For the Love of God and People: A Philosophy of Jewish Law - Hardcover

Dorff, Rabbi Elliot N.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0827608403 ISBN 13: 9780827608405

Publisher: JEWISH PUBLICATON SOCIETY, 2007

Synopsis

Every generation of Jews in every denomination of Judaism finds itself facing complex legal questions. The status of same-sex unions and the plight of the agunah (a woman who cannot obtain a divorce), are just two of a myriad of thorny questions Jewish legal experts grapple with today. These are not esoteric problems but issues with a profound impact on the daily happiness of countless people. How do the rabbis who draft responses to these questions reach their conclusions? What informs their decisions and their approach to Jewish law? Acclaimed writer and legal expert Elliot Dorff addresses these and other questions in this intelligent, accessible guide to the philosophy behind Jewish law. In his view, Jewish law is an expression of the love we have for God and for our fellow human beings. This theme permeates his discussion of important aspects of the law. For example, what motivates modern Jews to follow Jewish law? How does Jewish law strike the balance between continuity and change? On what grounds and under what circumstances do human beings have the authority to interpret or even change God’s laws? Dorff also offers a systematic comparison of Jewish law and U.S. law, based on his course on this subject at UCLA School of Law. Whether you are a lawyer or simply interested in the philosophy behind recent rabbinic decisions, this is a book that will deepen your understanding of the Jewish legal system and its role in the modern world.

About this title

From the Publisher:

An intelligent, accessible look at the theory behind Jewish law

From the Inside Flap:

For the Love of God and People A Philosophy of Jewish Law Elliot N. Dorff Every generation of Jews in every denomination of Judaism finds itself facing complex legal questions. The status of same-sex unions and stem-cell research are just two of a myriad of thorny questions Jewish legal experts grapple with today. How do the rabbis who draft responses to these questions reach their conclusions? What informs their decisions and their approach to Jewish law? Acclaimed writer and legal scholar Elliot Dorff addresses these and other questions in this intelligent, accessible guide to the philosophy that shapes Jewish law. What motivates modern Jews to follow Jewish law? How does Jewish law strike the balance between continuity and change? On what grounds and under what circumstances do human beings have the authority to interpret or even change God's laws?

Written in a clear, direct style, For the Love of God and People will interest rabbis, lawyers, and anyone looking to understand the Jewish legal system and its role in the modern world. Elliot N. Dorff, a Conservative rabbi, is Rector and Sol and Anne Dorff Distinguished Service Professor in Philosophy at the American Jewish University (formerly University of Judaism). He was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary and earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University with a dissertation in moral theory. He has written over 150 articles on Jewish thought, law, and ethics, and many books, including three JPS volumes--Matters of Life and Death, To Do the Right and the Good, and Love Your Neighbor and Yourself. Dorff is co-editor of Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary and of the forthcoming JPS series Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices.

About this edition

• Publisher: JEWISH PUBLICATON SOCIETY
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0827608403
• ISBN 13: 9780827608405
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 296