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Today, it is an honor to share selections from the “Midrash Tanhuma” in “The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, Volume 4: Medieval Hebrew.” The text emphasizes gratitude to God in prosperity and adversity, moral responsibility, and the value of wisdom and faith, detailing how King David called on God as His salvation in all circumstances. Additionally, Onkeles, the nephew of Emperor Hadrian, interpreted his uncle’s advice — regarding the purchase of goods that currently do not demand a high price but are expected to be highly valued in the future — as an opportunity to invest in the study of the Holy Scripture, which will lead us to God. THE MIDRASH“My people, whose destiny is shaped out by the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Whatever befalls you, give thanks and praise unto your God. Are you in prosperity? Do not forget the Giver; do not say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth,’ but like David say, ‘I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of My God.’ If adversity overtakes you, if sorrow and trouble overtake you in the midst of the smooth current of your affairs, take up David’s words again and say, ‘I found trouble and sorrow, then I called upon the name of My God.’ […]While the Torah teaches peace and goodwill to one’s fellow man, it likewise teaches the necessity of standing up against evil deeds and even rebuking the evil-doer. Moreover, though all reverence and deference are due to one’s teacher, yet in the matter of censurable conduct, it becomes the pupil’s duty to protest against it. Bad conduct is contaminating. One is apt to fall into the same error if one sees any evil act and does not lift up one’s voice to protest against it. He who rebukes his fellow man with a sincere desire to make him better comes within the inner walls of the Heavenly pavilion. You are not permitted to select injunctions of the Torah which you consent to observe, and reject others for the observance of which you can find no reason. In accepting God’s word, one is bound to implicit obedience to it. The rich should ever bear in mind that his wealth may merely have been deposited with him to be a steward over it, or to test what use he will make of his possessions. Not less should the poor remember that his trials may have been sent as a test of his fortitude. Poverty outweighs all other sorrows. ‘If you have taken a pledge from the poor,’ says God to the rich, ‘do not say he is your debtor and you are therefore justified in retaining his garment. Remember, you are My debtor; your life is in My hand. I return you all your senses and all your faculties after your sleep every day.’”
