Table of Contents
Foreword: Ethicising Religion Joseph I. Lieberman xiii
Introduction: Seven Features of Jewish Ethics xvii
Genesis
Bereshit: The Genesis of Justice 3
Noah: Beyond Nature 9
Lekh Lekha: How Perfect Were the Patriarchs and Matriarchs? 15
Vayera: The Binding of Isaac 21
Hayei Sara: The Kindness of Strangers 27
Toledot: Was Jacob Right to Take the Blessings? 33
Vayetzeh: Love Is Not Enough 41
Vayishlah: The Parable of the Tribes 47
Vayeshev: The Heroism of Tamar 53
Miketz: Appearance and Reality 59
Vayigash: The Birth of Forgiveness 65
Vayehi: When Is One Permitted to Tell a Lie? 71
Exodus
Shemot: On Not Obeying Immoral Orders 79
Va'era: Free Will 85
Bo: Telling the Story 91
Beshallah: The Face of Evil 97
Yitro: The Structure of the Good Society 103
Mishpatim: Healing the Heart of Darkness 109
Teruma: The Labour of Gratitude 117
Tetzaveh: The Ethic of Holiness 123
Ki Tissa: Can There Be Compassion Without Justice? 131
Vayak'hel: The Spirit of Community 137
Pekudei: Integrity in Public Life 145
Leviticus
Vayikra: What Do We Sacrifice? 153
Tzav: Violence and the Sacred 159
Shemini: Fire - Holy and Unholy 165
Tazria: The Circumcision of Desire 171
Metzora: The Power of Shame 177
Aharei Mot: The Scapegoat - Shame and Guilt 183
Kedoshim: From Priest to People 189
Emor: Sanctifying the Name 195
Behar: The Economics of Liberty 201
Behukkotai: The Politics of Responsibility 207
Numbers
Bemidbar: Law as Love 215
Naso: Two Versions of the Moral Life 221
Behaalotekha: From Pain to Humility 227
Shelah: Assembling Reminders 233
Korah: When Truth Is Sacrificed to Power 239
Hukkat: Anger Management 245
Balak: A People That Dwells Alone? 251
Pinhas: Elijah and the Still, Small Voice 257
Matot: Honouring the Word 263
Masei: Retribution and Revenge 269
Deuteronomy
Devarim: Why Are There So Many Jewish Lawyers? 277
Va'ethanan: The Right and the Good 281
Ekev: The Power of Gratitude 287
Re'eh: The Second Tithe and the Making of a Strong Society 293
Shofetim: Environmental Responsibility 299
Ki Tetzeh: To the Third and Fourth Generations 305
Ki Tavo: The Pursuit of Joy 311
Nitzavim: Why Judaism? 317
Vayelekh: Torah as Song 323
Haazinu: The Arc of the Moral Universe 329
VeZot HaBerakha: Moses' Death, Moses' Life 335
About the Author 341