MOST OF THE TOMES WRITTEN on the weekly Torah portion fall into one of two categories. One type is a serious, in-depth study of the text, with reference to the commentaries to help comprehend the words of the Almighty and the deeper lessons intended for the serious Jew. The other, more popular style asks a specific question or points out a contradiction or anomaly in the text, with a clever answer that demonstrates an interesting Jewish concept to be shared at the Shabbat table. While both types of volumes have much merit and are wonderful sources for Torah learning, this book fits into neither category. The intention of this book is to help readers extend their knowledge in a totally different area of Judaism, thematically related to the Torah portion. Each essay begins with an idea from the text or the commentaries as a starting point to discuss in depth one fundamental Jewish value. For each parashah, a moral issue is presented from a traditional Jewish perspective. The fifty-four values presented in this book cannot be found compiled in any other English text. The ideas in these pages are intended for use by any reader, whether familiar or not with the classic texts. The purpose of this volume is to show how Judaism deals with ethical issues relevant to the twenty-first century, for those who are searching for answers.
