindling of a fire.
The Blessing of Fire in HavdalahLITURGY
The Blessing of Fire in Havdalah
LITURGY
The havdalah service includes a blessing over fire, symbolizing the transition from the sacredness of Shabbat to the ordinary weekdays.
Liability for Fire DamageMISHNAH
Liability for Fire Damage
MISHNAH
Who is responsible for an accidental fire? The Mishnah, an early third-century codification of Jewish law, outlines various scenarios of accidental fire damage and the conditions under which different parties are held liable or exempt.
Preparation Through FireHALAKHAH
Preparation Through Fire
HALAKHAH
Fire is used to make metal implements and utensils usable for kosher cooking. The Shulchan Arukh, Rabbi Joseph Karo's 16th-century law code, explains the process.
The Fire of the Evil InclinationJEWISH THOUGHT
The Fire of the Evil Inclination
JEWISH THOUGHT
In Temple times, a repentant sinner could bring a sacrifice to be burnt on the altar fire. Rabbi Moses Isserles explains the symbolism of the fire on the altar in his 16th-century work, Torah HaOlah.
Contrasting LightsGUIDES
Contrasting Lights
GUIDES
Shabbat and Chanukkah candles serve different purposes, so their laws are different. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz spells this out in more detail in his introduction to the chapter of the Babylonian Talmud in which these contrasting lights are discussed.
Flames of Torah WisdomHALAKHAH
Flames of Torah Wisdom
HALAKHAH
Proverbs likens the Torah and commandments to a candle and its light. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed, in his contemporary work, Peninei Halakhah, explains the metaphor.
Execution by BurningMISHNAH
Execution by Burning
MISHNAH
Rabbinic law describes four kinds of capital punishment: stoning, burning, death by the sword, and strangulation. The Mishnah, the first codification of Jewish law from the early third-century land of Israel, details each.
The Burning BushTANAKH
The Burning Bush
TANAKH
While shepherding in the desert, Moses notices a bush burning but not being burnt and turns aside to investigate. The book of Exodus narrates Moses's first encounter with God at the burning bush.
Torah of Fire TALMUD
Torah of Fire
TALMUD
What does it mean to say that the Torah was made of white fire and black fire? The Jerusalem Talmud presents ancient rabbinic opinions about the Torah's fiery nature and the divine hand by which it was given.
The First FireMIDRASH
The First Fire
MIDRASH
What did Adam and Eve feel when the sun began to set on the first Shabbat? Midrash Tehillim, a midrash on the book of Psalms, imagines the fear that Adam must have felt and his relief when God sent fire.
The River of FireMUSAR
The River of Fire
MUSAR
Where do souls go upon death? In his 13th-century treatise on death, Sha'ar HaGemul, Ramban describes how souls connect with a sphere of fire that emerges from beneath the divine throne.
The Pillar of FireMIDRASH
The Pillar of Fire
MIDRASH
The Torah describes how the pillar of fire provided exclusive light and protection to the Israelites during their journey in the desert. The third-century midrash on the book of Numbers, Sifrei Bamidbar, elaborates on the divine protective light of the pillar of fire.
The Burning of the Second TempleSECOND TEMPLE
The Burning of the Second Temple
SECOND TEMPLE
Like the First Temple before it, the Second Temple was destroyed by fire. Josephus, a first-century Roman-Jewish historian, provides a detailed and tragic account of events that led to the destruction.
Condemning Child SacrificeCOMMENTARY
Condemning Child Sacrifice
COMMENTARY
The Torah explicitly prohibits passing children through fire, either as sacrifices or symbolically. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, in his commentary on the biblical book of Jeremiah, elaborates.
