WHAT IS MIDRASH? The word Midrash derives from the Hebrew root ד־ר־ש/d-r-sh, which means “to search,” “to examine,” or “to investigate.” Midrash can refer to several things: • the literary techniques used by the Rabbis to search the Bible for hidden or deeper meaning (wordplays and gematria [Hebrew numerology] are just two of the many methods of Midrash utilized by the Rabbis); • the literary product that resulted from such readings and interpretations (the Rabbi began his sermon by quoting Rabbi