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The Alter Rebbe once told his chassidim: "We have to live with the times."

The chassidim, trained as they were in holding fast to the eternal standards of the Torah despite the shifting trends of contemporary thought, reacted with puzzlement.

They asked R. Yehudah Leib, the Alter Rebbe's brother, to inquire about the Rebbe's intent.

In reply, the Alter Rebbe answered that he had meant that the chassidim should "live with the weekly Torah portion."

And as the Rebbe frequently explained, this does not mean merely studying the weekly portion; this means living with the lessons of the portion and seeing them as practical directives for more meaningful and more satisfying life.

This endeavor is enhanced by highlighting the lesson to be derived from the name of the Torah reading. For this is a comprehensive theme, summarizing and conveying the thrust of the Torah reading as a whole.

The Alter Rebbe teaches that an object's name reflects its essential life force. If this applies with regard to worldly matters, surely it is true with regard to the names of the Torah portions.

The essays to follow blend together several of the Rebbe's talks, underscoring a lesson to be derived from the names of every one of the Torah readings.

Table of Contents

Publisher’s Foreword
Bereishis - "In the beginning"; A Dwelling for G-d
Noach - Genuine Satisfaction; Noach’s Legacy
Lech Lecha - A Journey To One’s True Self: Avraham’s Odyssey As A Lesson For His Descendants
Vayeira - Seeing Truth: The Nature of the Revelation to Avraham
Chayei Sarah - Ongoing Life: The Continuing Effects of Sarah’s Influence
Toldos - Inwardness: The Path To Posterity
Vayeitzei - Yaakov’s Journey: Transition, Challenge, and Achievement
Vayishlach - Empowerment And Its Purpose
Vayeishev - The Desire For Prosperity
Mikeitz - An End And A Beginning
Vayigash - Inspiring Change
Vayechi - True Life
Shmos - Challenge, Growth, and Transition
Va’eira - Seeing And Believing
Bo - Confronting Pharaoh
Beshallach - The Expression of Inner Good
Yisro - Ripples of Inner Movement
Mishpatim - After Sinai; Making the Torah a Part of Ourselves
Terumah - A Dwelling Among Mortals
Tetzaveh - A Paradigm Of Leadership
Ki Sissa - Towards A Purpose Beyond Our Conception
Vayakhel - More than Gathering Together
Pekudei - The Power of the Individual
Vayikra - The Dearness of Every Jew
Tzav - Making Connections: The Message of Mitzvos
Shemini - Transcendence and Immanence
Tazria - Conceiving New Life
Metzora - Mashiach’s Name
Founders of Chassidism & Leaders of Chabad-Lubavitch
Glossary and Biographical Index