In Sparks beneath the Surface: A Spiritual Commentary on the Torah, Lawrence Kushner and Kerry Olitzky, two leaders in a new generation of liberal rabbis, have provided an invaluable tool to bring the teachings of Torah to modern Jews. Organized around the weekly Torah portions, Sparks beneath the Surface is designed to designed to resemble the pages of the Talmud. In the center of each page the rabbis present the targum - the English translation of the phrase or verse being explored. The authors include material from great chasidic teachers, offer insights from Jewish tradition to add depth to the point under discussion, and provide sources for further study. Sparks beneath the Surface provides the student, whether experienced or new to Torah study, with what the authors refer to as 'psycho-spiritual' insights on the Bible. This work represents the first time chasidic insights have been brought to a liberal context without compromising either ideological framework.
