January is a new beginning.

That takes me to the original Hebrew word for Genesis: literally “In the beginning” – B’reisheet.

In the weekly Torah portions, we just completed the harrowing climax of Genesis. If that’s the first episode of history, before more “binge watching,” we want to understand what just happened and how it aims the arc of history.

My thoughts on the matter were sparked by a discussion with Israel Today Editor-in-Chief Aviel Schneider over coffee on a chilly Jerusalem morning in December, along with a book I just read about identifying core story plots.

So, what is the metaplot of Genesis, given that history is being written by the master “plot-writer”?

Epic story plots are hardwired into us. That’s part of the reason why we respond to the Bible.

I propose this plot summary for Genesis.

• Heroes face a challenge
• Tension builds to initial climax
• Plot thickens
• Tension builds to main climax

How did I indentify two climaxes? By...

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