Table of Contents
Foreword: The Secret of Our Staying Power / Bari Weiss xiii
Introduction: The Transformative Power of Ideas xvii
Genesis
Bereshit: The Faith of God 3
Noah: The Trace of God 9
Lekh Lekha: Inner-Directedness 13
Vayera: The Space Between Us 17
Hayei Sara: The World's Oldest Man 21
Toledot: Why Isaac? Why Jacob? 25
Vayetzeh: Out of the Depths 31
Vayishlah: The Struggle of Faith 35
Vayeshev: Improbable Endings and the Defeat of Despair 39
Miketz: Jews and Economics 45
Vayigash: The First Psychotherapist 51
Vayehi: What It Takes to Forgive 57
Exodus
Shemot: God Loves Those Who Argue 65
Va'era: Free Will - Use It or Lose It 71
Bo: The Story We Tell 77
Beshallah: The Longer, Shorter Road 81
Yitro: The Bond of Loyalty and Love 85
Mishpatim: The Power of Empathy 91
Teruma: Why We Value What We Make 97
Tetzaveh: Crushed for the Light 103
Ki Tissa: Anger - Its Uses and Abuses 107
Vayak'hel: Beyond the Self 113
Pekudei: Making Space 119
Leviticus
Vayikra: The Call 127
Tzav: Giving Thanks 133
Shemini: When Weakness Becomes Strength 139
Tazria: The Power of Bad 145
Metzora: The Power of Praise 151
Aharei Mot: Cleansing and Homecoming 157
Kedoshim: Love Is Not Enough 163
Emor: In the Diary 169
Behar: We Are What We Do Not Own 175
Behukkotai: In Search of the Why 181
Numbers
Bemidbar: The Two Journeys 187
Naso: Lifting Heads 193
Behaalotekha: Faith and Friendship 197
Shelah: Seeing What Isn't There 203
Korah: The First Populist 209
Hukkat: Kohelet, Tolstoy, and the Defeat of Death 215
Balak: A People That Dwells Alone 223
Pinhas: The Lost Masterpiece 229
Matot: Subject/Object 233
Masei: Miles to Go Before I Sleep 239
Deuteronomy
Devarim: The Effective Critic 245
Va'ethanan: Making Love Last 251
Ekev: Listen, Really Listen 257
Re'eh: The Choice 263
Shofetim: To Lead Is to Serve 269
Ki Tetzeh: Social Capital and Fallen Donkeys 275
Ki Tavo: The God of History 281
Nitzavim: The World Is Waiting for You 287
Vayelekh: The Second Mountain 293
Haazinu: Emotional Intelligence 297
Vezot Haberakha: Unfinished Symphony 303